DISTANCE DEGREES IN
CONTEMPORARY SPIRITUALITY
validated by Calamus International University
BA CONTEMPORARY SPIRITUALITY
We offer a BA in Contemporary Spirituality by
distance learning validated by Calamus International University.
Since we do not adhere to a conventional academic year, enrolment at
any time is possible. The average student will take approx. 18
months to complete the BA degree.
The BA degree is offered on an accelerated
basis which assumes the student already has at least 50% general
education credit towards a Bachelor’s degree. Credit will be
assessed from a wide range of previous qualifications in any
field including certificates, diplomas, vocational courses,
in-house or in-service training, skilled or professional work
experience, volunteer services, etc. Credit is also possible for
significant experiences with spiritual groups or spiritual practice,
e.g. meditation, stay at an ashram, or other structured group
experiences, solitary practice or learning, for which you do not get
formal qualifications. You may be required to write an essay on your
experiences in order to gain credit. General credit built up this
way is added to the work you do with Calamus in order to gain your
degree. As long as the focus of your Calamus studies is on
contemporary spirituality (interpreted as the study of the group of
subjects listed below) your major will be BA Contemporary
Spirituality.
If you wish to know whether you have enough
credit entitlement to enter the BA, please send your CV or resume,
together with details of any relevant trainings/experience that
might not be listed on your CV (you can simply add them to your CV
if you wish).
MA CONTEMPORARY SPIRITUALITY
We offer an MA in Contemporary Spirituality by
distance learning validated by Calamus International University.
Since we do not adhere to a conventional academic year, enrolment at
any time is possible. The average student will take approx. 18
months to complete an MA degree.
Entrants should have a Bachelor’s degree and
some interest in the fields of religion or spirituality. Direct
entry to MA may be possible in exceptional circumstances.
Most course units will require textbooks which
you will need to purchase.
Please note that Calamus is not affiliated with
or owned by any religious organisation, and is not a Christian
institution. Our tutors and adjunct faculty members may follow a
variety of paths or be primarily concerned with scholarly
exploration of the phenomena of spirituality. If you are seeking a
Bible-based Christian degree we suggest that you contact one of the
many Christian distance learning schools in the USA, which will be
able to cater for your needs more specifically.
There is no fixed syllabus as we will negotiate
an individualized syllabus with the student depending on his/her
interests, which we will endeavour to cater for as far as possible.
At the moment there is a variety of units
listed under Contemporary Spirituality in our
course unit
list. Units may also be chosen from fields such as:
- Counselling
psychology / counselling skills
- Hypnotherapy
(specifically its spiritual applications)
- Transpersonal
psychology
- Parapsychology
- Metaphysics/
Esoteric Studies
- Shamanic and
Primal studies
- Religious Studies
- Regression and
Reincarnation Studies
- Coaching
(especially spiritually-oriented coaching)
- Personal
development (many relevant topics available)
- Management (e.g.
spirituality in the workplace; values and ethics in
business)
- New Age Studies
- Jungian studies/
Depth Psychology
- Healing Studies
Certain fields are under-represented in our
course unit lists but we are able to provide units for them. In
particular, we are able to offer units in the following fields for
those with a special interest in them:
- Jewish Studies
(especially cultural and historical studies and
reform/liberal approaches)
- Spiritualist
Studies (including the history of Spiritualism in the USA)
- New Religious
Movements
- Possession and
Entity Release
There is also the possibility of a certain
amount of independent study of topics that you research on your own
and on which you write an approved “challenge essay” (normally 3,500
words).
A project is optional and the whole degree may
be completed by taught units plus challenge essays (subject to
approval).
If you are a member of a particular spiritual
or religious church, sect or movement, or you follow a particular
spiritual leader, and wish to concentrate on study relevant to that
approach, it is essential to ask our advice, giving as much
information as possible. A certain amount of independent study may
be possible. We will need to ensure that your degree contains a
variety of perspectives and that you are able to take a
broad-minded, comparative and analytical view of the material you
are studying. This must include material outside the point of view
of your own spiritual affiliation. This degree is for people who
wish to explore the field with an open mind, and is not for those
who are convinced that their path is the only right or true one.
Essays and projects should not “preach”, and should not consist of
arguments for converting the reader.
We do not discriminate against any path:
however we must ensure that the student is academically
suitable, taking into account learning skills, English language
skills, previous education, and willingness to engage in critical
and analytical study as well as to appreciate a wide variety of
experiences and approaches to spirituality. This might involve the
study of texts and viewpoints which are critical of one’s own path.
Doctoral studies
It is possible to take one of the following
doctorates:
Ph.D. in Contemporary Spirituality by research
and dissertation (or by manuscript in lieu of dissertation)
D.R.S. (Doctor of Religious Studies) which works in the same way as
an M.A.degree
Met.D. (Doctor of Metaphysics) if your interests are mainly
metaphysical
D.E.S. (Doctor of Esoteric Studies)
Ordinations and Ministerial Qualifications
Not Available Through Calamus
Calamus does not offer any form of ordination:
we are aware that some US universities do, but Calamus International
University is not a US university or a church, and unconventional
ordinations are uncommon outside the USA. If you are seeking
ordination you will need to enquire elsewhere, but it is possible
that we could suggest a suitable religious organisation that may
offer a path to interfaith or alternative ordination via distance
learning. If you are currently studying towards such ordination, or
are already ordained as a minister (of any path except “instant”
Internet or mail-order ordinations) we may be able to give credit
for your ministerial studies.
You are welcome to contact us to discuss your
study possibilities in more detail.
Please email
info@unicalamus.org if you have any queries.
Further advice
This is an abbreviated brochure
and further advice is available on enquiry. For best advice, please
send us a copy of your curriculum vitae or resume with details of
your particular interests in spirituality or religious studies and
any trainings done, workshops attended, etc.
To see our prospectus and course
unit list, and also to download an application form, please go to
www.unicalamus.org/downloads.htm
To see our tuition fees on-line
please go to
www.unicalmus.org/tuition.htm
If you have any
queries please contact us, preferably by email on
info@unicalamus.org
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