Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 07:07, 5 October 2006

Kepler College of Astrological Arts and Sciences is an unaccredited online institution of higher learning devoted to astrology. It is located in Seattle, WA and is named after Johannes Kepler. Currently, it claims approval by the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board, but lacks accreditation from groups approved by the US Department of Education. Kepler College is not accredited by any accreditation body recognized by its country. According to the US Department of Education, unaccredited degrees and credits might not be acceptable to employers or other institutions, and use of degree titles may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions.

Criticism and controversy

John Silber, chancellor of Boston University wrote, "The promoters of Kepler College have honored Kepler not for his strength but for his weakness, as if a society advocating drunkenness named a school for Ernest Hemingway." Silber noted, "The fact is that astrology, whether judged by its theory or its practice, is bunkum. In a free society there is no reason to prevent those who wish to learn nonsense from finding teachers who want to make money peddling nonsense. But it is inexcusable for the government to certify teachers of nonsense as competent or to authorize - that is, endorse - the granting of degrees in nonsense." The vice provost for research at the University of Washington, Alvin Kwiram, called the school "Ludicrous" because "If I set up a college of tae kwon do, would they approve it? ... What if we had a college of quack medicine?"

See also

• List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
• School accreditation

External links

• Kepler College – Official website
• Seattle Times – Article
• Seattle Weekly– Article

1. "Educational accreditation". US Department of Education.

• Unaccredited institutions of higher learning
• Unaccredited seminaries and theological colleges