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BA in Yoga Studies

Yoga Degree

Embrace yogic practice as a way of life and be transformed beyond the mat with the Yoga Studies degree at Naropa, the country’s first university to offer a degree in yoga.
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Program Overview
Degree Requirements
Why Choose Naropa?
FAQs
How to Apply
Costs & Aid
Scholarship Opportunities
Major Meets Career
Faculty
Yoga Teacher Training Certificate
Wisdom Traditions Department
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Program Overview

Naropa’s yoga certification and degree program is dedicated to preserving the vast teachings of yoga, from the historical and philosophical aspects to the practical implementation and methods.

You will spend four years delving into yoga’s history, literature, and philosophy.
The methodologies of Hatha Yoga will come to life as you practice asanas, pranayama, and meditation. 

In this program, learning how to become a yoga instructor is only one piece of the big picture. The curriculum covers the foundations of yogic practice, the history and ideas behind yoga, the science of human anatomy, Sanskrit language and literature, and more.

The award-winning faculty of Naropa’s bachelor’s degree in yoga studies are distinguished scholars, historians, authors, world travelers, and deeply committed practitioners of yoga. With specialties in Indian philosophy, world music, Buddhist studies, and more, our faculty can offer mentorship in a diverse array of yoga-related disciplines.

The modern mindfulness movement started on our campus, and the study of yoga is integral to our mission of contemplative learning. Transform from the inside out through meditation and self-inquiry.

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Quick Facts

  • The first bachelor’s degree in yoga offered in America
  • On-campus degree
  • 36 credit hours (of the 120 credits required for a bachelor's degree)
  • Transfer up to 90 semester credits
  • 3 credits in Sanskrit, the language of Yoga
  • 1,000 hours Yoga Teacher Training Certificate
  • Distinguished faculty
  • Admissions open for 2025
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Program Format

Naropa’s Yoga Degree is a four-year, fully accredited Bachelor of Arts. During the 36-credit major, students delve into the rich and diverse history, literature, and philosophies of the yoga tradition while immersing in the methodologies of Hatha yoga, including asana, pranayama, and meditation.

In addition, students study Sanskrit, Ayurveda, anatomy, yoga therapy, Hinduism, Tantra, and Buddhism, all while engaging in an intensive teacher training curriculum as part of their yoga degree program.

Upon completion, students earn both a bachelor’s degree and a 1,000-hour certificate in Yoga Teacher Training, which meets and exceeds the 500-hour requirement of Yoga Alliance. All graduates are eligible to become Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT500) with Yoga Alliance. 

yoga class in Shambhala Hall

Course Spotlight

Hindu Tantra

The term “Tantra” encapsulates intricate traditions, often misunderstood or misrepresented due to romanticization and cultural appropriation. This course seeks to clarify and ground students in the true essence of Tantra, spanning its origins in fifth-to-sixth-century India to its modern interpretations. By exploring its various streams, rituals, and philosophies, students gain a comprehensive understanding. The objective is to navigate its historical evolution and diverse social dynamics, ensuring a nuanced appreciation of Tantra’s depth and significance. 

Degree
Requirements

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.

Naropa’s Yoga Studies Major is comprised of 36 credit hours. 

Yoga Studies Major Requirements

  • TRA-133 Yoga I: Foundations (3)

  • TRA-233 Yoga II: Tantric Yoga (3)

  • TRA-333 Yoga III: Synthesis (3)

  • TRA-453 Yoga History, Theory, and Philosophy (3)

  • TRA-463 Yoga Meditation (3)

  • PAR-101 Experiential Anatomy (3)

  • PSYB-332 Human Anatomy (3)

  • REL-355 Introductory Sanskrit: Language of the Gods (3)

  • PSYB-304 Somatic Intelligence: The Neuroscience of Our Body-Mind Connection (3)

  • REL-158W Breeze of Simplicity: Meditation Weekend (1)

  • REL-210 Religion and Mystical Experience (3)

  • REL-247 Embodying Sacred Wisdom: Modern Saints (3)

  • REL-255W Opening the Heart: Meditation Weekend (1)

  • REL-277 Sanskrit I (4)

  • REL-334 Hindu Tantra (3)

  • REL-351 Theories of Alternative Spiritualities and New Religious Movements (3)

  • TRA-114 Indian Devotional and Raga Singing I (3)

  • TRA-314 Indian Devotional and Raga Singing II (3)

  • TRA-499 Independent Study: Traditional Eastern Arts (0.5)

  • TRA-433 Yoga IV: Yoga Teacher Training (3)

  • TRA-449 Yoga V: Yoga Teacher Training (3)

  • TRA-485 BA Wisdom Traditions Retreat (1)

  • COR-440 Capstone II (3)

Total: 36 credits

Why Choose Naropa?

Award-winning Faculty

Your yoga degree and certification will be backed by faculty members with decades of experience in fostering the success of yoga students. They will assist you in academic exploration, contemplative practice, and mindful movement, incorporating timeless yoga wisdom into every lesson.

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Artistic Development

Graduates of Naropa’s yoga studies program will have both a bachelor’s degree and a 1,000-hour yoga teacher training certification. This certification meets and exceeds the Yoga Alliance certification standard of 500 hours.

Scholarships

Incoming undergraduate students enrolling full-time in at least 12 credit hours each semester have the opportunity to apply for scholarships. An inclusive community is the heart of Naropa University, thus we aim to welcome as many students as possible with the help of scholarships.

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How this Program Prepares You

Diverse Career Paths

Naropa’s yoga studies graduates become yoga instructors and/or full-time yoga teachers. Others go on to open yoga studios, practice therapeutic yoga, lead yoga teacher training, engage in international social justice work, found businesses based on health and wellness, and more. The skills you develop in Naropa’s Bachelor of Arts in Yoga Studies are globally relevant and highly transferable. 

Bridging Theory and Practice

In a community of like-minded peers, you’ll learn how to become a yoga instructor, studying the marriage of breath, movement, and consciousness in the yoga tradition. You’ll explore the chakra system, learn advanced breathing techniques (pranayama), practice meditation, and study anatomy and alignment in the human body— while understanding the history and philosophy behind yogic practice and tradition.

Contemplative Learning

You will embark on a profound journey of personal transformation by delving deep into the practice of meditation and self-inquiry, nurturing a profound metamorphosis from within.
Naropa’s Bachelor of Arts in Yoga Studies not only provides intellectual wisdom but also inner knowledge. Our graduates know themselves and are motivated to discover a career path unique to their spiritual journeys. 

What You'll Learn

Discipline Yogic Form

Become a yoga teacher with the ability to demonstrate the correct yogic form.

Strong Teaching Skills

Learn the language and techniques for successful yoga instruction.