Master of Arts in Human Development - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Print Button
M.A. in Human Development

Program Overview

A master's program that you design yourself!

The Master of Arts in Human Development was established by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in 1972. It is a 35-credit, low-residency interdisciplinary graduate program that allows students to combine academic interests with career goals. The wholly unique combination of scholarship, mentoring, and program flexibility allows individuals to custom design programs that lead to personal and professional enhancement. Students in the human development program have secured major grants, published both creative and scholarly works, produced commissioned works of art, and received public recognition for their accomplishments.

Possible programs include, but are not limited to, concentrations in:

  • Adult Education
  • Career Counseling
  • Ecological Studies
  • Employee Assistance Counseling
  • Holistic Health/Wellness
  • Music Therapy
  • Organizational Development
  • Organizational and Individual Coaching
  • Social Justice
  • Spiritual Studies
  • Transformational Leadership
  • Writing

Any two or more of these fields may be combined into one 35 credit program. The only required courses are HD690 The Process of Human Development, HD691 Ethics & Social Responsibility and HD698 Writing the Position Paper.


Location Admission Contact
Twin Cities Michael Dahl - (612) 728-5198
 Course Information

    Learning Contracts

    The contract serves as the basic unit of each student's work and as an agreement between Saint Mary's University, the human development staff and the student. Although the program is flexible enough to accommodate a change of plan or direction, each student should have a fairly clear conception of overall goals from the beginning of his or her program. Credits for each contract are assigned on the basis of the amount and depth of work. Contracts may include learning experiences such as: formal course work at Saint Mary's University or other institutions, professional workshops or seminars, independent study, research, practica, and internships.

  • HD690 The Process of Human Development (1)
  • HD691 Ethics and Social Responsibility (1)
  • HD698 The Process of Writing a Position Paper (1)
 Elective Courses
  • HD568 Designing Corporate Training (2)
  • HD585 Meditation (1)
  • HD589 Creativity and Self-Renewal (2)
  • HD596 Creating Optimal Healing Environments (1)
  • HD604 Telling Our Story: Memoir (1)
  • HD626 Science and Spirit: Contemplative and Phenomenolog (2)
  • HD629 Exploring Spiritual Life through Literature (1)
  • HD633 Many Faces of Art: A Psychological Perspective (2)
  • HD635 Getting Published (1)
  • HD636 Coaching and Team Building: Applying Human Develop (1)
  • HD647 Introduction to Transpersonal Body Therapy (1)
  • HD671 Women's Self-Esteem and Spirituality (2)
  • HD672 Claiming Our Spirituality (1)
  • HD673 Journaling: Life's Companion (1)
  • HD674 Religious and Spiritual Development Through the Li (2)
  • HD681 Creativity and Holistic Health (2)
  • HD693 Psychological Transformation and the Spiritual Jou (1)
  • HD694 Emerging Trends in Holistic Health (2)
  • HD695 Children of Addiction (1)
  • HD698 The Process of Writing a Position Paper (1)
  • HD714 Spirituality and Care of the Earth (2)
  • HD715 Cross-Cultural Ritual (2)
  • HD717 Grief and Loss (2)
  • HD718 Relationships and Spirituality (2)
  • HD720 Reengaging our Relationship with Conflict (1)
  • HD725 Transpersonal Bodywork (2)
  • HD730 Eastern Movement and Philosophy (2)
  • HD732 Human Development and Spirituality in Coaching and (2)
  • HD733 Work and Spirituality (1)
  • HD734 The Art and Practice of Executive Coaching (2)


Program Staff
Faculty Image
Program Director, Master of Arts in Human Development and Coordinator of Graduate Lasallian Studies