 Wisdom University is committed to personal and professional renewal. Our highly differentiated pedagogy, learning methods and curriculum focus on nurturing the whole person. Because the whole person is nurtured, the integration of discernment and compassion is enhanced.
Wisdom University Degree and Certificate programs assist you in both your spiritual development and in your professional capacities, and help you to deepen your personal transformation, hone your leadership skills, and prepare you for greater service to your community.
Our programs also invite you to respond to the challenges of our time. We live in a day when modern values of consumption and dualistic relations with nature have led to a degeneration of life for all beings. Nothing less than a change in perspective will enable us to make better choices and shape the future in a way that is sustainable. Wisdom University's programs offer a vision and a practice that can awaken your imagination for transformation and assist in your personal renewal.
We provide you with the following offerings:
Academic Degrees
Certificates
Distinction Between the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) Degrees
 The basic distinction between the two degrees lies in the purpose and function of the degree. The DMin degree, much like an M.D. for doctors or a J.D. for lawyers, is a functional degree for people interested in the ministry. Traditionally, a DMin degree is for those who want to enter the pastoral professions in a religious denomination. More recently, DMin degrees have been sought by those interested in the broader healing and pastoral professions.
A Ph.D. degree, on the other hand, is considered a secular research degree and is not tied to religious affiliation or any other functional area. At Wisdom University, the Ph.D. is more rigorous than the DMin, requiring twelve Intensives rather than ten, and a formal defense of the dissertation in an Oral Examination at the conclusion of the dissertation process. The Ph.D. degree is generally sought by those who are seeking to reach the highest level of scholarly research in a particular area of interest.
Both head and heart are needed in equal measure for both degrees. This is an important point because the head/heart continuum is a central aspect of Wisdom University. All of our Intensives, like all of our degree programs, challenge the student to balance head, heart, body and soul.
We also emphasize the balance between subjective evaluation and objective knowledge in all the papers that students are required to write, including in their dissertations. That is why we balance the seminar in the morning with the art as meditation in the afternoon, and begin each day with body prayer, finishing with a process group. We seek an integrated learning experience. Both DMin and Ph.D. students take the same classes. Their distinction lies in the question of what you want to do with your degree and how rigorous you want your dissertation process to be.
Program Prerequisites
All students must have a bachelor's degree, or life-equivalency, to apply for a Wisdom University degree program. Enrolled students are expected to take the required core seminar courses as their first seminars after they enroll or as soon as the seminar is offered. Students are also expected to comply with all admissions, degree and registration requirements, as listed in the Academic Programs section for each specific program. There are no prerequisites for Art-as-Meditation Classes.
Introductory Opportunity (Intro Op)
 Individuals who meet the qualifications and degree requirements for enrollment, and would like to experience our Intensives prior to fully enrolling, may attend a single Intensive as an "Intro Op" to assess if they would like to fully enroll. An Intro Op who later elects to enroll in one of our academic programs and has met all the course requirements (including writing the post-paper), will be granted credit for that Intensive if enrollment in an academic program is initiated within 1 year of having attended the Intro Op Intensive.
Intro Op participants attending an Intensive are required to do the same work as matriculating students, including the required reading and the pre-paper. A post-paper is only required if the Intro Op participant chooses to enroll in one of our Academic programs, and wishes to receive credit for their Intro Op course.
The cost for the Intro Op is $1600 per week-long intensive prior to December 31, 2007 or $1760 after January 1, 2008, plus any other applicable fees, such as international off-site fees, lodging, meals, etc. Tuition and fees are non-refundable once the individual has completed the course, nor is it possible to switch to an "audit" status after the course has been completed. An individual may attend only one Intensive on an Intro Op basis. To apply as an Intro Op, please download the one-page Intro Op Application.
To attend additional Intensives, a student must enroll in one of our degree programs.
To enroll in a program, the Intro Op participant must:
- 1. Write the post-paper for the Intensive attended and receive a grade for the Seminar.
- 2. Follow the Admissions process for the program in which they are enrolling.
- 3. Pay the tuition and fees for the program in which enrolling according to the schedules listed in the Tuition and Fees Section.
Credit Hours of Instruction
Students are granted four (4) credits for each week-long Intensive (Monday - Friday) and two (2) credits for each weekend Intensive (Friday - Sunday). Each credit unit amounts to nine hours of instruction.
Credits are applied for the Intensive as a whole, rather than to the specific activities within an Intensive. To receive credit for an Intensive, students must participate fully each day of the Intensive in Body Prayer, Seminar, Art-as-Meditation and Process Group.
Intensives
 Our Intensives allow for the intellectual intimacy and deep spiritual work that is the basis of real learning. Our experience is that when faculty and students come together all day every day, especially in a residential retreat setting, the learning is both deeper and more personally transformative.
Throughout the intensive, students and faculty work together to integrate "inner work" with "outer work." In this way, the university reclaims the medieval meaning of a Wisdom School, as it engages the learning community in working together toward personal and social transformation.
A typical week-long Intensive schedule includes:
8:45 AM - Students Gather for Announcements
9:00 - 9:30 AM - Body Prayer
9:30 - 12:30 AM - Seminar
2:00 - 5:00 PM - Art-as-Meditation
5:15 - 6:15 PM - Process Group
Intensives are held monthly throughout the year. Students are referred to the Class Schedule for detailed information about Intensive dates and venues.
Public Auditing
Our alumni, students who have completed their course-work requirements and the general public are welcome to audit our seminar and art-as-meditation classes. Those auditing are expected to:
1. Read the required readings for seminars prior to the class.
2. Attend classes all five days to maintain continuity and integrity of the class.
3. Respect that fully enrolled students in the program have first priority to be in dialogue with faculty.
Cancellation Policy and Refund Provisions
Students have the right to cancel their Enrollment Agreement for the program of instruction, as outlined in the Enrollment Agreement, at any time. Cancellation of the Enrollment Agreement occurs when a student provides written notice of withdrawal to the university.
 The written notice of withdrawal, if sent by mail or email, is effective the date it is sent to our office. Withdrawing students will be provided a Notice of Withdrawal form to complete and submit to the Registrar. By completing the Withdrawal Request Form, the student will ensure that they have met all State and University requirements, and will be protected from problems that may arise in the future.
Students who have paid their enrollment fees will receive a refund on a pro-rated basis based on the number of Intensives completed prior to the date of withdrawal, minus a $100 non-refundable fee. Application fees and Degree Change fees are also non-refundable.
Refunds on tuition for Intensives not completed due to withdrawal, or due to a cancellation for any other reason, will be computed on a pro rata basis based on the number of days completed in the Intensive, after the assessment of a $250 cancellation fee.
Licensing and Accreditation
All programs at Wisdom University are licensed by the State of California's Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education, in conformance with Education Code Section university4900. Wisdom University is also accredited through the World Association of Universities and Colleges. ; and has candidate status with the Accreditation Commission International (ACI). This type of accreditation signifies that Wisdom University conforms to all international norms and procedures required for excellence in education. It does not enable students to obtain educational loans from the U.S. Government.
The World Association of Universities and Colleges is registered with UNESCO, and ACI is comprised of nearly 350 schools in eight different countries. This is important to Wisdom University because we aspire to be a global learning community, holding classes not only in the United States and Canada but also in Europe and other parts of the world. Our international accreditation, however, is not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, which only accredits American schools operating in the United States.
 International Student Visas
Wisdom University does not pay for or directly obtain Visas for international students. This is because student visas are only issued for schools operating on the semester or quarter system in which foreign students come to the United States for an extended period of time. Wisdom University courses are modular, lasting for one week, and thus a student visa is very difficult to obtain. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security extends student visas only to institutions accredited through the U.S. Department of Education. It does not recognize international accreditation. Please contact
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in advance if you will be attending a Wisdom University course in the US, but live outside of the US.
Protecting Student Privacy
Wisdom University is committed to protecting you from any incursion of your privacy. Information about you is never sold or given at random to outside agencies that wish to solicit your business.
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