Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction
A spiritual director helps people discern how the Holy Spirit is
leading and working in their life. There is a great need for more
committed Christians to serve as spiritual directors. Spiritual
directors can be lay men and women, vowed religious or priests.
A well-trained spiritual director will have completed a
master's-level theology degree plus specialized training in
spiritual direction. Spiritual direction is distinct from
psychological counseling, although a good spiritual director will
draw on insights from pastoral psychology as well as the Christian
spiritual tradition.
Saint Meinrad's graduate certificate in spiritual
direction is an 18-credit, three-year program intended to
give you the intellectual framework and practical skills to serve
as an effective spiritual director.
It combines hybrid distance courses and on-campus coursework
with a yearlong supervised spiritual-direction practicum. The
program covers various methods of spiritual direction, but
emphasizes the Benedictine tradition and charisms.
Prerequisites and Admission
- Master’s-level theological degree or completed diaconal
formation program
- Receive regular spiritual direction for at least one year prior
to enrollment (at least six meetings/year)
- Recommended minimum age of 30
- Complete the application process:
-
- 3 recommendations
- Application form
- Application essays
- Entrance interview
Request an application form by emailing apply@saintmeinrad.edu.
18 graduate credits, as follows:
Human Development and Christian Maturity (3 credits)
This course examines specific dimensions of human development
(i.e., cognitive, emotional, psychosocial, psychosexual) and
juxtaposes them with models of moral, spiritual and faith
development, with an emphasis on trying to arrive at a broad and
integrated notion of Christian maturity – especially as it is
informed by the Benedictine tradition.
History of Christian Spirituality (3 credits)
This course focuses on the historical development of various
Christian spiritual traditions, with special emphasis on the
Benedictine tradition. Students explore the practices and methods
of particular approaches, especially as they inform the spiritual
direction relationship.
Spiritual Themes in Scripture (3 credits)
This course covers the entire Christian scriptural canon.
Presuming prior graduate-level Scripture coursework, this course
focuses on spiritual themes and appropriate use of Scripture in
spiritual direction, especially the Benedictine practice of
lectio divina.
Spiritual Direction and Discernment (3 credits)
This course addresses a basic history and theology of spiritual
direction. It then focuses on the essential practice of discernment
through psychological, pastoral and spiritual lenses – including
professional referral.
Spiritual Direction Practicum (6 credits)
- Pre-practicum: This intensive session covers the practical
methodology and ethics of spiritual direction, including the
integration of other theological disciplines into spiritual
direction.
- Practicum: Over 12 months, you must:
-
- provide spiritual direction to at least two clients (at least
six sessions per client)
- receive mentoring and direction from a qualified
supervisor
- submit regular written reflections/verbatims.
- Post-practicum: This wrap-up meeting entails several days of
reporting and group reflection on the practicum experience.
Formation Expectations
- Receive regular spiritual direction for the duration of the
program
- Make a formal weekend retreat each year
- Appropriate assessment/testing
Requirements for Certificate Completion
- Successfully complete course work
- Successfully complete supervised practicum
- Meet formation expectations
- Demonstrate readiness for the role
Tuition and Financial Information
Program participants pay the regular graduate tuition rate for
spiritual direction certificate courses. Saint Meinrad alumni may
receive the regular alumni tuition discount.
For information, visit Financial Information or contact
the Financial Aid Office at 888-455-3329 or financialaid@saintmeinrad.edu.
