AcademicsGraduate AcademicsDivinityCourses & Requirements

Courses & Requirements

On-Campus or Low-Residency

Students have the option of a low-residency or on-campus degree program, as well as a summer start or fall start. The sequence of courses for the four options is outlined below.

Please note that the low-residency program includes one additional semester, to disperse the coursework to be more manageable for those with busy schedules and other commitments. The low-residency version of the program does not include live class meetings and instead utilizes mostly on-demand programming with live class meetings when deemed necessary.

Four Residential Practice and Study Retreats

Both the on-campus and low-residency degree options share four residential retreats – three nine-day retreats and one seven-day retreat – that bring the students together with their faculty to build community and provide a face-to-face, intensive engagement with contemplative education.

The nine-day retreats occur in the fall and spring of the first year, and the spring of the second year. The seven-day retreat occurs at the end of one of the summer sessions, and which summer session depends upon the year when the student starts the program.

Contemplative Practice

The MDiv degree program has four meditation practicum courses that complement the core courses on Buddhist teachings. Students are paired with personal Meditation Instructors and are asked to meditate for five hours each week. The degree also includes a noncredit, seven-day Contemplative Practice Intensive requirement to be completed at a retreat center of the student’s choosing.

First Year SummerCredits
REL605e Pathways of Spiritual Care Giving2
REL749e Contemporary American Religion3
Religious Studies Electives 1
SUBTOTAL6
  
First year, fall 
REL600e Meditation Practicum I: Seeds of Peace3
REL611e First Turning of the Wheel: Nature of Mind and Emotions 3
REL602e Contemplative Communication in Spiritual Caregiving3
SUBTOTAL9
  
First year, spring 
REL615e Power, Privilege, and Diversity3
REL614e Mind and Its World3
REL620e Meditation Practicum II: Self & No-Self 3
SUBTOTAL9
  
  
Second Year Summer 
Religious Studies Electives 7
Optional Electives: Nitartha Institute Shedra-Gomdra Option only, Monthlong Summer program * 
REL547 Contemplative Practice Intensive—Mahamudra Meditation3
REL701 The Middle Way School3
SUBTOTAL7
  
Second year, fall 
REL635e Meditation Practicum III: Mind-Training3
REL661e Second Turning of the Wheel: The Bodhisattva Path3
REL714e Introduction to Spiritual Care3
REL651e Contemplative Meditation Intensive**0
SUBTOTAL9
  
  
Second year, spring 
REL710e Third Turning of the Wheel: Yogacara andBuddha Nature3
REL780e Meditation Practicum IV: Maitri and Mandala3
REL779e Interreligious Dialog3
SUBTOTAL9
  
Third year, summer 
REL853e MDiv Capstone Seminar3
Religious Studies Electives4
SUBTOTAL7
  
Third year, fall 
REL658e Ritual Arts3
REL763e Art of Spiritual Teaching and Formation3
REL804e Ethics and Spiritual Caregiving3
SUBTOTAL9
  
  
Third year, spring 
REL747e Master of Divinity Clinical Pastoral Education6
REL880e Comprehensive Exam0
REL885e Master’s Project (1) /REL884e MDIV Thesis1
SUBTOTAL7
  
Total Credits:72

Takes three years and one summer semester to complete.

First year, fall

All courses include a nine-day retreat during the first few weeks of the semester.

  • REL600e Meditation Practicum I: Seeds of Peace (3)
  • REL611e First Turning of the Wheel: Nature of Mind and Emotions (3)
  • REL602e Contemplative Communication in Spiritual Caregiving (3)

SUBTOTAL 9

First year, spring

All courses include a nine-day retreat during the first few weeks of the semester.

  • REL615e Power, Privilege, and Diversity (3)
  • REL620e Meditation Practicum II: Self & No-Self (3)
  • REL614e Mind and Its World (3)

SUBTOTAL 9

First year, summer

  • REL605e Pathways of Spiritual Care (2)
  • REL749e Contemporary American Religions (3)
  • Religious Studies Electives (1)

SUBTOTAL 6

Second year, fall

  • REL635e Meditation Practicum III: Mind-Training (3)
  • REL661e Second Turning of the Wheel: The Bodhisattva Path (3)
  • REL714e Introduction to Spiritual Care (3)
  • REL651e Contemplative Meditation Intensive (noncredit)

SUBTOTAL 9

Second year, spring

Some courses include a nine-day retreat during the first few weeks of the semester.

  • REL780e Meditation Practicum IV: Maitri and Mandala (3)
  • REL710e Third Turning of the Wheel: Yogacara and Buddha Nature (3)
  • REL779e Interspiritual Dialogue (3)

SUBTOTAL 9

Second year, summer

  • REL853e MDIV Capstone Seminar (3)
  • Religious Studies Electives (4)

SUBTOTAL 7

Third year, fall

Some courses include a nine-day retreat during the first few weeks of the semester.

  • REL658e Ritual Arts (3)
  • REL763e Art of Spiritual Teaching and Formation (3)
  • REL804e Ethics and Spiritual Caregiving (3)

SUBTOTAL 9

Third year, spring

  • REL747e Master of Divinity Clinical Pastoral Education (6) 
  • REL 880e Comprehensive Exam (noncredit)
  • REL885e Master’s Project OR REL884e MDIV Thesis (1)

SUBTOTAL 7

Third year, summer

  • Religious Studies Electives (7)

Or Nitartha Institute Shedra-Gomdra Option only, Monthlong Residential Summer program

  • REL547 Contemplative Practice Intensive—Mahamudra Meditation (3)
  • REL701 The Middle Way School (3)

SUBTOTAL 7/6

Total Credits: 72

Fall Online Electives

  • REL577e The History and Philosophies of Yoga (3)
  • REL617e Meditation in Yogic and Tantric Traditions (3)
  • REL634e Hindu Tantra (3)
  • REL507/507e Sanskrit I (4)
  • TRA515e Yoga I (3)
  • REL645/645e Methods and Issues in the Study of Religion (3)
  • REL699 Independent Study (0.5–4)

Fall Residential Electives

  • REL590 Special Topics in Religious Studies: Queer Theory (3)
  • REL623 Religious Experience in Africa: Sacred Cosmos, Ritual, and Community (3) (SP23)
  • TRA503 Yoga History/Theory/Philosophy (3)
  • TRA505 Taijiquan I (3)
  • TRA520 Ikebana/Kado I (3)
  • REL504W Breeze of Simplicity: Meditation Weekend (1)
  • REL609W Mindfulness Instructor Training I (1)^
  • REL809W Mindfulness Instructor Training III (1)^

Spring Online Electives

  • PSYE790e Topics in Ecopsychology (3) SP REL530e Yoga and Globalization: The Inception of Postural Yoga (3)
  • REL535e Kabbalah and Consciousness (3)
  • REL672e Non-Dualism in Theory and Practice (3) (SP23) TRA515e Yoga I (3)
  • REL546/546e Buddhism and Modernity (3)
  • REL655/655e Trends in Religious Studies (3)
  • REL699 Independent Study
  • REL751/ REL751e Buddhism in Tibet (3) even years
  • REL760/760e Buddhist Tantra (3) (prerequisite REL661 or REL614) Odd years

Spring Residential Electives

  • REL540 Zen Buddhism (3)
  • TRA512 Yoga Meditation (3)
  • REL554W Opening the Heart: Meditation Weekend (1)
  • REL525 Contemplative Christianity (3)
  • REL529 Contemplative Judaism (3)
  • REL701 The Middle Way School (3)
  • REL709W Mindfulness Instructor Training II (1)^

Residential Intensives

  • REL544 Sufism: An Introduction to its History, Thought, and Practice (3)
  • REL545 Contemplative Islam: An Introduction to Its History, Thought, and Practice (3)

^The prerequisites for REL609W are Meditation Practicum I and II, as well as a Buddhist monthlong meditation intensive, two weeks of which must be completed before the class begins.

First Year SummerCredits
REL605e Pathways of Spiritual Care2
REL749e Contemporary American Religion3
Religious Studies Electives1
SUBTOTAL6
  
First year, fall 
REL600 Meditation Practicum I: Seeds of Peace3
REL611 First Turning of the Wheel: Nature of Mind and Emotions3
REL602 Contemplative Communication in Spiritual Caregiving3
SUBTOTAL9
  
First year, spring 
REL615 Power, Privilege, and Diversity3
REL620 Meditation Practicum II: Self and No-Self3
REL614 Mind and It’s World3
SUBTOTAL9
  
First Year Summer 
Religious Studies Electives6
Optional Electives: Nitartha Institute Shedra-Gomdra Option only, Monthlong Summer program * 
REL547 Contemplative Practice Intensive—Mahamudra Meditation3
REL701 The Middle Way School3
SUBTOTAL6
  
Second year, fall 
REL635 Meditation Practicum III: Mind-Training3
REL661 Second Turning of the Wheel: The Bodhisattva Path3
REL714 Introduction to Spiritual Care 3
REL651e Contemplative Meditation Intensive (noncredit)**0
SUBTOTAL9
  
Second year, spring 
REL710 Third Turning of the Wheel: Yogacara and Buddha Nature 3
REL780 Meditation Practicum IV: Maitri and Mandala3
REL779 Interreligious Dialog3
Religious Studies Electives1
SUBTOTAL10
  
Second year, summer 
REL853e MDiv Capstone Seminar3
Religious Studies Electives4
SUBTOTAL7
  
Third year, fall 
REL658 Ritual Arts3
REL763 Art of Spiritual Teaching and Formation3
REL804 Ethics and Spiritual Caregiving3
SUBTOTAL9
  
Third year, spring 
REL747 Master of Divinity Clinical Pastoral Education6
REL880 Comprehensive Exam0
REL885 Master’s Project /REL884 MDIV Thesis1
SUBTOTAL7
  
  
Total Credits: 72

Takes three years to complete.

First year, fall

All courses include a nine-day retreat during the first few weeks of the semester.

  • REL600 Meditation Practicum I: Seeds of Peace (3)
  • REL611 First Turning of the Wheel: Nature of Mind and Emotions (3)
  • REL602 Contemplative Communication in Spiritual Caregiving (3)

SUBTOTAL 9

First year, spring

All courses include a nine-day retreat during the first few weeks of the semester.

  • REL615 Power, Privilege, and Diversity (3)
  • REL620 Meditation Practicum II: Self & No-Self (3)
  • REL614 Mind and Its World (3)
  • Religious Studies Electives (3)

SUBTOTAL 12

First year, summer

  • REL605e Pathways of Spiritual Care (2)
  • REL749e Contemporary American Religions (3)
  • Religious Studies Electives (1)

SUBTOTAL 6

Second year, fall

  • REL635 Meditation Practicum III: Mind-Training (3)
  • REL661 Second Turning of the Wheel: The Bodhisattva Path (3)
  • REL714 Introduction to Spiritual Care (3)
  • REL651 Contemplative Meditation Intensive (noncredit)
  • Religious Studies Electives (3)

SUBTOTAL 12

Second year, spring

Some courses include a nine-day retreat during the first few weeks of the semester.

  • REL780 Meditation Practicum IV: Maitri and Mandala (3)
  • REL710 Third Turning of the Wheel: Yogacara and Buddha Nature (3)
  • REL779 Interspiritual Dialogue (3)
  • Religious Studies Electives (1)

SUBTOTAL 10

Second year, summer

  • REL853e MDIV Capstone Seminar (3)
  • Religious Studies Electives (4)

SUBTOTAL 7

Third year, fall

Some courses include a nine-day retreat during the first few weeks of the semester.

  • REL658 Ritual Arts (3)
  • REL763 Art of Spiritual Teaching and Formation (3)
  • REL804 Ethics and Spiritual Caregiving (3)

SUBTOTAL 9

Third year, spring

  • REL747e Master of Divinity Clinical Pastoral Education (6) 
  • REL 880 Comprehensive Exam (noncredit)
  • REL885 Master’s Project OR REL884 MDIV Thesis (1)

SUBTOTAL 7

Third year, summer

Optional Electives or  Nitartha Institute Shedra-Gomdra Option only, Monthlong Residential Summer program 

  • REL547 Contemplative Practice Intensive—Mahamudra Meditation (3)
  • REL701 The Middle Way School (3)

SUBTOTAL 0-6

Total Credits: 72

Fall Online Electives

  • REL577e The History and Philosophies of Yoga (3)
  • REL617e Meditation in Yogic and Tantric Traditions (3)
  • REL634e Hindu Tantra (3)
  • REL507/507e Sanskrit I (4)
  • TRA515e Yoga I (3)
  • REL645/645e Methods and Issues in the Study of Religion (3)
  • REL699 Independent Study (0.5–4)

Fall Residential Electives

  • REL590 Special Topics in Religious Studies: Queer Theory (3)
  • REL623 Religious Experience in Africa: Sacred Cosmos, Ritual, and Community (3) (SP23)
  • TRA503 Yoga History/Theory/Philosophy (3)
  • TRA505 Taijiquan I (3)
  • TRA520 Ikebana/Kado I (3)
  • REL504W Breeze of Simplicity: Meditation Weekend (1)
  • REL609W Mindfulness Instructor Training I (1)^
  • REL809W Mindfulness Instructor Training III (1)^

Spring Online Electives

  • PSYE790e Topics in Ecopsychology (3) SP
  • REL530e Yoga and Globalization: The Inception of Postural Yoga (3)
  • REL535e Kabbalah and Consciousness (3)
  • REL672e Non-Dualism in Theory and Practice (3) (SP23) TRA515e Yoga I (3)
  • REL546/546e Buddhism and Modernity (3)
  • REL655/655e Trends in Religious Studies (3)
  • REL699 Independent Study (0.5–4)
  • REL751/ REL751e Buddhism in Tibet (3) even years
  • REL760/760e Buddhist Tantra (3) (prerequisite REL661 or REL614) Odd years

Spring Residential Electives

  • REL540 Zen Buddhism (3)
  • TRA512 Yoga Meditation (3)
  • REL554W Opening the Heart: Meditation Weekend (1)
  • REL525 Contemplative Christianity (3)
  • REL529 Contemplative Judaism (3)
  • REL701 The Middle Way School (3)
  • REL709W Mindfulness Instructor Training II (1)^

Residential Intensives

  • REL544 Sufism: An Introduction to its History, Thought, and Practice (3)
  • REL545 Contemplative Islam: An Introduction to Its History, Thought, and Practice (3)

^The prerequisites for REL609W are Meditation Practicum I and II, as well as a Buddhist monthlong meditation intensive, two weeks of which must be completed before the class begins.

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Naropa Campuses Closed on Friday, March 15, 2024

Due to adverse weather conditions, all Naropa campuses will be closed Friday, March 15, 2024.  All classes that require a physical presence on campus will be canceled. All online and low-residency programs are to meet as scheduled.

Based on the current weather forecast, the Healing with the Ancestors Talk & Breeze of Simplicity program scheduled for Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday will be held as planned.

Staff that do not work remotely or are scheduled to work on campus, can work remotely. Staff that routinely work remotely are expected to continue to do so.

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Regardless of Naropa University’s decision, if you ever believe the weather conditions are unsafe, please contact your supervisor and professors.  Naropa University trusts you to make thoughtful and wise decisions based on the conditions and situation in which you find yourself in.