Master of Arts (M.A.) in Spirituality
Study online, on campus or a combination of both.
Flexible timeline and evening classes available!
Our master’s degree in spirituality equips you to serve your community as a chaplain, minister, lay spiritual leader or counselor.
Spirituality Master's Degree at a Glance
Mode of Study
Online, On-campus, Hybrid
Est. Time
2 years full-time (part-time study available)
Start Terms
Fall, Spring
View Application Deadlines
Credits
32
Evening Classes
Available
Accreditation
Fellowships
Not Applicable
Scholarships
Dean Scholarship &
Alumni Scholarship
Tell Me More About Merrimack's Spirituality Master's Degree
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Graduate Admission Virtual Information Session
Friday, February 28, 2025
from 12:00 pm
to 1:00 pm
Join our graduate admission counselors online and learn about our graduate programs, fellowship opportunities, scholarships, application details, and more!
Master of Arts in Spirituality Tuition
Published Tuition
$725 per credit (32 credits). Tuition for 2024-2025. Rates are subject to change.
Average Aid Amount
Scholarships significantly reduce the tuition for most of our students.
Average Tuition Cost
After scholarships.
Typical Tuition Savings for the M.A. in Spirituality
Merrimack College offers generous scholarship opportunities to offset your graduate tuition.
Double Warrior Alumni Scholarships are awarded to all Merrimack College alumni, covering $7,656 or 33% of tuition, for recent graduates (25% for previously graduated alumni).
Dean Scholarships are merit based aid awarded to all students, ranging from $2,500 to $11,000 and average $6,000, or approximately 25% of tuition.
Visit the page below to find all up-to-date tuition and fees information.
Overview of Merrimack's M.A. in Spirituality
Merrimack’s Master of Arts in Spirituality offers students a flexible and deeply personal pathway to explore faith, spiritual traditions, and holistic well-being. Rooted in Augustinian theology yet welcoming individuals from all faiths and spiritual backgrounds, this program blends interfaith dialogue, interdisciplinary coursework, and transformative retreats to foster personal and professional growth. With options for online, on campus, or hybrid study, students can balance their education with work and family commitments. Graduates are prepared for meaningful careers in chaplaincy, counseling, social services, and leadership roles across healthcare, education, and nonprofit sectors. Through small class sizes, personalized mentorship, and a focus on spiritual diversity, students gain the tools to guide, heal, and inspire others in a rapidly evolving world.
This customizable program allows you to choose between the following options to complete your Master of Arts degree:
Master’s thesis based on original research
Explorations of related fields through electives

Why Choose the M.A. in Spirituality at Merrimack?
PERSONALIZED SPIRITUAL STUDIES
Merrimack College’s master’s degree in spirituality empowers you to explore your own journey of faith. More flexible than a traditional divinity degree or religious studies program, our master’s in spirituality features adaptable material, course electives and other options that let you bring personal meaning to the degree.
INTERFAITH AND INTERDISCIPLINARY
While Merrimack is a Catholic institution built upon Augustinian theology, the spirituality master’s degree welcomes students from all faiths and spiritual traditions. In addition to religious studies, electives include subject matter from mental health, social justice, education, healing arts and other disciplines.
TIGHT-KNIT, ENGAGED COMMUNITY
With small classes and six spiritual retreats, our spirituality graduate program enables you to build deep, one-on-one relationships with faculty and peers. You’ll become part of a supportive community, forming close bonds with individuals from varying ages, backgrounds and life experiences.
FLEXIBILITY AND CONVENIENCE
To accommodate students who are balancing the spirituality master’s degree with work, family and other responsibilities, Merrimack offers the program in full-time and part-time formats with evening class options. Generous scholarships are also available to make the spirituality degree affordable on almost any budget.
Career Outlook: Where Can a M.A. in Spirituality Take You?
Median Annual Salary
For Directors of Religious Education in 2025.
Job Meaning
For clergy, and 96% for Directors of Religious Activities and Education.
Employment Increase
For Directors of Religious Activities and Education in 2023.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2023; Salary.com & Payscale, 2025
Jobs with a Spirituality Master's Degree
A master’s degree in spirituality prepares you for a wide variety of professional roles. You may work within a particular faith, practice a nondenominational form of spiritual counseling or find employment in a non-religious field such as social work, education, mental health or nonprofit leadership.
Merrimack’s spirituality graduate degree trains you to assist people with all manner of personal and professional challenges. You’ll be qualified to work in jobs such as:
- Corporate, hospital or prison chaplain
- Lay spiritual director
- Religious educator
- Youth mentor
- Nonprofit leader
- Hospice counselor
- Residential advisor
- Family services specialist
- Corrections counselor
- Addiction recovery counselor
Where Merrimack's M.A. in Spirituality Graduates Work
Campus Minister
Private Practice
Hospital Chaplain
Pastoral Associate
What Our M.A. in Spirituality Students and Alumni Say
Read Student Spotlight

Listen to Podcast Episode

What You'll Learn in Merrimack's M.A. in Spirituality
Key Courses You'll Take
Topics and Method in the Study of Spirituality
RTS 5010
- Exploration of spirituality across religious traditions, texts, and practices, with a focus on definitions, religion’s role, and theological perspectives.
- Topics include Christian spirituality, mysticism (Western and Eastern), spirituality outside organized religion, and influential schools like the Augustinian tradition.
- Examination of ecological and embodied spirituality, along with the purpose and practice of spiritual direction.
Spirituality and Social Justice
RTS 5030
- Exploration of interiority, the search for meaning, and themes from Catholic Social Teaching, including human dignity, rights, the common good, and social justice.
- Examination of these themes across various spiritual traditions.
- Special focus on their roots in the teachings of the Hebrew Prophets.
Spirituality in a Religiously Diverse World
RTS 5040
- Exploration of religious leadership and spirituality that balances rootedness in one tradition with openness to interfaith dialogue.
- Study of beliefs and practices in Abrahamic and Eastern religious traditions, focusing on integrating transcendence with daily life.
- Emphasis on prayer, meditation, and contemplation through a comparative theological approach that respects each tradition’s integrity.
Master of Arts in Spirituality Curriculum
View Full Curriculum from the Graduate Catalog
Spirituality Requirements
To see more details about the program, please visit catalog.merrimack.edu.Skills You'll Learn
Our Master of Arts in Spirituality takes a unique interdisciplinary approach. You’ll gain a broad perspective that draws upon many academic fields, including theology, comparative religion, philosophy, psychology and social justice.
Core coursework in the spirituality graduate degree surveys spiritual traditions, texts and practices from across the world and throughout history. Additional courses (including electives) address topics such as:
Social justice
Spiritual diversity
Ethical and legal issues
Cultural diversity
Trauma
Human development

Featured Faculty
Peter Ellard, Ph.D.
Director, Graduate Program in Spirituality and Spiritual Direction & Associate Professor of Practice
Dr. Peter Ellard is the Director of the Graduate Program in Spirituality and Spiritual Direction and an Associate Professor of Practice at Merrimack College, specializing in early and medieval Christian theology, spirituality, and the writings of Thomas Berry. His research focuses on climate change, mindfulness, and religious-environmental integration, with notable publications and contributions to higher education on topics such as student success and retention.
Raymond Dlugos, O.S.A., Ph.D.
Senior Associate Dean of Engineering, Research, and Innovation
The Rev. Raymond F. Dlugos, O.S.A., Ph.D., has served as Merrimack College's Vice President for Mission and Ministry since 2008 and is a licensed psychologist and ordained Roman Catholic priest. Previously, he led The Southdown Institute, a residential treatment center, and has extensive experience in psychology, counseling, teaching, and leadership.
Maria Teresa Dávila, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Religious and Theological Studies
Dr. Maria Teresa (MT) Dávila, Associate Professor of Religious and Theological Studies at Merrimack College, specializes in racial and migrant justice, public and political theology, and Catholic social teaching. An accomplished author and frequent contributor to the National Catholic Reporter, she explores themes of justice, ethics, and faith in both academic and public forums.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Merrimack College offers generous scholarships for M.A. in Spirituality students:
- Dean Scholarship: Determined by academic merit and financial need. Students are automatically considered for a Dean Scholarship upon applying.
- Double Warrior Alumni Scholarship: Available to all Merrimack graduates. Students enrolling immediately after senior undergraduate year automatically receive a 33% discount, and 25% thereafter. Please note that Double Warrior alumni scholarships cannot be combined with Dean Scholarships.
Financial aid in the form of federal aid, private loans, and payment plans are also options available for graduate students. Click the link below to learn more about our scholarships and financial aid opportunities.
Application Information for the M.A. in Spirituality
It’s easy to apply online! Simply create your account by registering a username and password. This will allow you to start an application, save and log back in at any time to complete it before submission.
A Completed Application Includes:
Important Information:
- Online application
- Official college transcripts from all institutions attended
- Resumé
- Interview OR personal statement
- Contact information for one reference OR one letter of recommendation
- No application fee or GRE requirement.
- Optional: Submit test scores to enhance or support your academic background.
Graduate Community and Student Support
Discover Merrimack’s vibrant and supportive graduate community! Our Graduate Center, located on the second floor of the McQuade Library, is our hub for student life, resources, and support, ensuring that you get the most out of your graduate experience.
Enjoy the following benefits that are exclusive to graduate students:
A comfortable lounge for studying and socializing
A home base for daily life on campus with coffee and tea, a microwave and a fridge
A venue for programs and services supporting graduate student success
A warm, inviting place to connect with staff and other graduate students


Want to Learn More about the M.A. in Spirituality
Contact the Program Director, Peter Ellard!
Take the Next Step (We're Here to Help)
At Merrimack, we are ready to meet you where you are and get you where you want to go. And, we make the process simple along the way! Please feel free to contact our Graduate Admission team or join us at an upcoming event if you have any questions regarding scholarships, financial aid, or the application process.
Programs Related to the Master of Arts in Spirituality
Explore other areas and where they can take you.
Grad Chat Podcast
Don’t miss out on this captivating episode of Grad Chat, featuring Katherine Gundersen and Laura O’Connor from Merrimack’s Spirituality master’s programs. They dive into the inspiring journey of going back to school, assuring everyone that age is just a number and fear is unnecessary in Merrimack’s warm and supportive community. The discussion unfolds the significance of exploring diverse religions and perspectives, emphasizing the unique insights shared by our guests. Tune in to discover their specific take on the hybrid model’s benefits! If you’re curious about Merrimack’s Spirituality master’s programs, this episode is a must-listen!
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Merrimack College Awards & Recognition
U.S. News & World Report | Best Regional Universities North (2024)
- Most Innovative Schools (#5)
- Regional Universities North (#39)
- Best Undergraduate Teaching (#19)
- Best Colleges for Veterans (#15)
- Best Value Schools (#51)
