Welcome to Spiritual Paths Institute Degree Program in InterSpiritual Wisdom

Welcome to the Spiritual Paths Institute(Updated 4/22/08)

Thank you very much for your interest in the Spiritual Paths Institute program on InterSpiritual Wisdom. Our launch date for the Institute is September, 2008 with our semester intensive on September 14-19 at La Casa de Maria in Santa Barbara.

In these challenging times, there is an urgent need to recognize and apply shared spiritual principles and practices to critical issues that affect us all. This program in InterSpiritual Wisdom provides a deep and integrative approach for studying, experiencing, and practicing the contemplative wisdom of the world’s major religions. This is a time when the marvelous variety of teachings from the world’s spiritual traditions are emerging into the consciousness of humanity as a whole. More and more people are realizing the value and the necessity of putting these teachings into practice by applying them in their personal and professional lives.

The Spiritual Paths Institute degree programs in InterSpiritual Wisdom begin in September, 2008. Students may register at Auditor, Certificate, Advanced, or Masters Degree Levels. Auditors are required to attend all residential and distance classes and read required readings. Certificate students must also participate in telephone and on-line discussions and write a reflection paper for each course. Advanced and Masters Students will further be required to conduct research, communicate regularly with faculty, write two substantive papers for each course, and complete a final dissertation or project. “Advanced” is the degree title for students who wish to engage in the Masters level program but who do not have an undergraduate degree.

The graduate curriculum was developed collaboratively by a team of exceptional scholar-practitioners, each authenticated within their respective spiritual traditions. The program is based on a rigorous academic inquiry combined with guided experiential practice.

In addition to academic and spiritual enrichment, this program will help professionals to apply InterSpiritual knowledge, principles, and practices to a variety of fields including psychology, education, environmental activism, social work, politics, community development, chaplaincy, ministry, media, and the arts. The program will lead into certification in such emerging fields as InterSpiritual education, counseling, mentoring, and ministry.

The Spiritual Paths Institute will help students to explore and activate the spiritual dimension in the human quest to integrate mind, body and spirit. We support the emergence of InterSpirituality as a new paradigm for a new millennium.