✵ Fall —June 30 ✵ Winter —November 30 ✵ Spring— November 30 ✵ Summer — April 30
Program Details
36 Credit Hours
2 Years
Online & In-Person
The Master of Arts in Spirituality provides students with a comprehensive and critical understanding of the Christian spiritual tradition, with a view towards addressing the spiritual needs and concerns of contemporary faith communities. Students develop fluency in diverse classical, historic, and contemporary expressions of Christian spirituality, as well as examine the relationship between spirituality and areas of practical concern, including social justice and advocacy, pastoral and public leadership, intercultural ministry, and spiritual care. Graduates of the program serve as leaders and valuable resources in a variety of settings: renewal and retreat centers, churches and ecclesial ministries, counseling and social work, chaplaincy, as well as spirituality-related faith formation and educational programs.
Program Goals / Student Learning Outcomes
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To a) Provide a comprehensive academic background in Christian Spirituality with an emphasis on principal classical and contemporary traditions and b) equip students to draw on the deep wells of the Christian spiritual tradition to creatively and faithfully respond to the spiritual needs of contemporary communities.
Upon successful completion of the program students will be able to:
Present a summary overview of major historical periods within the history of Christian spirituality by identifying major spiritual movements, significant figures, and relevant literature.
Demonstrate proficiency in at least one classical school of spirituality.
Evaluate instances of Christian religious experience and dynamics of interior transformation as understood within the Christian mystical tradition.
Demonstrate an understanding of various spiritual practices and traditions of spiritual accompaniment, including contemplation and meditation, spiritual direction, spiritual care, and Christian spiritual formation.
Describe and evaluate culturally and geographically expressions of Christian spirituality, with special attention to Hispanic influences.
Compare the Christian spiritual tradition with other major historical religious traditions
Integrate fundamental principles and insights from the various streams of the Christian spiritual tradition into one’s personal spiritual journey.
Curriculum & Degree Requirements
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The candidate can expect to complete the 36-credit program as a full-time student in two to two and a half years. A part-time student can expect the program to take three to four years. No more than twelve (12) graduate-level (MA) credit hours may be transferred into the program from another institution toward the degree. Students can choose courses offered in the MA Spirituality program as well as other OST course offerings in order to meet their own needs and academic goals.
A student will be required to complete a final thesis or integrative project to demonstrate the level to which the goals of the program have been achieved.
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 is required for all courses applicable to the degree.
Prerequisites (as needed): 18 Credit Hours of Undergraduate Philosophy and Religious Studies including: PL 4323 History and Method of Christian Thought
TS 7367 Introduction to Christian Spirituality
TS 7366 History of Christian Spirituality
TS 7376 Contemporary Spirituality
Spiritual Traditions and Classical Christian Writers (1 CE-1900 CE) | 6 credit hours
Biblical Spirituality
Spirituality and Practice
Care of the Soul
Contemporary Mystics: Henri Nouwen, Elizabeth of the Trinity, Daniel Berrigan, and Wendy Beckett
Contemporary Spirituality
Calling, Vocation, and Discernment
Desert Spirituality
Franciscan Spirituality: From God, to God, Through Christ ‣ French Spirituality
G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis and the Christian Imagination
Howard Thurman: Mysticism and Prophetic Witness
Intercultural Spirituality and Global Healing: Exploring 20th Century Contemplatives
Ignatian Spirituality
Insane for the Light: Spirituality of Aging and Dying
John of the Cross: The Ascent of Mt. Carmel and the Dark Night
John of the Cross: Living Flame of Love
Love is God’s Meaning: The Writings of Julian of Norwich
Medieval Women Mystics
Mysticism
Practices for the Inner Journey: Contemplation, Christian Meditation, Centering Prayer, and Mindfulness
Salesian Spirituality
Spanish Mystics, Biblical Interpretation, and Song of Songs
Spirituality and Justice
Spirituality and Thought of Thomas Merton
Spirituality and Thought of Henri Nouwen
Spirituality and the Two Halves of Life
Spiritual Autobiography
Teresa of Avila: Doctor of the Soul
Teresian Carmelite Spirituality
The Contemporary Spirituality of Thomas Merton: On Racism, Violence, and Justice
A Way in the World: The Spiritual Path of Family and Friendship
TS 9276 Research and Writing for Thesis OR Integrating Seminar
See the Admissions & Registrations section of the OST Catalog or visit the Apply page for a full outline of Admission Requirements.
MA (Spirituality) students will apply for candidacy to the MA (Spirituality) degree after successfully completing 12 graduate credits in required courses at OST. The Admission Committee, after consultation with the faculty, will decide on the applications for candidacy. Admission to candidacy is the faculty’s attestation that the student has demonstrated capacities to fulfill all the objectives for the degree and to complete the degree requirements.
This program is designed for individuals who are interested in pursuing sustained academic study within the discipline of Christian spirituality. Students must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Completion of the GRE will be required to ensure that the student has the aptitude for graduate studies. The GRE requirement is waived for students who already have a master’s degree. Prerequisites include the completion of 9 hours of undergraduate theology and 9 hours of undergraduate philosophy. Applicants must submit three letters of reference indicating that the applicant has the requisite qualities necessary to complete the degree.
