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.
Low-Residency Course Schedule—Summer Start
| First Year Summer | Credits |
| REL605e Pathways of Spiritual Care Giving | 2 |
| REL749e Contemporary American Religion | 3 |
| Religious Studies Electives | 1 |
| SUBTOTAL | 6 |
| First year, fall | |
| 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 | |
| REL615e Power, Privilege, and Diversity | 3 |
| REL614e Mind and Its World | 3 |
| REL620e Meditation Practicum II: Self & No-Self | 3 |
| SUBTOTAL | 9 |
| First Year Summer | |
| Religious Studies Electives | 7 |
| Optional Electives: Nitartha Institute Shedra-Gomdra Option only, Monthlong Summer program * | |
| REL547 Contemplative Practice Intensive—Mahamudra Meditation | 3 |
| REL701 The Middle Way School | 3 |
| SUBTOTAL | 7 |
| 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** | 0 |
| SUBTOTAL | 9 |
| Second year, spring | |
| REL710e Third Turning of the Wheel: Yogacara andBuddha Nature | 3 |
| REL780e Meditation Practicum IV: Maitri and Mandala | 3 |
| REL779e Interreligious Dialog | 3 |
| SUBTOTAL | 9 |
| Second year, summer | |
| REL853e MDiv Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| Religious Studies Electives | 4 |
| SUBTOTAL | 7 |
| Third year, fall | |
| 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 |
| REL880e Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| REL885e Master’s Project (1) /REL884e MDIV Thesis | 1 |
| SUBTOTAL | 7 |
| Total Credits: | 72 |
Low-Residency Course Schedule—Fall Start
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.
On-Campus Course Schedule—Summer Start
| First Year Summer | Credits |
| REL605e Pathways of Spiritual Care | 2 |
| REL749e Contemporary American Religion | 3 |
| Religious Studies Electives | 1 |
| SUBTOTAL | 6 |
| First year, fall | |
| 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 | |
| REL615 Power, Privilege, and Diversity | 3 |
| REL620 Meditation Practicum II: Self and No-Self | 3 |
| REL614 Mind and It’s World | 3 |
| SUBTOTAL | 9 |
| First Year Summer | |
| Religious Studies Electives | 6 |
| Optional Electives: Nitartha Institute Shedra-Gomdra Option only, Monthlong Summer program * | |
| REL547 Contemplative Practice Intensive—Mahamudra Meditation | 3 |
| REL701 The Middle Way School | 3 |
| 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 |
| REL651e Contemplative Meditation Intensive (noncredit)** | 0 |
| SUBTOTAL | 9 |
| Second year, spring | |
| REL710 Third Turning of the Wheel: Yogacara and Buddha Nature | 3 |
| REL780 Meditation Practicum IV: Maitri and Mandala | 3 |
| REL779 Interreligious Dialog | 3 |
| Religious Studies Electives | 1 |
| SUBTOTAL | 10 |
| Second year, summer | |
| REL853e MDiv Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| Religious Studies Electives | 4 |
| SUBTOTAL | 7 |
| Third year, fall | |
| REL658 Ritual Arts | 3 |
| REL763 Art of Spiritual Teaching and Formation | 3 |
| REL804 Ethics and Spiritual Caregiving | 3 |
| SUBTOTAL | 9 |
| Third year, spring | |
| REL747 Master of Divinity Clinical Pastoral Education | 6 |
| REL880 Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| REL885 Master’s Project /REL884 MDIV Thesis | 1 |
| SUBTOTAL | 7 |
| Total Credits: | 72 |
On-Campus Course Schedule—Fall Start
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.
Connect
with your counselor
Jeffrey Neering
