Courses & Requirements
“The technique of a world-changing yoga has to be as uniform, sinuous, patient, all-including as the world itself. If it does not deal with all the difficulties or possibilities and carefully deal with each necessary element, does it have any chance of success?”—Sri Aurobindo
A Bachelor of Arts degree (120 credits) consists of Core Curriculum (24 credits) and at least one major (36–60 credits), as well as minors and/or elective courses of the student’s choosing.
Naropa University’s Yoga Studies program is dedicated to the education, preservation, and application of the vast teachings of yoga. The program offers a comprehensive study of yoga’s history, theory, and philosophy, as well as providing an in-depth immersion and training in its practice and methodologies. Balancing cognitive understanding with experiential learning, students study these ancient teachings for transformation while gaining the necessary knowledge and skills to safely and effectively teach yoga.
The curriculum systematically covers the rich and diverse history, literature, and philosophies of the yoga tradition, while immersing students 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. This major trains and encourages students to develop practice as a way of life, one that informs livelihood, health, creative expression, and service to the community.
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 Studies Major Requirements
Required Courses
Gateway
- TRA133 Yoga I: Foundations (3)
Milestone
- TRA233 Yoga II: Tantric Yoga (3)
- TRA333 Yoga III: Synthesis (3)
- TRA453 Yoga History, Theory, and Philosophy (3)
- TRA463 Yoga Meditation (3)
Anatomy: Choose 3 credits
- PAR101 Experiential Anatomy (3)
- PSYB332 Human Anatomy (3)
Language
- REL355 Introductory Sanskrit: The Language of the Gods (3)
Enrichment Electives: Choose 5 credits
- PSYB304 Somatic Intelligence: The Neuroscience of Our Body-Mind Connection (3)
- REL158W The Breeze of Simplicity: Meditation Weekend (1)
- REL210 Religion & Mystical Experience (3)
- REL247 Embodying Sacred Wisdom: Modern Saints (3)
- REL255W Opening the Heart: Meditation Weekend (1)
- REL277 Sanskrit I (4)
- REL334 Hindu Tantra (3)
- REL351 Theories of Alternative Spiritualities and New Religious Movements (3)
- TRA114 Indian Devotional and Raga Singing (3)
- TRA314 Indian Devotional and Raga Singing II (3)
- TRA499 Independent Study (0.5–4.0)
Capstone
- TRA433 Yoga IV: Yoga Teacher Training (3)
- TRA449 Yoga V: Yoga Teacher Training (3)
- TRA485 BA Wisdom Traditions Retreat (1)
- COR440 Capstone II (3)