USM’s 25th Anniversary Year of Graduate Programs in Spiritual Psychology Begin
Some of the new students who have joined
USM's Soul-Centered educational community
in the M.A. Program in Spiritual Psychology.On At 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 7, a milestone in USM history was passed as hundreds of new students in this year’s incoming class for the M.A. Program in Spiritual Psychology formally began their two-year graduate studies. So began the University of Santa Monica’s 25th Anniversary year of offering leading-edge Graduate Programs in Spiritual Psychology!
The University continues to accept only 276 new students each year, in service to maintaining the levels of academic excellence and student support for which USM is known worldwide. And this year again saw an increased level of applications for admission for these spaces, with many of the accepted students having applied very early in the year.
As a result, many of the new incoming students had been waiting several months in keen anticipation of the start of their USM education. Their arrival at the USM Center on Friday evening was a joyful event indeed! In addition to the USM staff and faculty who were present to meet them, several of the University’s graduates volunteered their time to greet and orient the incoming class to their new academic home.
For these graduates, the evening was an opportunity to celebrate the enthusiastic souls following in their footsteps, as well as to look back with tender appreciation to the start of their own transformative educational experience at USM and the many blessings they have received—and continue to receive—as a result.
New students travel to USM from across the state, country, . . . and the world!
USM’s Spiritual Psychology Program is now, more than ever, in high demand. While a majority of the students are California residents, this year’s class also comprises students from 24 other states and three continents!
One woman has moved from her native Bulgaria to attend classes as an International Student. Clearly, the value of participating in USM’s Soul-Centered educational process continues to gain growing recognition, and an increasing number of students are willing to travel very great distances, one weekend a month, in order to receive it!
USM’s Graduate Education—relevant, practical, and experiential
Dr. Ron Hulnick, USM’s President (and co-facilitator of the M.A. Program along with USM’s Academic Vice President, Dr. Mary Hulnick), explained USM’s approach to education.“At the heart of our educational approach is the recognition that we best learn by doing—that relevant information followed by immediate practical application offers students the greatest opportunity to not just understand, but to experience and integrate the material being presented.”
While USM’s Master’s Degree Program in Spiritual Psychology takes two years to complete, with classes taking place on a weekend basis, many of the students shared that they have already received significant value from the very first weekend. This is the power of USM’s highly experiential approach. Beginning Friday evening of the very first weekend, students are engaged in learning and using practical skills and tools that can positively transform their lives.
As new First Year student, Amy Mitchell, shared, “I have been waiting for three years to come to USM! I have seen the positive change that a USM education can have in my nephew’s life and the ripple effect this had in his entire family. Now I’m excited to experience this first-hand!”
Many students shared similar thoughts on their first weekend. Here are a few:
“I love this Program! It’s wonderful to be in an educational setting so full of promise. I look forward to taking this out into the world.”
“I have been feeling stuck for quite a while in my life. Already I am feeling things move in a positive direction! This is truly a remarkable experience.”
“I am amazed how quickly I am having meaningful insights into what have been life-long issues. And it’s just the first weekend!”
“To be honest, I came to this Program with very high expectations . . . and yet many of them have been reached already. I am very excited to see where this can go!”
“The Program has been refined very consciously over the course of twenty-five years with exactly this purpose in mind,” added USM’s Academic Vice President, Dr. Mary Hulnick. “From the very start—in fact, right from the very first evening—we give students the opportunity to actually use some of our foundational Soul-Centered Basic Communication Skills with each other.
“Then, at the end of the weekend, we encourage them to take these new tools and try them out in their lives to see how they work. We are not asking them to blindly believe that these work. We are saying, ‘Go out and apply them! Try them out in your life. Experience them!’”
The Learning Continues!
The following weekend, students in the second and final year of the M.A. Program in Spiritual Psychology began a sacred journey of deepening and integration that will lead them to be members of USM’s 25th graduating class.
These students, having already mastered 26 highly effective and practical Soul-Centered Basic Communications Skills during their First Year (and experienced the positive transformation that has resulted in their lives through using them), were highly excited to discover what is in store for them this year!
In addition, the largest group of auditing graduates ever has decided to join this class, including one graduate who will once again be flying once a month to USM from Austin, Texas. Already successful graduates the two-year Program, these auditing students are returning to the Second Year to utilize the structure provided in the uniquely supportive, encouraging, and Spirit-Centered educational environment to move forward with important life goals and projects.
Many members of the returning Second Year class spoke of the joy of returning to their USM community—one anchored in the sacredness of a shared educational journey. Here’s a taste of the enthusiasm they shared:
“I have been counting the minutes until I could come back! I am excited to see how participating at USM can bring much more magic into my life.”
“I am very excited to be back and am wondering what unknown opportunities lie ahead of me. Based on my First Year Experience, the sky’s the limit!”
“I am SO excited to begin the Second Year—especially the Second Year Project. I know from talking to graduates that what is possible may even go beyond what I can imagine at this time!”
A Final Opportunity to Apply and Join This Year’s Classes!
It’s no secret that USM’s Master’s Program offers much more than a graduate degree—what is truly available is a transformed life! And if you, or someone you know, are looking to achieve significant and lasting personal and professional goals while earning a Master’s degree, there is one final opportunity for joining this year’s classes . . .
This year, a handful of accepted students were unable to take their place in this year’s class due to last-minute changes in their life circumstances. As a result, a very limited number of spaces are available in the classes that have just begun in October.
A special two-day make-up class will be held November 3 and 4 for those prospective students who successfully apply to join this year’s Master’s Degree Program in Spiritual Psychology.
These spaces are filling quickly—largely due to the enthusiastic sharing by the new students who have had the uplifting experience of their first USM weekend. So if you have friends, colleagues, or family who would like to apply for one of the few remaining spaces, encourage them to call USM’s Admissions Team today at (310) 829-7402.
Congratulations to all the new USM First Year students—we acknowledge you for answering the call to participate in Soul-Centered education. Here’s to you . . . and an extraordinary year ahead!
