First School of Astrology Is Accredited

[december]

I’ve posted the entire article below, because the link will disappear. What do you think of this?

August 28, 2001

First School of Astrology Is Accredited
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Aug. 27 (AP) — A school here in suburban Phoenix, where students learn to write horoscopes and give advice about the future, has won accreditation from a federally recognized body, in what is believed to be a first for a school of astrology.

The accreditation of the school, the Astrological Institute, will allow it to seek approval from the Department of Education for its students to get federal grants and loans.

The school’s founder, Joyce Jensen, who had been seeking accreditation for years, said the stars were favorably aligned this month.

“This was a very good time,” said Ms. Jensen, a 60-year-old Scorpio.

Her institute, where courses include a “master class on the asteroid goddesses” and “how to write an astrological column,” offers one program: a diploma in astrology and psychology.

The institute received accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology after demonstrating that its teachers were qualified and that its graduates could be placed in jobs, said Elise Scanlon, executive director of the commission, which is based in Arlington, Va. Ms. Scanlon and other officials in her field knew of no other accredited astrology schools.

Judith Eaton, head of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation in Washington, said the accreditation did not validate astrology, but only recognized that the school fulfilled its promises to students.

Tuition is $5,300. Day and evening classes are offered. Full-time students can earn a diploma in 12 months. But most of the 32 students take evening classes, after working day jobs.

To earn a diploma, students must pass six required courses, three each in astrology and psychology, and at least four electives.

Graduates usually set up private practice, though some are hired by holistic healing centers, spas and cruise ships, Ms. Jensen said. She hopes to offer an associate degree at some point.

Astrology contends that a person’s character and fate are directed at birth by the position of the sun, the moon and the planets. This is charted in a horoscope, which is often done these days with computer software.

Scientists scoff at the pursuit.

[Earthworm_Jim]

Welcome back, Dark Ages. We really missed ya.

[vanilla]

I used to read astrology books ALL the time.
I was totally into it.
Not any more.
They do make it all seem quite mathematical; you have to calculate the house by degrees, etc.
But it simply doesn’t work.
I once told my friend that since Saturn was in her 4th house of living quarters, she would move soon.
She did.
Of course, Saturn was in millions of peoples 4th houses for a whole year, and I doubt they all moved.

[DanBlather]

I have always thought it would be intersting to require licensing of astrolgists, psychics, etc. For example, an astrologist might have to match up life histories of 10 people with their birth dates and time. To be licensed you would have to get 8 out of 10 correct. I think this would only have a chance of 1 in over a million of being done randomly.

[Sam_Stone]

I notice they have to take three courses in ‘psychology’. Any bets this is where they learn how to do cold readings, and learn how to give people the information they really want to hear?

[Patty_O_Furniture]

If astrologists end up becoming licensed professionals, we should be able to sue them when their predictions don’t come true.

[Jodi]

I think you ought to consider doing a a search before starting a new thread.

Check out the discussions here and here.

[tracer]

december quoted an AP news story:

Her institute, where courses include a “master class on the asteroid goddesses” and “how to write an astrological column,” offers one program: a diploma in astrology and psychology.

“I have a Ph.D. in parapsychology and psychology.”
– Dr. Peter Venkman

[december]

*Originally posted by DanBlather *
**I have always thought it would be intersting to require licensing of astrolgists, psychics, etc. **

In the mid 1970’s the California legislature actually introduced a bill to license fortune tellers (which went nowhere.) I’ve long wondered about the content of the licensing exam.