Overview
The Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies graduate minor is offered through Parsons School of Design and the Schools of Public Engagement.
Rooted in millennia of practice and wisdom traditions, the contemporary integration of mindfulness and contemplative engagement is emerging as an interdisciplinary academic area with potential applications in a variety of fields. This graduate minor gives
students an opportunity to explore the fundamentals of mindfulness and contemplative engagement as a means of developing self-awareness, self-regulation, resilience, and constructive mental models and of understanding how they can be applied in students'
personal lives and professional practice.
This minor combines a first-person approach, involving knowledge acquisition through personal practice and rigorous critical reflection; a second-person approach, consisting of interpersonal interaction and exploration of questions of mutual concern;
and a third-person approach, involving empirical research. Students learn about the modalities of mindfulness and contemplative practice, including traditional insight meditation, somatic and kinesthetic practices, music, focused thought, writing,
creative expression, yoga, and dance. Students are introduced to the art and science of mindfulness and contemplative practice, examine historical roots and contemporary applications, develop and deepen their personal practice, and gain a nuanced
understanding of how mindfulness practice can be applied in their fields
Curriculum
This graduate minor requires successful completion of 9 credits. Students generally select one course from each of the subject areas in the chart below.
Course availability may vary from semester to semester. Some courses may be in development and offered at a later time. Students seeking to pursue alternative coursework in other subject areas to fulfill the minor should consult with their advisor.
Fall 2022 courses are listed below.
Learning Outcomes
A student who has completed this graduate minor should be able to:
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Demonstrate development or deepening of a personal practice, having tried a range of mindfulness and contemplative practices and reflected on their own experience with these practices and their responses to each one
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Understand the history and traditions of contemplative practice and critiques of its appropriation and appropriateness in various contexts
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Understand how contemplative practice can be implemented in different fields
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Demonstrate interpersonal mindfulness and critical self-reflection skills
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Display deepened expertise in applying contemplative approaches in at least one field of practice
Faculty
Latha Poonamallee, Chair of Management
Eligibility
The Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies graduate minor is available to graduate degree students across The New School.
Students can retroactively apply successfully completed courses toward a minor upon declaring or applying. After a student successfully completes a minor's requirements, the minor will appear on the student's academic transcript at graduation.
For questions about this minor, please contact Latha Poonamallee at [email protected].