CERTIFICATE OR MASTER OF ARTS IN SPIRITUAL PSYCHOLOGY The new Masters of Spiritual Psychology program offered by Ryokan College is a two year part time course or a one year Certificate part time course. It explores the interface between major views on life. The interest of both spirituality and psychology is happiness and fulfilment, but the routes can seem at times to be opposed. Master of Arts in Spiritual Psychology graduates are able to assess formal academic learning and integrate this with personal experiences so that learning is meaningful, personalized, and relates to personal or professional goals. This includes the ability to synthesize formal academic learning in psychology and personal experiences with the goal of demonstrating that learning which is meaningful and personalized organically relates to both more humane and grounded professional goals. Graduates are also able to analyze the theories and techniques associated with work, family, and other life roles, and appreciate how they are interrelated. The course explores the interface between spirituality and psychology, finding places of agreement, as well as areas of difference. Spirituality takes many different forms, some based on an interest in transcendence, others more grounded in service and leading an ethical life. The course examines the full spectrum, and encourages students to identify their own unique approach to what spirituality means. Psychology is a vast field of study. The question is how it can be related to spirituality. One link is that of holism - an interest in all aspects of a person’s development. In that sense, both fields are part of the full spectrum of a rich and full life. Spirituality without psychology can become ungrounded and abstract. Psychology without spirituality can result in improved self-esteem and better relationships, but doesn’t address the bigger questions which we seem to be engaged with as human beings - death, suffering, freedom, peace, and meaning. Psychology can offer ways to resolve pain and trauma, spirituality offers ways to come to terms with it, and perhaps go beyond it. Bringing both areas together can result in a solid base for living a fulfilling life, and helping others to do so. The course is oriented around both a personal understanding of the subject of Spiritual Psychology, as well as a grasp of professional applications. Spiritual frameworks can lead towards dogma and untestable assertions about the nature of life. To gain full benefit from a study of this area, it is necessary to engage critical thinking, as well as the capacity to suspend preset ideas. The course at Ryokan is oriented towards an integrative approach which includes the empirical, the rational, and the intuitive. Although this can seem contradictory, it is the field of psychology which can provide a useful lens through which to approach the study of wisdom. The Certificate of Spiritual Psychology consists of 29 quarter units in 9 months or 3 quarters. The Master of Arts program consists of 61 quarter units in 24 months or 6 quarters.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 18:01:55 +0000
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