Courses & Requirements
On-Campus or Low-Residency
Students have the option of a low-residency or on-campus degree program. The sequence of courses for the two 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
Takes three years and one fall 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)
- REL616e Integration Lab I (1)
SUBTOTAL 10
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)
- REL654e Integration Lab II (1)
- REL661e Second Turning of the Wheel: The Bodhisattva Path (3)
SUBTOTAL 10
First year, summer
Odd Years: Both courses end in a seven-day retreat.
- REL763e Art of Spiritual Teaching and Formation (3)
- REL658e Ritual Arts (3)
Or Even Years: Both courses are online only.
- REL749e Contemporary American Religion (3)
- REL804e Ethics and Spiritual Caregiving (3)
Or Every Year: Nitartha Institute Shedra-Gomdra Residential Option only: *
- REL547 Contemplative Practice Intensive—Mahamudra Meditation (3)
- REL701 The Middle Way School (3)
SUBTOTAL 6
Second year, fall
- REL635e Meditation Practicum III: Mind-Training (3)
- REL710e Third Turning of the Wheel: Yogacara and Buddha Nature (3)
- REL728e Integration Lab III (1)
- REL651e Contemplative Meditation Intensive (noncredit)
SUBTOTAL 7
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)
- REL714e Introduction to Spiritual Care (3)
- REL768e Integration Lab IV (1)
- Religious Studies Electives (3)
SUBTOTAL 10
Second year, summer
Odd Years: Both courses end in a seven-day retreat.
- REL763e Art of Spiritual Teaching and Formation (3)
- REL658e Ritual Arts (3)
OR Even Years: Both courses are online only.
- REL749e Contemporary American Religion (3)
- REL804e Ethics and Spiritual Caregiving (3)
OR Every Year: Nitartha Institute Shedra-Gomdra Residential Option only: *
- REL547 Contemplative Practice Intensive—Mahamudra Meditation (3)
- REL701 The Middle Way School (3)
SUBTOTAL 6
Third year, fall
- REL614e Mind and Its World (3)
- REL779e Interreligious Dialog (3)
- REL853e MDiv Capstone Seminar (2)
SUBTOTAL 8
Third year, spring
- REL747e Master of Divinity Clinical Pastoral Education (6) *
- Religious Studies Electives (3) **
SUBTOTAL 6
Third year, summer
Odd Years: Both courses end in a seven-day retreat.
- REL763e Art of Spiritual Teaching and Formation (3)
- REL658e Ritual Arts (3)
Or Even Years: Both courses are low residency only.
- REL749e Contemporary American Religion (3)
- REL804e Ethics and Spiritual Caregiving (3)
Or Every Year: 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
Fourth year, fall
- REL880e Comprehensive Exam (noncredit)
- REL885e Master’s Project (noncredit)
- Religious Studies Electives (6)
SUBTOTAL 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
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)
- REL614 Mind and Its World (3) REL616 Integration Lab I (1)
SUBTOTAL 13
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 and No-Self (3)
- REL654 Integration Lab II (1)
- REL661 Second Turning of the Wheel: The Bodhisattva Path (3)
- REL714 Introduction to Spiritual Care (3)
SUBTOTAL 13
First year, summer
Odd Years: Both courses are online and end in a seven-day retreat.
- REL763e Art of Spiritual Teaching and Formation (3)
- REL658e Ritual Arts (3)
Or Even Years: Both courses are online only.
- REL749e Contemporary American Religion (3)
- REL804e Ethics and Spiritual Caregiving (3)
Or Every Year: Nitartha Institute Shedra-Gomdra residential Option only: *
- 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)
- REL710 Third Turning of the Wheel: Yogacara and Buddha Nature (3)
- REL728 Integration Lab III (1)
- Religious Studies Electives (3)
- REL651e Contemplative Meditation Intensive (noncredit)**
SUBTOTAL 10
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)
- REL768 Integration Lab IV (1)
- Religious Studies Electives (6)
SUBTOTAL 10
Second year, summer
Odd Years: Both courses are online and end in a seven-day retreat.
- REL763e Art of Spiritual Teaching and Formation (3)
- REL658e Ritual Arts (3)
Or Even Years: Both courses are online only.
- REL749e Contemporary American Religion (3)
- REL804e Ethics and Spiritual Caregiving (3)
Or Every Year: Nitartha Institute Shedra-Gomdra Option residential only: *
- REL547 Contemplative Practice Intensive—Mahamudra Meditation (3)
- REL701 The Middle Way School (3)
SUBTOTAL 6
Third year, fall
- REL779 Interreligious Dialog (3)
- REL853 MDiv Capstone Seminar (2)
- Religious Studies Electives (3)
SUBTOTAL 8
Third year, spring
- REL747 Master of Divinity Clinical Pastoral Education (6)
- REL880 Comprehensive Exam (noncredit)
- REL885 Master’s Project (noncredit)
SUBTOTAL 6
Third year, summer
Odd Years: Both courses end in a seven-day retreat.
- REL763e Art of Spiritual Teaching and Formation (3)
- REL658e Ritual Arts (3)
Or Even Years: Both courses are online only.
- REL749e Contemporary American Religion (3)
- REL804e Ethics and Spiritual Caregiving (3)
Or Every Year: Nitartha Institute Shedra-Gomdra Option only, Monthlong 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.