Arts & Humanities

Master of Arts in Spirituality and Religious Formation

The Master of Arts in Spirituality and Religious Formation is a postgraduate programme designed to deepen students' understanding of Christian spirituality and equip them for ministry in spiritual direction, religious formation, and pastoral care. The programme integrates biblical theology, spiritual traditions, psychological insights, and practical formation skills.

Core areas of study include biblical foundations of spirituality, history of Christian spirituality, spiritual direction and companioning, religious formation principles, prayer and contemplative traditions, discernment, human development and spirituality, pastoral care, and research methods. Students engage with both Western and African spiritual traditions.

The programme is offered by Tangaza University through its Institute of Spirituality and Religious Formation (ISRF) within the School of Theology. The ISRF is a specialised institute focusing on spiritual formation, direction, and companioning. The programme was accredited by the Commission for University Education in 2016.

Students develop competencies in spiritual direction, retreat facilitation, formation programme design, pastoral counselling, discernment guidance, and spiritual companioning. The programme combines coursework, practicum experience, and a research project, integrating theological reflection with personal spiritual growth and practical ministry skills.

The programme is delivered over two years in full-time and part-time modes with blended learning options combining online and face-to-face instruction. It is designed for religious formation directors, spiritual directors, pastoral ministers, clergy, religious men and women, and lay leaders involved in spiritual formation and companioning.

Graduates pursue careers as spiritual directors, formation directors in religious communities, retreat facilitators, pastoral ministers, chaplains, and spiritual companioning practitioners in religious orders, seminaries, parishes, retreat centres, schools, and faith-based organisations.

Skills Required

Spiritual Direction and Companioning
Biblical Foundations of Spirituality
History of Christian Spirituality
Religious Formation Principles
Retreat Facilitation
Discernment and Decision-Making Guidance
Pastoral Care and Counselling
Prayer and Contemplative Traditions
Human Development and Spirituality
Research Methods in Spirituality Studies

Key Subjects

Biblical Foundations of Spirituality
History of Christian Spirituality
Spiritual Direction and Companioning
Religious Formation Principles
Prayer and Contemplative Traditions
Discernment and Vocation
Human Development and Spirituality
Pastoral Care and Counselling
African Spirituality
Research Methods in Spirituality Studies

Certifications

Spiritual Directors International Certification
Tangaza ISRF Formation Certification

Specializations

Spiritual Direction

Focuses on the art and practice of spiritual direction, including companioning individuals in their spiritual journey, active listening, discernment, and facilitating spiritual growth.

Religious Formation

Examines principles and practices of religious formation in seminaries, novitiates, and religious communities, including initial and ongoing formation programmes.

Contemplative Traditions

Explores contemplative prayer traditions including Ignatian, Carmelite, Benedictine, and African spiritual traditions, with practical engagement in contemplative practices.

Retreat Ministry

Covers retreat design, facilitation, and preaching, including Ignatian retreats, guided meditation, and retreat organisation for different audiences.

Pastoral Care and Counselling

Examines pastoral care principles, counselling skills, crisis intervention, grief ministry, and pastoral support in parish and institutional settings.

African Spirituality

Explores African spiritual traditions, inculturation, African Christian spirituality, and the integration of African cultural values with Christian faith.

Discernment and Vocation

Focuses on discernment processes, vocation guidance, decision-making in the Spirit, and helping individuals discern God's call in their lives.

Human Development and Spirituality

Examines the intersection of human development psychology and spirituality, including stages of faith, adult faith development, and psychological aspects of spiritual growth.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Private, up to: Ksh 220,800
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, Online
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 12 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Biblical Foundations of Spirituality
History of Christian Spirituality
Spiritual Direction and Companioning
Religious Formation Principles
Prayer and Contemplative Traditions
Discernment and Vocation
Human Development and Spirituality
Pastoral Care and Counselling
African Spirituality
Research Methods in Spirituality Studies

Modules

10 in the programme

Biblical Foundations of Spirituality
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines biblical foundations of Christian spirituality including Old and New Testament spirituality, prayer traditions, and biblical models of spiritual formation.
History of Christian Spirituality
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Surveys the history of Christian spirituality from the early church through monastic traditions, medieval mysticism, Reformation, to contemporary spiritual movements.
Spiritual Direction and Companioning
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers the theory and practice of spiritual direction, including active listening, discernment facilitation, companioning skills, and ethical guidelines for spiritual directors.
Religious Formation Principles
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines principles and practices of religious formation in seminaries, novitiates, and religious communities, including initial and ongoing formation programmes.
Prayer and Contemplative Traditions
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Explores contemplative prayer traditions including Ignatian, Carmelite, Benedictine, and African spiritual practices, with practical engagement in contemplative disciplines.
Discernment and Vocation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Focuses on discernment processes, vocation guidance, decision-making in the Spirit, and helping individuals discern God's call in their personal and professional lives.
Human Development and Spirituality
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines the intersection of human development psychology and spirituality, including stages of faith, adult faith development, and psychological aspects of spiritual growth.
Research Methods in Spirituality Studies
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers qualitative and quantitative research methodologies for conducting original research in spirituality and religious formation studies.
African Spirituality and Inculturation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Explores African spiritual traditions, inculturation of Christian spirituality in African contexts, and the integration of African cultural values with Christian faith.
Research Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research project on a spirituality or religious formation topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and spiritual theology, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Spiritual Direction
Focuses on the art and practice of spiritual direction, including companioning individuals in their spiritual journey, active listening, discernment, and facilitating spiritual growth.
Religious Formation
Examines principles and practices of religious formation in seminaries, novitiates, and religious communities, including initial and ongoing formation programmes.
Contemplative Traditions
Explores contemplative prayer traditions including Ignatian, Carmelite, Benedictine, and African spiritual traditions, with practical engagement in contemplative practices.
Retreat Ministry
Covers retreat design, facilitation, and preaching, including Ignatian retreats, guided meditation, and retreat organisation for different audiences.
Pastoral Care and Counselling
Examines pastoral care principles, counselling skills, crisis intervention, grief ministry, and pastoral support in parish and institutional settings.
African Spirituality
Explores African spiritual traditions, inculturation, African Christian spirituality, and the integration of African cultural values with Christian faith.
Discernment and Vocation
Focuses on discernment processes, vocation guidance, decision-making in the Spirit, and helping individuals discern God's call in their lives.
Human Development and Spirituality
Examines the intersection of human development psychology and spirituality, including stages of faith, adult faith development, and psychological aspects of spiritual growth.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures at Tangaza University's Institute of Spirituality and Religious Formation on biblical foundations of spirituality, history of Christian spiritual traditions, or spiritual direction practice. Students engage in personal prayer and contemplative practice as part of the formation process. Practical sessions involve spiritual companioning exercises where students practise active listening, discernment facilitation, and spiritual direction skills with peers. Theological reflection sessions connect personal spiritual experience with academic study. Case studies of formation scenarios, retreat design exercises, and pastoral care situations provide practical context. Guest lectures from experienced spiritual directors, formation directors, and retreat masters provide real-world insights. Those in the research phase conduct independent research on spirituality topics, working on their project under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme uniquely combines academic study with personal spiritual formation, providing holistic preparation for spiritual direction ministry.
Tangaza's ISRF is a specialised institute with experienced spiritual directors and formation personnel as faculty.
Programme includes African spirituality and inculturation perspectives, making it relevant to African contexts.
Growing demand for trained spiritual directors and formation personnel in African religious communities and seminaries.

Against it

All offering institutions are private universities, making the programme more expensive than public university alternatives.
Niche specialisation with limited career options outside religious and faith-based institutions.
Programme primarily serves Catholic and mainline Christian contexts, which may not suit Pentecostal or evangelical students.
Limited programme awareness among employers outside church and religious formation contexts.

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

Public171k to 221k

171k at Maseno University221k at University of Nairobi

Private140k to 221k

140k at KAG East University221k at Daystar 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

UoN MA Religious Studies 441K/2yr=220.5K/yr. Daystar 110.4K/sem. KAG East 140K/yr. Maseno unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Religious orders and dioceses may sponsor members for formation and spiritual direction training. Tangaza University offers limited internal financial aid.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
Religious Order Sponsorship
Tangaza University Financial Aid

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
Religious Order Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
Members of religious orders and congregations sponsored for formation and spiritual direction training by their communities.
Tangaza University Financial Aid
ScholarshipKsh 100,000
Tangaza University students demonstrating academic merit and financial need.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is designed for religious formation directors, spiritual directors, pastoral ministers, clergy, religious men and women, and lay leaders. Available in full-time, part-time, and blended learning modes with intakes in January, May, and September.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
CATs, theological reflection essays, case study reports, spiritual direction practice assessments, and seminar presentations conducted throughout each semester.
Final Examination
Examination40% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering spiritual theology, history of spirituality, and formation principles, including essay questions and case analysis.
Practicum Assessment
Practical20% of the mark
Practical assessment involving supervised spiritual direction sessions, retreat design exercises, and formation programme development demonstrating application of skills.
Research Project
Research100% of the mark
Original research project on a spirituality or religious formation topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and spiritual theology, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Tangaza University's MA in Spirituality and Religious Formation was CUE-accredited in 2016. The degree is awarded by the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. Tangaza University is a CUE-accredited private institution.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE in 2016. The degree is awarded by the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. Tangaza University is a CUE-accredited private institution.
Spiritual Directors International
Professional certification
International professional body for spiritual directors. Graduates may pursue SDI membership and certification for professional recognition in spiritual direction practice.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Spiritual Director
Low demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 200,000
Provides spiritual direction and companioning to individuals in religious communities, parishes, retreat centres, or private practice, helping people deepen their spiritual life.
Formation Director
Low demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 220,000
Directs formation programmes in seminaries, novitiates, or religious communities, overseeing the spiritual and personal development of candidates and members.
Retreat Facilitator
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 180,000
Designs and facilitates retreats for religious communities, parishes, schools, and faith-based organisations, guiding groups through spiritual reflection and renewal.
Pastoral Minister
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 200,000
Provides pastoral ministry in parishes, schools, hospitals, or institutions, integrating spiritual direction skills with pastoral care and sacramental ministry.
Chaplain
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000
Serves as chaplain in schools, universities, hospitals, or institutions, providing spiritual support, counselling, and formation to students, patients, and staff.
Religious Education Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Coordinates religious education and formation programmes in parishes, schools, or dioceses, developing curricula and training catechists and formation personnel.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as spiritual directors, formation directors, retreat facilitators, and pastoral ministers in religious orders, seminaries, retreat centres, and faith-based organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

NVivo
SoftwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing interview data, spiritual journals, and case studies in spirituality and formation research.
Zotero
SoftwarePrimary
Reference management software for organising research sources, citations, and bibliographies in spirituality and religious formation studies.
Ignatian Spiritual Exercises
Framework
Structured spiritual formation framework used in retreat direction and spiritual companioning, central to Ignatian spirituality tradition.
SPSS
Software
Statistical analysis software for quantitative research in spirituality studies, including survey data analysis and programme evaluation.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Spirituality and religious formation is just about prayer and meditation.
The programme involves rigorous academic study of spiritual traditions, psychological development, formation principles, and practical skills for spiritual direction and pastoral care.
This programme is only for priests and nuns.
While designed for religious personnel, the programme is open to lay leaders, pastoral ministers, and anyone involved in spiritual companioning and formation work.
Spiritual direction is the same as counselling or therapy.
Spiritual direction focuses on the spiritual dimension of a person's life, helping them notice God's presence, while counselling addresses psychological and emotional issues.
This qualification has no practical career application.
There is growing demand for trained spiritual directors and formation personnel in religious communities, seminaries, retreat centres, and faith-based organisations across Africa.
African spirituality is not addressed in this programme.
The programme includes study of African spiritual traditions, inculturation, and the integration of African cultural values with Christian spirituality.
Spirituality studies lack academic rigour.
The programme involves historical analysis, theological reflection, psychological study, research methods, and a research project meeting postgraduate academic standards.