MA in Contemplative Education

Since its inception in 1974, Naropa University has been a pioneer of contemplative education. The Master of Arts in Contemplative Education program is drawn from Naropa’s root lineage that combines the breadth of academic investigation with the depth of meditative wisdom. Our program is designed for those seeking knowledge and skills for a nonsectarian approach both to how we learn and how we teach. 

Our approach to contemplative education is based upon individual transformation brought about through the cultivation of our inherent spiritual qualities. The Master of Arts in Contemplative Education will instruct you in practices that will enhance your mindfulness, awareness, empathy, authenticity, and in the synchronization of your body, speech, and mind. The development of authentic presence is coupled with academic rigor in disciplines drawn from ancient and modern sources, both East and West. Contemplative academics invite you, for example, into critical analysis in ways that engage multiple dimensions of your intelligence resulting in the union of intellect and intuition.

As you progress through the Master of Arts in Contemplative Education, you will learn how to integrate this new approach into your classroom and everyday life. The practices you will learn here transfer into such areas as: how to design learning environments that invite all styles of learning, how to establish clear boundaries not based on fear but on realistic conditions, how to employ contemplative skills for easing classroom transitions, and how to transform anxieties into effective learning strategies. 

While our program is designed for working educators—from early childhood to University professors—we have found that others in a variety of positions benefit from the program. For this reason we created the Education Beyond the Classroom option. Whether you teach in a classroom or a lecture hall, work in administration or a corporate setting, or if you simply want to study contemplative approaches to learning, you will find our faculty and student body open and excited to learn from each other. Diversity is an important value and concern of both Naropa and the Contemplative Education program.

The program’s 38-credit structure spans two years. The program begins in late June with a low residency session. During these three weeks a vibrant learning community is formed among both new and second-year students. Taking place in the always-beautiful
city of Boulder, Colorado, at Naropa University’s Historic Arapahoe Campus, the summer sessions combine intensive study with contemplative practices. The first and second year urban retreats focus on deepening your transformation into a more contemplative educator, because “we teach who we are.”

The strong cohort community established during the summer supports your transition to online learning during the fall and spring semesters. The distance-learning portion of the program extends your compassionate presence into your classroom or workplace. The online curriculum, simply put, involves practicing various contemplative education methods and studying essential dimensions of this broadening field. As part of your final year you will create an original master’s project that amplifies your particular interests in contemplative education.

Taking classes online allows you to continue working
at your teaching or other job and provides you with flexibility to make your own study schedule. During this portion of your Master of Arts in Contemplative Education you will typically take two courses each semester. This schedule allows you to apply for financial aid and ensures that you can successfully complete the program in two years. 

It is our sincere hope that what we described above gives you a feeling for our program. If you would like more details please see our FAQ page or contact us.