How to Apply

Naropa seeks graduate students who have a strong appetite for learning and enjoy experiential education in an academic setting. Those interested in engaging in a personally rigorous program within a contemplative community are encouraged to apply.

Priority Deadlines and Dates

Application Priority Deadline

Naropa University uses a rolling admissions policy in order to encourage applicants to apply in a timely manner. All applications received by the priority deadline will be given equal consideration. Applying by the priority deadline also ensures that all application documents reach the Office of Admissions in time, and provides the greatest chance for applicants to be considered for an admissions interview and financial aid eligibility. All applications received after the priority deadline will continue to be reviewed until the school year begins or until programs are full. To ensure fairness, applications received after the priority deadline will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. If you are applying after the priority deadline, please check with the Office of Admissions website to ensure that your program is still accepting applications.

  • January 15 for summer semester admission (MA Contemplative Education and MA Transpersonal Psychology: Ecopsychology)
  • January 15 for fall semester admission (All programs except MA Contemplative Education and MA Transpersonal Psychology: Ecopsychology)

Please note: all applicants applying to the MFA Writing & Poetics program are encouraged to apply no later than February 1, 2013 for priority consideration. Applications will still be considered after this date.

Update (as of 5/07/13) - the following programs are now closed:

  • MA in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology: Art Therapy
  • MA in Somatic Counseling Psychology
  • MA in Contemplative Education 

The next chance to apply for these programs will be for Summer 2014 and Fall 2014 enrollment.

Graduate School of Psychology Spring Interview Dates

The Graduate School of Psychology requires an admissions interview as part of its admissions process. Interviews are available by invitation only. In order to be invited to participate, all applicants must have a completed application on file.

The following programs are still accepting applications for Summer 2013 and Fall 2013, as indicated below.

  • MA in Contemplative Psychotherapy (Fall 2013)
  • MA in Transpersonal Psychology: Ecopsychology (Summer 2013) until May 17, 2013
  • MA in Environmental Leadership (Fall 2013)
  • Master of Divinity (Fall 2013)
  • MA in Religious Studies (Fall 2013)
  • MA in Religious Studies with Language (Fall 2013)
  • MA in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology: Counseling Psychology (Fall 2013)
  • MA in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology: Wilderness Therapy (Fall 2013)
  • MFA in Theater: Contemporary Performance (Fall 2013)
  • MFA in Writing & Poetics (Fall 2013)

Two Ways of Applying

Apply to one of Naropa University's graduate programs in one of the following ways:

  1. Apply online. This is the preferred method for applying. When you apply online, you will be required to submit the application fee with a Visa or MasterCard. Current students, staff, faculty, and alumni are not required to submit an application fee.
  2. Print a paper application and send it to our Office of Admissions. You may also request that an application be mailed to you.

All mailed documents (including official transcripts and letters of recommendation) should be sent to the following address:

Naropa University
Office of Admissions
2130 Arapahoe Ave.
Boulder, CO 80302

Graduate Application Requirements

Regardless of which application method you choose, a completed application includes:

  1. Completed application form. Using the online application is strongly encouraged. 
  2. $60 nonrefundable application fee.
  3. Statement of interest (view the prompts here).
  4. Current resumé detailing academic and employment history. MA Transpersonal Counseling Psychology: Counseling Psychology applicants are required to submit an extended resumé (please see supplemental application information for the program below).
  5. Two letters of recommendation: both must be on or attached to the form provided. You can download the letter of recommendation form here. These recommendations must not be older than twelve months, and may not be from family members, spouses, or current or former therapists (archival copies accepted if within these parameters). The letters must be in sealed envelopes, and must have the original signature of the recommendation writer. Scans, faxes, copies, emails, and opened letters cannot be accepted. If extenuating circumstances prevent the use of mail, please contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@naropa.edu.
  6. Official transcripts of all previous college-level study that reflect the completion of a Bachelors degree, sent directly to Naropa University's Office of Admissions from the registrar of previous institutions, or in its original sealed envelope from the previous institution, if submitted with other admissions materials. If educated outside of the United States, official evaluations of transcripts are required.
  7. GRE, Miller Analogy Tests, and other standardized test scores are completely optional, and applicants will not be penalized for not including scores.
  8. Proof of prerequisites may be required by specific programs (as listed in #11). To have prerequisite evaluations conducted by a graduate admissions counselor, please email admissions@naropa.edu.
  9. Writing samples, auditions, portfolios, and proof of prior professional experience may be required by specific programs (as listed in #11). Please closely read the requirements and follow all instructions.
  10. If a graduate applicant answered "Yes" to question #2 in the "Disciplinary History" section of the graduate application ("Have you ever been served with a restraining order, or a protection order, or been convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime?") the applicant will need to mail in the Disciplinary Form to the Office of Admissions.
  11. In addition to the standard graduate application requirements listed above, supplemental application materials and/or prerequisites are required by the following programs:

Please Note: Applicants may not apply to more than one Naropa graduate program at a time. Programs cannot be combined into custom, interdisciplinary programs.

International Applicants: Additional admissions documents are required for international applicants, and for applicants who have studied outside of the U.S. Please carefully review these additional requirements for international applicants, and contact the Office of Admissions with any questions.

The Office of Admissions strongly recommends that applicants submit one envelope containing all of the elements of a complete application (including the letters or recommendation and the sealed official transcripts) by the priority deadline.

Applications will be reviewed once the Office of Admissions receives all of the aforementioned materials. For many programs, selected applicants are required to come to the university for an interview. If international applicants are invited for an in-person interview, they are strongly urged to come to campus; however, a telephone interview may occasionally be substituted. If candidates are unable to make the in-person interview due to an extreme situation, they will discuss alternative options with the interview committee once they have been invited to the interview.

Establishing Transfer Credit

Naropa University's graduate programs may accept up to 6 semester units of graduate transfer credit from other universities. This is not an automatic policy; it is at the discretion of each department. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Credits must have been earned within five years of application to Naropa and must carry the grade of "B" or better. No Pass (P), Credit (CR), Audited (A), or Satisfactory (S) work will be accepted. Credits must come from a regionally accredited institutions (international on a case-by-case basis), and no credit will be awarded for contemplative practice courses or life experience.

Graduate Admissions

©