About the MA in Women’s Spirituality

Curricular Overview

The master's curriculum consists of 36 units (the equivalent of four semesters of full-time study).

I. Core requirements - 13 units (14 unites for semi-distance students)

PARW 6500  Contemporary Women's Spirituality, OR PARW 6786 Embodying the Present: Women's Spirituality
PARW 6027  Foundational Elements of Academic Research and Writing
PARW 6047  Crtitical Thinking and Introduction to Methods
PARW ----    Women's Mysteries, Sacred Arts, and Healing - any 3 units from WS Curriculum
PARW 7609  Womanist-Feminist Worldviews
PARW 7585  Spirit, Compassion, and Community Activism
PARW 6054  Orientation to Women's Spirituality: Personal, Academic and Ecosocial Justice Practice (1 unit required elective for semi-distance students only)

II. Philosophy and Religion Courses - 6 units

Select 3 units from each of these areas:

Women and World Religions
Feminist and Ecofeminist Philosophy and Activism

III. Women's Spirituality Areas of Emphasis - 3 units

3 units from within one of these areas:

Women and World Religions
Feminist and Ecofeminist Philosophy and Activism
Women's Mysteries, Sacred Arts, and Healing

IV. Electives - 11 units

Residential students: select ANY 11 units from CIIS of WSE curriculum

Semi-distance students: select ANY 10 units from CIIS or WSE curriculum, PLUS

PARW 6054 Orientation to Women's Spirituality: Personal, Academic, and Ecosocial Justice Practice
(1 unit, required elective)

V. Culminating Coursework - 3 units

Select one of the following (students must choose C, D, and E if choosing to write a thesis):

A. PARW 6800  MA Integrative Seminar: Portfolio Project
B. PARW 6800  MA Integrative Seminar: Advanced Research Project
C. PARW 7809  Thesis Proposal Writing
PARW 6900  Thesis Proposal Completion (if needed)
D. PARW 7900  Thesis Writing Seminar
E. PARW 8012  Women's Spirituality Research Methodologies (if writing a thesis)

If relevant, students may be required to take additional courses to enhance and support their academic writing skills.

Community Service

MA students are required to complete 60 hours of community-based service learning with a community organization, in conjunction with the Spirit, Compassion, and Community Activism course. Though this course is offered for 1 to 3 units, WSE students are only quired to take this course for 1 unit. Students wishing to take it for more than 1 unit must obtain the approval of their advisor.

Length of Study

The master's curriculum consists of 36 units, the equivalent of two years of full-time study. MA students who choose to write an (optional) MA thesis require at least one additional semester in order to complete their studies. However, full-time enrollment is not required by the program, and many students who work or who have other commitments choose to enroll part-time. Most of these students will finish their MA degree within three years.