Naropa’s Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies offers courses that examine and explore the phenomenon of religion and its effect on individuals and culture.
Naropa’s approach to the study of religion is respectful, nonsectarian, contemplative, as well as critical. You will study religion from both a history of religions standpoint, as well as the perspective of the practitioner, and on occasion, experientially.
Naropa’s Religious Studies program focuses on historical religious traditions and emerging forms of religious practice, including historical context, theoretical concepts, nomenclature, and an experiential understanding. Thus, students will be given the opportunity to gain a true understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and beliefs in depth.
Naropa’s contemplative approach challenges students to consider and/or reconsider religion from a personal and experiential perspective, and to understand the perspectives of others within religious traditions in context.
Students will learn to articulate religious perspectives in a collaborative learning environment. This involves actively participating in group discussions and sharing insights.
Naropa University’s undergraduate program is a four-year, fully accredited Bachelor of Arts Degree program. The Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies is a 37-credit major in which students explore religion in a variety of ways, with an emphasis on contemplative practices and traditions. Course offerings include African, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sufi traditions.
All students must take a series of 12 credits that introduce the study of religion and contemplative practice.
Students also choose 9 credits from Religious Traditions courses, which serve as introductory studies of major world religions, 6 credits from Contemporary Issues in Religion courses, and 9 credits from Contemplative Practice courses.
Your religious studies degree will include a diversity of courses as rich and varied as jobs for religious studies graduates.
Students delve into the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of shamatha-vipashyana through sitting meditation. Weekly lectures focus on experiential facets like understanding impermanence, managing emotions, and fostering maitri, or loving-kindness. Alongside lectures, students participate in weekly discussion groups and have individual sessions with meditation instructors. The course includes consistent daily meditation. Evaluation methods include both midterm and final oral exams.
A Bachelor of Arts degree (120 credits) consists of a Core Curriculum (24 credits) and at least one major, as well as minors and/or elective courses of the student’s choosing.
The Religious Studies Major consists of 37 credit hours.
Explore a short, self-paced course with sample classes, teachings from faculty, and real stories from students and alumnx about their experience. Get a feel for how learning happens here through reflection, practice, and real-world application.
At Naropa, you’ll learn from authors and scholars who have contributed widely to the field of religious studies. You’ll study with lineage holders—rabbis, yogis, ministers, and priests—who fully embody the teachings of their belief systems.
Naropa is the only school in the West with a mission based on mindfulness and contemplative learning. With our religious studies program, you’ll explore religious traditions from Christianity to Sufism, experience contemplative practices from around the world, and examine the role of religion in contemporary culture.
Naropa’s commitment to diversity extends to our curriculum. Not only will you learn about many different religious traditions and their communities, but also about differences and cultural contexts within and across them.
Students actively participate in and demonstrate their commitment to contemplative practices, engaging in a variety of reflective activities. Through their involvement, they express a deep connection with these practices, fostering a deeper understanding and integration of contemplation into their personal and academic lives.
Dive deep into self-inquiry through our contemplative, Buddhist-inspired approach.
Understand and appreciate diverse cultures and beliefs.
Bring your most authentic selves to meaningful work.
Become skilled at solving problems in a community of peers.
Gain valuable communication and problem-solving skills.
Many graduates of Naropa’s BA in Religious Studies program enter careers in writing, translating, and teaching, while many others go on to pursue advanced degrees in a range of fields.
The unique approaches I take to business are positively disruptive within my career field. I hope that my impact will continue to affect further positive change in my industry. I often find myself amazed and inspired by the way business-as-usual companies are leaning towards themes like authenticity, diversity, and civic engagement as unique value propositions—precisely the areas Naropa excels in teaching.
Naropa is the only school in the West with a mission based on mindfulness and contemplative learning. Naropa is uniquely equipped to prepare your intellect and your spirit for a meaningful future. Naropa’s Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies equips you with the in-depth knowledge and interpersonal skills necessary for a meaningful and rewarding career.
Naropa is the first accredited university to bring contemplative education to the West, putting mindfulness at the heart of every pursuit we engage in. At Naropa, not only do we pursue academic excellence for our students and faculty alike, but we also foster community, self-reflection, and purposeful education to drive change in the world.
Associate Director of Admissions
Naropa University’s unique approach values both academic excellence and the willingness to carry out introspective work.
Learn more about admission requirements and our application process.
Students with a 3.0 GPA or Higher
Applicants with excellent academic performance are welcome with minimal requirements.
Students with Less than 3.0 GPA
If your academic record hasn’t been the strongest, but you wish to apply to Naropa, we strongly encourage you to submit your application. Contemplative practice matters to us just as much as academic excellence.
Transfer your college credit
We allow you to transfer 60 or more credits from previous institutions. Present an official college transcript on top of your application to apply as a transfer student.
Discover all requirements for first-time and transfer students at our admission requirements page.
No matter where you’re from or how far you’ve traveled, you can feel at home at Naropa. Our university is built on a foundation of inclusion, diversity, and welcoming other cultures with open arms. The more diverse our student body, the stronger we are. We value your future contributions to our dynamic community.
Learn more about applying to Naropa from abroad.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to pursue an education at Naropa. Take a look at our page on undergraduate costs & aid to learn more about tuition, scholarships, grants, and financial assistance available at Naropa. You can also use our Net Price Calculator to have an approximation of your expenses at Naropa (currently based on 2025/2026 data).
Scholarships are a great way to help with the costs of going to school. Naropa University offers an array of scholarship opportunities to undergraduate students. Students may be eligible to receive scholarships through their admissions application (residential students only), by applying for scholarships, or by being nominated for a scholarship. For more detailed information about the different scholarships available and how to receive them, please review our undergraduate scholarship page.
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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.
Academics
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.
Admissions & Aid
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.
Support Naropa
At a time when the value of higher education is being questioned, Naropa University stands firmly rooted in its mission to create a more just and regenerative world by nurturing insight, awareness, courage, and compassion in its students. By making a gift to Naropa, you play a pivotal role in helping to create the authentic, effective & mindful leaders that the world desperately needs.
