Master of Arts in Spirituality

Master of Arts in Spirituality

Our master’s degree in spirituality equips you to serve your community as a chaplain, minister, lay spiritual leader or counselor.

Finish in as little as 16 months.

Photography for Merrimack College brochure covers.

Graduate Info Session & Tour

Saturday, March 23, 2024 
from 10:30 am 
to 12:00 pm

Explore the Merrimack College community, gain tips on what makes a strong application, hear about our fellowship opportunities, take a tour and more!

Master’s Degree in Spirituality: Why Merrimack College?

Personalized spiritual studies.

Merrimack College’s graduate 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 rooted in 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.

Intimate 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 both daytime and evening class options. Generous scholarships are also available to make the spirituality degree affordable on almost any budget.

Program Format

  • Choose from online (synchronous), on-campus or a combination.

Start Terms

  • Fall
  • Spring

VIEW APPLICATION DEADLINES

Master of Arts in Spirituality Career Opportunities

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
  • Social worker
  • Religious educator
  • Youth mentor
  • Nonprofit leader
  • Elder companion
  • Hospice counselor
  • Residential advisor
  • Family services specialist
  • Corrections counselor
  • Addiction recovery counselor

Spirituality Master’s Degree Curriculum

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

The spirituality master’s program culminates in either a master’s thesis based on original research or with explorations of related fields through electives.

Grad Chat Podcast

In this episode, we have two special guests – Katherine Gundersen who is an alum of the Spiritual Direction program, and Laura O’Connor who is an alum of the Spirituality program. During the episode the pair dives 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. Throughout the conversation, they emphasize the hybrid model’s benefits! You can choose from online (synchronous), on-campus or a combination. If you’re curious about Merrimack’s Spirituality master’s programs, this episode is a must-listen!

Want to Learn More about the Master of Arts in Spirituality?

Contact the Merrimack College Office of Graduate Admission at graduate@merrimack.edu.

Schedule an Informational Call with the Program Director

Scholarships

Merrimack’s generous scholarships can help you afford the spiritual direction graduate degree.

Learn More

How to Apply

Create your account to get started. Apply to start your Master’s Degree in Spirituality today.

Create Your Account

Send Me Info

Get more information about Merrimack College’s Master of Arts in Spirituality.

"*" indicates required fields

Stay up-to-date on the latest news about Merrimack College graduate programs and your program of interest. Please note a bachelor's degree is a prerequisite to enrolling in any graduate program. (* denotes required field)

Your Name*

Clicking the “Submit” button constitutes your expressed written consent to be emailed, called and/or texted by Merrimack College and its educational partners at the address(es) and number(s) you provided, regarding furthering your education. You understand that these messages may be generated using an automated technology.)

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.