Atlantic University

{{Short description|University in Virginia, United States}} {{other uses}} {{COI|date=July 2016}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox university | name = Atlantic University | image = | established = {{Start date and age|1930}} | type = [[Private university]] | president = Kevin J. Todeschi (CEO) | city = [[Virginia Beach]] | state = [[Virginia]] | country = [[United States]] | postgrad = 116 | administrative_staff = 5 | faculty = 25 | campus = [[Urban design|Urban]] | accreditation = [[Distance Education Accrediting Commission|DEAC]] | website = [https://www.atlanticuniv.edu/ atlanticuniv.edu] }}

'''Atlantic University''' is a [[private university]] in [[Virginia Beach]], [[Virginia]]. The university is associated with [[Edgar Cayce]]'s [[Association for Research and Enlightenment]] (A.R.E.),<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lucas|first1=Phillip Charles|title="Association for Research and Enlightenment", Encyclopedia of Religion|date=2005|publisher=Macmillan Reference USA|location=Detroit|pages=559–561|edition=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Lascara|first1=Virginia|title=Edgar Cayce's message of hope, health and healing lives after him|url=http://insidebiz.com/news/edgar-cayces-message-hope-health-and-healing-lives-after-him|access-date=9 December 2015|publisher=Inside Business|date=5 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905082800/http://insidebiz.com/news/edgar-cayces-message-hope-health-and-healing-lives-after-him|archive-date=5 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> and its administrative offices are in the Don and Nancy de Laski Education Center<ref name="Edgar Cayce association expands Va. Beach footprint">{{cite web|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2012/09/edgar-cayce-association-expands-va-beach-footprint|title=Edgar Cayce association expands Va. Beach footprint|publisher=Viginian-Pilot, Norfolk, VA, published online September 3, 2012|access-date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. to Break Ground on New Education Center">{{cite web|url=http://www.edgarcayce.org/are/mediaGuidelines.aspx?id=5229&|title=Edgar Cayce's A.R.E. to Break Ground on New Education Center|publisher=A.R.E., Release Date September 6, 2011|access-date=29 September 2015}}</ref> on the main A.R.E. campus. The university is [[Higher education accreditation in the United States|accredited]] by the [[Distance Education Accrediting Commission]] (DEAC)<ref>{{cite web|title=Directory|url=http://www.chea.org/Directories/private.asp|website=Council for Higher Education Accreditation|access-date=4 November 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224213200/http://www.chea.org/Directories/private.asp|archive-date=24 December 2016}}</ref> and licensed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).<ref name="SCHEV, Private Institutions exempt from certification">{{cite web|url=http://www.schev.edu/students/privateexempt.asp|title=Private Institutions exempt from certification|publisher=SCHEV|access-date=25 September 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003192710/http://www.schev.edu/students/PrivateExempt.asp|archive-date=3 October 2011}}</ref>

==History== Atlantic University received its charter on April 29, 1930, with a goal of offering a [[liberal arts education]] through a [[holistic]] perspective.<ref name=Chronology>{{cite web|url=http://www.edgarcayce.org/are/edgarcayce.aspx?id=1971|title=Chronology of Events in Edgar Cayce's Life|publisher=A.R.E.|access-date=29 September 2015}}</ref> The university closed in 1931,<ref name="Rediscovering the Roots of Atlantic University">{{cite web|url= http://www.edgarcayce.org/are/blog.aspx?id=11928&blogid=445|title=Rediscovering the Roots of Atlantic University|publisher=A.R.E. Blog|access-date=19 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Hanegraaff|first1=Wouter J.|title=Dictionary of Gnosis and Western Esotericism|date=2006|publisher=Brill Academic Publishers|location=Boston, MA|page=248}}</ref> but the [[charter]] was kept active. In the fall semester of 1985,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=McLemee|first1=Scott|title=Prophet and Loss|journal=The Chronicle of Higher Education|date=12 September 2003|volume=50|issue=3|page=A48}}</ref> Atlantic University reopened as a [[graduate school]] with a curriculum that focused on Transpersonal Studies.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Davis|first1=James|title=Cayce History There's a New Book, an A&E 'Biography' Profile, and a New Wave of Interest in the 'Sleeping Prophet'|journal=Sun Sentinel|date=15 December 1997|page=1E}}</ref> The first class graduated in 1989.

Initially the [[Master of Arts]] in [[Transpersonal studies|Transpersonal Studies]] was offered as a residential program with a few independent study distance education options via a [[correspondence course]] model. Over the years, the ratio of distance to residential courses changed until the majority of courses were taught as distance education. The method of instruction of distance courses also changed from a correspondence course model to web-based courses to courses on [[CD]]. In 2010, the conversion to a truly online school with three semesters began. As the university changed, continuing education and personal enrichment courses were added. In 2017, the university changed from three 14-week semesters to four 12-week semesters allowing for students to complete their program more efficiently. In recent years, the Master of Arts in Transpersonal Studies was changed to Master of Arts in [[Transpersonal psychology|Transpersonal Psychology]], thus making the program more accessible and understandable to the outside public. In addition to the Transpersonal psychology degree, Atlantic University offers a Master of Arts in Mindful Leadership, a Graduate Certificate in Regression [[Hypnosis]], a Graduate Certificate in Mindful Leadership, a non-credit certificate in Spiritual Guidance Mentor Training, and Lifelong Learning certificates to adult learners.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.atlanticuniv.edu/ Official website] *[http://www.edgarcayce.org/are/education.aspx Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.)]

[[Category:Atlantic University]] [[Category:Private universities and colleges in Virginia]] [[Category:Distance education institutions based in the United States]] [[Category:Distance Education Accrediting Commission]] [[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1930]] [[Category:1930 establishments in Virginia]] [[Category:Education in Virginia Beach, Virginia]]