Education Programs at IHS
The Institute for Humanist Studies (IHS) is an educational nonprofit that works to increase public understanding of humanist principles. The Institute provides accessible and authoritative information about humanism and the nonreligious to the media, academia, and the general public. Its largest educational program is an online study program centered around humanist thought.
The Continuum of Humanist Education (COHE).
COHE is the Internet's first website offering interactive courses in humanist thought. COHE offers humanist education in six study areas, all within the structured model of an interactive distance learning website.
The COHE faculty is comprised of noted educators and activists drawn from the international humanist and skeptical communities. Courses are accessible immediately following a simple registration and enrollment procedure, at no or low cost. COHE offers a free demonstration course, "Introduction to Humanism: A Primer on the History, Philosophy, and Goals of Humanism." A humanist glossary, student message board, and auto-graded quizzes engage and connect students in fresh and stimulating ways. COHE puts humanist education within the reach of anyone, anywhere in the world, with an Internet connection.
Launched in 2004, COHE course material is increasingly used by other organizations and educators for on-line and off-line courses about humanism.
COHE has its own website at www.humanisteducation.com
Humanist Charter School
On Aug. 4, 2005, Carl Sagan Academy became the first humanist charter school to open in America.
The Carl Sagan Academy charter application, submitted by the Humanists of Florida Association, was made possible through a $7,500 grant from the IHS Grant Fund.
Located in east Tampa, Fla., the public charter school is named in honor of the late Carl Sagan. As an astronomer and humanist, Sagan is famous for making science interesting, relevant and understandable to everyday people.
The Carl Sagan Academy curriculum is dedicated to encouraging free inquiry, teaching of the scientific method, rational problem-solving and democratic principles -- key elements of humanism.
For information, visit www.carlsaganacademy.org
Seminars
IHS hosts and teaches seminars on topics relating to humanism, church state separation, and freedom of religion or belief. IHS staff provide seminars and lectures to professional groups and educational establishments, as well as community groups. Inquiries about seminars and lectures should be addressed to our Director of Public Policy and Education, Tim Gordinier, Ph.D.
Humanism Textbook
IHS funded the publication of the United States' first college-level text book on humanism. The Case for Humanism: An Introduction, by Lewis Vaughn and Austin Dacey, was published by Rowman and Littlefield in 2003.
You can purchase this book online at amazon.com