Arts & Humanities

Diploma in Spirituality and Religious Formation

The Diploma in Spirituality and Religious Formation is a Biblically-based programme that provides a variety of learning experiences involving instruction and reflection, thoughtful practice and spiritual companionship, service and prayer. Offered at Tangaza University College through the Institute of Spirituality and Religious Formation (ISRF), the programme is designed for all who want to move from simply wanting a life with God to learning to live it.

The curriculum covers spirituality foundations, biblical foundations of spirituality, history of Christian spirituality, religious formation, spiritual direction, prayer and contemplation, discernment, human development and spirituality, community life, pastoral ministry, retreat guidance, research methods and practicum. Students develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in spiritual guidance and religious formation.

The programme responds to the need for trained spiritual guides and formators who can support individuals and communities in their spiritual journey. It serves religious communities, seminaries, parishes and faith-based organisations seeking qualified personnel for spiritual formation and accompaniment.

The programme is delivered through blended online and face-to-face learning, lectures, retreat experiences, spiritual direction practice, reflection sessions, group discussions, field visits and practicum. Students gain hands-on experience through supervised practicum in spiritual direction, retreat guidance or religious formation settings.

Graduates pursue careers as spiritual directors, religious formators, retreat guides, pastoral workers and spiritual companions in religious communities, seminaries, parishes and faith-based organisations. They can also progress to a Bachelor of Arts in Spirituality or related degree programmes.

Prospective students should have interest in spirituality, prayer and spiritual accompaniment. The programme is suitable for religious and lay persons seeking to deepen their spiritual life and guide others in their faith journey.

Duration: 2 years
Private, up to: Ksh 56,400
Job market: Low

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, Blended
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

8 subjects

Spirituality Foundations and Biblical Spirituality
History of Christian Spirituality and Religious Formation
Spiritual Direction and Discernment
Prayer, Contemplation and Retreat Guidance
Human Development and Spirituality
Community Life and Pastoral Ministry
Research Methods and Spirituality Project
Practicum and Spiritual Formation Practice

Modules

8 in the programme

Spirituality Foundations and Biblical Spirituality
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers spirituality foundations, biblical foundations of Christian spirituality, Old and New Testament spirituality, spiritual theology and the biblical roots of spiritual practices.
History of Christian Spirituality and Religious Formation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers the history of Christian spirituality, patristic spirituality, monastic spirituality, medieval spirituality, modern spirituality movements and the evolution of religious formation.
Spiritual Direction and Discernment
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers spiritual direction, discernment of spirits, Ignatian discernment, accompanying others in spiritual journey, listening skills and ethical guidelines for spiritual direction.
Prayer, Contemplation and Retreat Guidance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers prayer forms, contemplative prayer, meditation, retreat guidance, retreat design, retreat facilitation and creating sacred spaces for prayer.
Human Development and Spirituality
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers human development, psychological development and spirituality, stages of faith, adult faith development and the integration of psychology and spirituality.
Community Life and Pastoral Ministry
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers community life, religious community living, pastoral ministry, pastoral care, service and prayer in community and collaborative ministry.
Research Methods and Spirituality Project
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research methods, reflective research and a spirituality project on a relevant topic, assessed through a written report and presentation.
Practicum and Spiritual Formation Practice
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
A supervised practicum in spiritual direction, retreat guidance or religious formation in a religious community, seminary or parish, assessed through a practicum report and supervisor evaluation.

Specialisations

Spiritual Direction
Focuses on one-on-one spiritual accompaniment for careers as spiritual directors.
Retreat Guidance
Specialises in designing and facilitating spiritual retreats for careers as retreat guides.
Religious Formation
Focuses on guiding individuals in religious formation programmes for careers as religious formators.
Pastoral Spirituality
Specialises in pastoral care and faith formation for careers as pastoral workers.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with a morning lecture on spirituality foundations or history of Christian spirituality, followed by a spiritual direction practice session or a reflection workshop. Afternoon sessions may include a retreat experience, a prayer and contemplation session, or preparation for practicum. Students also work on spirituality projects and reflection papers.

The trade offs

In its favour

The programme combines spiritual depth with practical formation skills.
Graduates serve in meaningful roles supporting others in their spiritual journey.
The programme is suitable for both religious and lay persons.

Against it

The programme is offered at only one institution, limiting study options.
Career opportunities are primarily within church and faith-based organisations.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Private56k to 56k

56k at Tangaza University56k at Tangaza University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Tangaza 28,200/sem=56,400/yr (tangaza.ac.ke). ISRF course; no public equivalent.

Students can access HELB loans. Tangaza University College may offer internal bursaries and church-sponsored scholarships. Religious orders may sponsor their members for this programme.

Funding options

HELB Loan

Scholarships

1 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 40,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in accredited programmes at recognised institutions

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C-
Alternative entry: Certificate in a relevant area of study, or equivalent qualification.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Written examination30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering spirituality foundations, history of Christian spirituality, spiritual direction and prayer.
Reflection Papers
Assignment30% of the mark
Assessment of reflection papers, spiritual journals, retreat reports and spiritual direction practice evaluations.
Spirituality Project
Project40% of the mark
A spirituality project on a relevant topic, assessed through a written report and oral presentation.
Practicum Report
Practicum100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during supervised practicum in spiritual direction, retreat guidance or religious formation.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Tangaza University College, Institute of Spirituality and Religious Formation (ISRF).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Tangaza University College, Institute of Spirituality and Religious Formation (ISRF).

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Spiritual Director
Low demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 130,000
Provides spiritual direction and accompaniment to individuals, helps them discern God's presence in their lives and supports their spiritual growth.
Religious Formator
Low demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 135,000
Guides and supports individuals in religious formation programmes, facilitates formation sessions and supports vocational discernment in religious communities and seminaries.
Retreat Guide
Low demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 125,000
Designs and facilitates spiritual retreats, leads prayer sessions and provides spiritual accompaniment during retreat experiences in retreat centres and parishes.
Pastoral Worker
Low demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 140,000
Provides pastoral care, supports church programmes, facilitates prayer groups and supports faith formation in parishes and faith-based organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as spiritual directors, religious formators, retreat guides and pastoral workers in religious communities, seminaries and faith-based organisations.

Certifications

Commission for University Education (CUE) Accreditation

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Spirituality and religious formation is only for priests and nuns.
The programme is for both religious and lay persons who want to deepen their spiritual life and learn to accompany others in their faith journey.
Spirituality formation is just about prayer.
The programme covers biblical foundations, history of spirituality, human development, discernment, community life and pastoral ministry, in addition to prayer and contemplation.
A diploma in spirituality has no practical application.
Graduates serve as spiritual directors, retreat guides and formators in religious communities, seminaries and parishes, providing valuable spiritual accompaniment.
Spirituality and religious formation is the same as theology.
While related to theology, spirituality focuses on the lived experience of faith, spiritual growth and accompaniment, rather than systematic theological study.