Program Information
Transform Yourself. Transform the World.
At Naropa University you will be earning more than just a bachelor’s degree. You will enter a transformative process. Through the alchemical process of contemplative education you will meet: Yourself. Your community. A creative space for exploration. Resilience, presence and compassion will be your friends along the way. Naropa provides the crucible-like container to facilitate transformative change.
Located in Boulder, Colorado, Naropa University is a private, nonprofit, liberal arts university offering many unique undergraduate degree programs. Our undergraduate majors are in the arts, education, environmental studies, peace studies, psychology and religious studies disciplines.
Transfer students follow the same application process and are afforded all of the same benefits as first-time students. Please submit all college transcripts, as well as high school transcripts when applying for admission.
Meet BA Art Therapy Student Luci Gaddie
Luci Gaddie is an undergraduate student majoring in Art Therapy at Naropa University. She is involved with various student groups on campus, including serving as student representative on the Naropa Board of Trustees and as a Student Union of Naropa officer for visual arts programs and students who are BIPOC. In their role on the board of trustees, Gaddie acts as an advocate for the student voice and hopes to help build sustainable, artistic, BIPOC spaces.
Originally from Houston Texas, Gaddie moved to Boulder to attend Naropa. She speaks about how her experience has been transformative personally and professionally.
Find Your Undergraduate Major
Find Your Undergraduate Minor
A minor is an optional, 12-credit academic specialization within a focused curricular area.
New Minor in Psychedelic Studies
Also available online
The mission of the BA Psychedelic Studies Minor is to prepare students for employment in the emerging field of psychedelic studies by providing a humanities focused introduction to psychedelic practices, educating about the history, development and cultural appropriation of psychedelic practices, and developing skills needed to think through the challenges of an emergent industry.
Required Course
INTD 220/e Intro to Psychedelic Studies (3) (Fall ’24)
Choose 9 credits from the following courses:
- PSYB 354/e Transpersonal Psychology (3)
- PSYB 415/e Maitri: Working With Emotions (3)
- PSYB 471/e Theories of Psychedelic Assisted Therapies (3) (Spring ’25)
- PSYB 495e Special Topics Advanced Research: Decolonial Psychology (3)
- PSYB 209 Herbalism (3)
- WRI 490 Special Topics: White Rabbit: The Poetry of Psychedelics
Planned Courses
- Ecopsychedelics (3)
- Exploring Psychedelic Science (3)
- Psychedelics and Spirituality (3)
Total Credits 12
Art Therapy Minor
Also available online
Required Courses
- ATH230 Introduction to Art Therapy (3)
- ATH330 Art Therapy Theory and Applications (3)
- ATH430 Art Therapy Studio Methods (3)
- PSYB314 Psychology of Mindfulness Meditation (3)
Total Credits 12
Contemplative Education Minor
Choose 12 credits from the following courses:
- EDU245 Multicultural Education & Contemplative Critical Pedagogy (3)
- EDU300 Nature and Education (3)
- EDU330 Holistic & Contemplative Teaching Methods (3)
- EDU370 Teaching the Exceptional Student in the General Education Classroom (3)
- EDU445 Multicultural Children’s Literature (3)
Total Credits 12
Contemplative Martial Arts Minor
To minor in Contemplative Martial Arts, students must complete 9 practice credits in one Contemplative Martial Arts discipline (Taijiquan or Aikido) plus 3 credits in another Contemplative Martial Arts course.
Total Credits 12
Creative Writing & Literature Minor
Also available online
To minor in Creative Writing & Literature, students may choose any 12 undergraduate WRI credits. This can include Summer Writing Program (2–6 credits).
Total Credits 12
Environmental Studies Minor
Also available online
To minor in Environmental Studies, students may choose any 12 undergraduate ENV credits.
Total Credits 12
Gender & Womens Studies Minor
Also available online
Required Courses
- INTD210 Introduction to Gender & Women’s Studies (3)
- INTD310 Feminist & Queer Theory Methods of Inquiry (3)
Choose 6 credits from the following courses:
- PSYB355 Dynamics of Intimate Relationships (3)
- REL212 Queer Theory, Feminism & Religion (3)
- REL334 Hindu Tantra (3)
- WRI441 Literature Seminar: Women Writers (3)
- Special Topics upon approval of INTD program chair
Total Credits 12
Music Minor
To enhance experience in the arts, students may wish to pursue a minor in Music. Students may choose any 12 music credits to fulfill minor requirements.
Total Credits 12
Performance Minor
To enhance experience in the arts, students may wish to pursue a minor in Performance. Students may choose any 12 performance credits to fulfill minor requirements.
Total Credits 12
Psychology Minor
Also available online
To minor in Psychology, students may choose any 12 Psychology credits.
Total Credits 12
Religious Studies Minor
Also available online
Required Courses
Choose 3 credits
- REL150 Buddhist Journey of Transformation: An Introduction (3)
- REL210 Religion & Mystical Experience (3)
- REL247 Embodying Sacred Wisdom: Modern Saints (3)
Choose 9 credits
- REL150 Buddhist Journey of Transformation: An Introduction (3)
- REL158W Breeze of Simplicity: Meditation Weekend (1)
- REL160 Meditation Practicum I: Freeing the Mind (3)
- REL210 Religion & Mystical Experience (3)
- REL212 Queer Theory, Feminism, and Religion (3)
- REL229 Contemplative Judaism (3)
- REL240 Integrating One’s Inner and Outer World (3)
- REL247 Embodying Sacred Wisdom: Modern Saints (3)
- REL250 Spirituality and Creative Expression (3)
- REL255W Opening the Heart: Meditation Weekend (1)
- REL314 Contemplative Islam: An Introduction to Its History, Thought, and Practice (3)
- REL321 Kabbalah and Consciousness (3)
- REL323 Religious Experience in Africa: Flash of the Spirit (3)
- REL325 Contemplative Christianity (3)
- REL334 Hindu Tantra (3)
- REL338 Sufism: An Introduction to its History, Thought, and Practice (3)
- REL345 Zen Buddhism (3)
- REL346 Wisdom and Compassion: A Buddhist Path (3)
- REL351 Theories of Alternate Spiritualities and New Religious Movements (3)
- REL355 Introductory Sanskrit: Language of the Gods (3)
Total Credits 12
Note: For students interested in taking courses on Buddhism, it is recommended that they be taken in the following order: (1) REL150 and/or REL240, (2); REL346, (3); REL348. The additional meditation courses, including REL345: Zen Buddhism, can be taken at any time.
Sanskrit Language Minor
Also available online
Sanskrit may be taken to fulfill a minor requirement. A sequence of four courses (4 credits each) is offered in Sanskrit. The requirement of the minor is to take the first three of these four courses. However, students are encouraged to consider taking the fourth semester of the language as an elective.
- REL277 Sanskrit I (4)
- REL287 Sanskrit II (4)
- REL377 Sanskrit III (4)
Total Credits 12
Visual Arts Minor
Also available online
To minor in Visual Arts, students may choose any 12 Visual Arts credits. At least one World Art course is recommended.
Total Credits 12
Yoga Studies Minor
To minor in Yoga Studies, students must complete 9 practice credits in yoga plus 3 credits in another Yoga Studies course.
