Religious Studies—Master of Divinity 

What if you could prepare your heart and soul to minister to others in a Buddhist-inspired environment?

The Master of Divinity degree at Naropa University is the professional applied Religious Studies degree designed to prepare you for pastoral work, chaplaincy, social service professions, and community engagement, using wisdom gleaned from Buddhist traditions.

Taught in Naropa's Buddhist-inspired context, the MDiv program will expose you to Buddhist teachings and contemplative practices while also emphasizing an interfaith approach to pastoral practice. (You don't need to be a practicing Buddhist to flourish in the program, but we encourage a strong interest and curiosity in Buddhism.)

A Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) internship and fieldwork experience based on your interests will give you the opportunity to integrate the intellectual, contemplative, and pastoral skills you have acquired in the program in a real-world context.

By asking you to participate in the contemplative work of Tibetan Buddhism, you will ready yourself to be of service in the world, developing the awareness, courage, and compassion necessary to be with people, whether they need a celebrant or someone to ease their sorrow.

Religious Studies Master of Divinity Degree Highlights

  • Participate in an introductory meditation weekend—Theravada Vipassana—where you will learn and practice mindfulness in daily activities.
  • Take part in a thirty-day Dathün meditation intensive.
  • Choose an optional service-learning placement in a social service agency, nonprofit, NGO, or other social action project.
  • Take part in small-group Process Labs, which will provide support throughout your MDiv journey.
  • Complete a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) supervised fieldwork experience that allows for personal and theological reflection in weekly seminars.
  • Research and write an MDiv thesis.

Emphases: History of Religions or Tibetan Tradition

Duration: The Master of Divinity program is a 72-credit, three-year program.

Meet Religious Studies Faculty

Careers of Religious Studies MDiv Program Graduates

The Master of Divinity degree from Naropa allows you to serve in a pastoral capacity from a Buddhist perspective. We have graduates who are serving in hospice settings and ministers in Buddhist temples as well as interfaith churches. Others have gone on to become professors, spiritual care professionals in hospitals, prison chaplains, social workers, and other practitioners.

Other Naropa University Religious Studies Programs

Master of Arts in Religious Studies

Master of Arts in Religious Studies with Language

School of Humanities and Interdisiciplinary Studies

Master of Divinity

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