Academics › Low Residency Degree Programs

Low-Residency Degree Programs

Get a contemplative education that fits your life.

At Naropa University, we recognize that not everyone can relocate to Boulder, Colo. That’s why we’ve created distance-learning programs that combine the high engagement of our campus experience with online classes.

What Is a Low-Residency Degree Program?

Low-residency programs give you the flexibility of taking most of your classes online. By combining online learning with in-person intensives, which immerse you in contemplative practice and coursework—and build community—you can maintain your work and personal life and live the experience of contemplative education.

Choose from five master’s programs in the low-residency format:

Academics

Quick Facts

5

Low-Residency
Master's
Programs
MA MTC
MA Ecopsychology
MFA Creative Writing
MA Yoga Studies
MDiv

2-3

To Completion
Years

75%

75% of Graduate
Students Receive
Federal or
Institutional Aid
Receive
Financial
Aid

The Beauty of Low-Residency
Master’s Programs at Naropa

Each low-residency degree program brings you to Colorado for in-person, in-depth experiences, while also allowing you to continue your work and community engagements.

For example, the Ecopsychology master’s starts with a thirteen-day residency, continues with a five-day campus intensive later in the program, then culminates in a rite-of-passage wilderness experience. The Yoga Studies program asks you to attend two in-person retreats that offer meditation immersion and introduce courses for the upcoming semester.

Naropa University’s Low-Residency Degree Programs

MA in Ecopsychology
Ready to bridge the gap between humans and nature? Integrate ecological awareness into mental health practices to foster healing for both people and the planet.
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MA in Ecopsychology
MFA in Creative Writing
Experiment with language and be mentored by faculty who are active, published writers.
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MFA in Creative Writing
MA in Yoga Studies
This program is designed for yoga teachers, practitioners, and yogis seeking advanced expertise in yoga’s diverse teachings and historical practices.
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MA in Yoga Studies
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling:
Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling
Naropa’s three-year MA takes a multidimensional approach to online degrees in counseling, emphasizing meditation practice, Gestalt principles, Jungian studies and body awareness.
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MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling:
Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling
Master of Divinity
Learn the path of authentic pastoral work, from the inside out.
READ MORE
Master of Divinity

Student, Transformed

Studying Ecopsychology through the combination of contemplative practice and academics appears to take education beyond just knowing about a subject, topic or field of study. I am finding that the combination of contemplative practice and academic study helps me to develop more personal discipline, an ability to cope with the challenges of life and a creative discovery of what makes me most alive.”—Christopher Quiseng, MA Ecopsychology, 2011

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Contemplative education brings together the best of Western scholarship and Eastern world wisdom traditions. Therefore, your pursuit of wisdom at Naropa means learning both about academic subjects and about your own place in the world. This innovative approach places Naropa on the cutting edge of the newest and most effective methods of teaching and learning.  

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If you’re seeking an education that resonates with both personal fulfillment and global impact, Naropa could be your top choice. At Naropa, you will experience a comprehensive curriculum that integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational approaches. Explore how Naropa can fuel your journey of intellectual and spiritual development.

Life at Naropa

Through its incredibly vibrant and welcoming community,  “Naropa offers a home for those who aren’t willing to conform to convention—the mystic, the healer, the prophet, the rebel, the artist, the revolutionary, the oddball—those who are incredible contributors to the evolution of society and of our planet.”—Core Associate Professor Zvi Ish-Shalom

The Naropa Difference

How is Naropa different from other universities? At Naropa, a liberal arts education balances rigorous academics with powerful interpersonal skills and self-awareness to educate the whole person. Naropa’s contemplative approach is inspired by Buddhist philosophy and the conviction that we can build a diverse, contemplative, enlightened society when we have transformed education to affirm the basic goodness of every person. 

About Naropa

Located in Boulder, Colorado, Naropa University is a Buddhist-inspired, nonsectarian liberal arts university that is recognized as the birthplace of the mindfulness movement. Naropa offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs that emphasize professional and personal growth, intellectual development, and cultivating compassion. 

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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.

As a reminder, notifications will be sent by e-mail and the LiveSafe app.  

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.

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