We Welcome Your Questions!
Thank you for your further interest in the University of Santa Monica’s Graduate Programs in Spiritual Psychology.
In addition to the questions answered below, the following resources are available through our website:
Below are the most commonly asked questions we receive. If your question is not answered here, a member of the Admissions Team is available to speak with you. You can request a phone call, or call a member of our Admissions Team at (310) 829-7402.
General Questions
- What does USM mean by “spiritual”?
- Can USM’s Graduate Programs assist me in knowing my life’s purpose?
- Does USM offer a Doctoral Program?
- Can I visit the University?
Admissions and Application Questions
- Are there spaces available for the upcoming academic year?
- Does USM have a Waiting List?
- When do classes begin for the M.A. Program in Spiritual Psychology?
- What are USM’s Admissions Criteria for the M.A. Programs?
- I am ready to apply for one of USM’s Graduate Programs. What are my next steps?
- If I want to be considered for this coming year, when do I need to submit my M.A. Application for Admission?
- Can I submit my Application while I am waiting for my transcripts and letters of recommendation to be sent?
- Once my Application has been submitted, how long will it be before I hear if I have been accepted?
- If I am not accepted to USM, may I reapply next year?
- How can I apply to USM’s Doctoral Program?
M.A. in Spiritual Psychology Questions
- What kinds of students attend USM’s Master’s Degree Programs in Spiritual Psychology?
- How do USM graduates use their Master of Arts Degrees in Spiritual Psychology to enhance their personal and professional lives?
- What is the schedule for the two-year M.A. in Spiritual Psychology Program?
Tuition and Student Loan Questions
- How much is the tuition for the two-year M.A. in Spiritual Psychology Program?
- Are Student Loans available?
Finance Questions
- What forms of payment does USM accept?
- What payment options do I have for paying my tuition?
- How do I request a receipt?
Travel Questions
- If I will be commuting from out of town, where can I stay?
- Where can I find directions to the University?
To Order a Transcript
To review FAQ for current students, click here.
General Questions
What does USM mean by “spiritual”?
When we use the word “spiritual,” we are not referring to any particular religious tradition. Rather, we are speaking of the basic underlying universal principles upon which all religious traditions are founded. These universal principles can all be distilled down to one word, and that word is love. At USM we teach people experientially to engage in life from a more loving and compassionate place inherent within them. To the degree that students learn to be more loving and compassionate, it can be said that they are growing spiritually.
Back to TopCan USM’s Graduate Programs assist me in knowing my life’s purpose?
Yes! Many students attend USM with this goal at heart, not just to clarify what their calling is in life but also to be able to answer that call and make their dreams a reality. USM’s experiential, Soul-Centered approach and depthful academic curriculum have been specifically designed and refined over a quarter-century to create an educational framework that emphasizes a learning orientation to life in service to the evolution of consciousness, alignment with your Soul’s purpose, and the revelation of the Authentic Self.
Does USM offer a Doctoral Program?
The University of Santa Monica has been granted approval to offer a Doctoral Program in Spiritual Psychology with an Emphasis in Soul-Centered Leadership. For more information about this Program, please click here.
Can I visit the University?
Yes! Information Evenings are held monthly, January through August. These evenings are designed to give you a comprehensive introduction to USM’s Master’s Degree Programs. They include the opportunity to meet and hear from the University’s co-directors, Drs. Ron and Mary Hulnick, designers of the Spiritual Psychology Program.
The evenings also feature a panel of alumni from each of USM’s Graduate Programs who will share how they are using their USM Graduate degrees to experience even greater success in a wide range of careers.
You can also schedule an in-person appointment with a member of USM's Admissions Team by calling (310) 829-7402.
Admissions and Application Questions
Are there spaces available for the upcoming academic year?
Applications are currently being reviewed. USM receives several hundred applications each year, significantly more than the 276 space available for new students. To find out if spaces are currently available for the upcoming academic year, you can request a phone call or call our Admissions Team at (310) 829-7402.
Does USM have a Waiting List?
Yes. USM consistently receives more Applications for Admission than there are spaces available. Students with a strong intention to participate in the Master’s Programs are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. For further information, please call our Admissions Team at (310) 829-7402.
When do classes begin for the M.A. Program in Spiritual Psychology?
Classes for new students in the First Year of the M.A. Program in Spiritual Psychology are scheduled for October 3-5, 2008.
What are USM’s Admissions criteria for the M.A. Programs?
The University of Santa Monica’s Admissions Committee will apply a range of Criteria to evaluate each prospective student’s Application for Admission. For a detailed listing of current Admissions criteria, please click here.
I am ready to apply for one of USM’s Graduate Programs. What are my next steps?
You can apply in one of the following ways:
- Register by placing a one-month tuition deposit ($600), using our secure form, and then download and complete your Application for Admission, submitting it in full to USM. (Click here for the mailing address.)
- Request a Phone Call from our Admissions Team, who can process your Registration and one-month tuition deposit over the phone. You can then download and complete your Application for Admission, or one can be mailed to you.
- Attend an upcoming Information Evening. USM accepts registrations at our Information Evenings, and Applications for Admission will be available. (You can also make an appointment to meet with an Admissions Team Member during office hours.)
Note: There are additional requirements for International Students.
If I want to be considered for this coming year, when do I need to submit my M.A. Application for Admission?
Once you have registered, you have 30 days to submit a completed Application for Admission, including transcripts and letters of recommendation.
Can I submit my Application while I am waiting for my transcripts and letters of recommendation to be sent?
Yes. Please submit your completed Application for Admission, which the University will hold until your transcripts and letters of recommendation are received, at which time your Application for Admission will be submitted for review. We encourage applicants to be proactive in following up with their schools and references regarding these pieces of their Application for Admission to ensure timely completion.
Note: Applications will not be reviewed for consideration until they are complete. When a Waiting List exists, Applicants will only be added to the Waiting List when all the required elements of their Application for Admission have been received and the Application has been reviewed and determined that the Admissions Criteria have been met.
Once my Application has been submitted, how long will it be before I hear if I have been accepted?
You will be contacted within 30 days to inform you whether or not you have been accepted into the Program.
If I am not accepted to USM, may I reapply next year?
In addition to students that we may not have space to admit, each year a significant number of students are not admitted to the Program, for a variety of reasons. USM recognizes that an individual’s situation can change greatly from one year to the next, and we welcome prospective students who are not granted admission to reapply.
How can I apply to USM’s Doctoral Program?
Graduates of USM’s Master’s Degree Programs are eligible to apply to the Doctoral Program. For more information, please click here or see the USM Catalogue.
M.A. in Spiritual Psychology Questions
What kinds of students attend USM’s Master’s Degree Programs in Spiritual Psychology?
Students at the University of Santa Monica are adults with diverse cultural and varied educational, professional, and personal backgrounds. Many travel great distances to participate, not only from other cities but also from out-of-state and outside the United States. A significant number of students already hold advanced degrees in a variety of disciplines.
USM’s Graduate Programs appeal to those who recognize the sacredness and healing potential of human existence and would like to incorporate this recognition more fully into their lives.
Past graduates have included numerous individuals from each of the following groups:
- Mental health professionals including psychiatrists, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, social workers, etc.
- Educators who are teaching at all levels and administrators of educational institutions.
- Healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, chiropractors, physical therapists, and practitioners of alternative medicine.
- Those who would like to enhance the quality of their relationships with their family members.
- Managers, supervisors, and consultants seeking to enhance both their leadership and interpersonal skills.
- Individuals with a high level of interface with the public, including sales and marketing representatives, lawyers, realtors, ministers and practitioners, peace officers, military personnel, government workers, etc.
- Artists from a wide range of creative disciplines, including authors, painters, poets, sculptors, dancers, classical and modern musicians, photographers, and actors from both stage and film.
- Those on a spiritual path who would like to be of greater service to themselves and others who are seeking their next steps personally and professionally.
As students progress through the Program, they recognize themselves as a mutually supportive group of competent professionals committed to excellence, healing, enhanced spiritual awareness, learning, the continual enhancement of the quality of their lives, and to living more in alignment with their Soul’s purpose.
How do USM graduates use their Master of Arts Degrees in Spiritual Psychology to enhance their personal and professional lives?
To read and hear testimonials from Graduates of USM's M.A. Programs, including how they are using their USM education, click here.
USM Graduates are not just working but succeeding and thriving in many varied walks of life and in every corner of the globe. In response to surveys of Graduates, they let us know that they are using their degrees to enhance their effectiveness, fulfillment, and success in their chosen professions.
As students complete the Program, they take their place within a community of individuals who are committed to a Learning Orientation to Life and to Soul-Centered Living.
What is the schedule for the two-year M.A. in Spiritual Psychology Program?
Classes meet one weekend a month, October through June, during the academic year, with one additional week each summer, for two years. Class weekends consist of Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday. Class hours are as follows:
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.* (two-hour meal break)
Sunday: 9:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.* (one-and-a-half-hour meal break)
* All ending times are approximate
For a schedule of the upcoming academic year, click here
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Tuition and Student Loan Questions
How much is the tuition for the two-year M.A. in Spiritual Psychology Program?
Please click on the following link for complete information about Tuition, Fees, and Student Loans.
Are Student Loans available?
Yes. A student loan program is available through The Educational Resources Institute, Inc. (TERI). TERI is one of the most respected private student loan guarantors in the country, known for its streamlined application and approval process and for excellent customer service. TERI guaranteed loans can be used towards the payment of tuition, fees, and books—as well as school-related travel expenses.
Finance Questions
What forms of payment does USM accept?
USM accepts MasterCard, Visa, American Express, cash, and checks.
What payment options do I have for paying my tuition?
To facilitate the most grace and ease for students in paying their tuition and for staff in processing payments, USM utilizes a user-friendly Payment-As-You-Go Tuition Payment Program.
The Program allows for tuition to be remitted automatically on a monthly basis; tuition is due on the 15th of the month preceding the class weekend.
Students have their choice of rendering their payments via automatic debits to their checking accounts or automatic charges to their credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, or American Express).
For a complete monthly payment schedule and options for those not wishing to use the Payment-As-You-Go Tuition Payment Program, please refer to the pdf file, Tuition, Fees, & Student Loans.
How do I request a receipt?
Please call the Accounting Services Coordinator at (310) 829-7402.
Travel Questions
If I will be traveling to USM from out of town, where can I stay?
More than one-third of the students attending USM’s Programs travel to Los Angeles on a monthly basis from across the country and around the world. USM has negotiated reduced rates with hotels within walking distance of the University, as well as airport transportation services. To view and/or download this information, click here.
Where can I find directions to the University?
Click here.
To Order a Transcript
How do I order a transcript from USM?
Transcripts are $5 per transcript whether it is an “Official” transcript or a student copy. All transcript requests must be made in writing and contain the following information:
- Your name as it was when you attended USM.
- The year of your graduation from USM (if applicable).
- The exact address (or addresses) where you’d like us to send transcripts.
- The number of transcript copies you are requesting.
- Whether you need “Official” transcripts or a student copy.
Mail (or fax) your written request to:
2107 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Attn: Associate Registrar
Fax: (310) 453-5641
- Type of credit card (USM accepts Visa, MasterCard, and American Express)
- Credit card number
- Credit card expiration date
- Your exact name as it appears on the credit card
If you request official transcripts to be sent directly to you, they will be put in a sealed envelope, inside a larger envelope. Please include any additional information that you deem important for us to know so that we can satisfactorily process your request.
