General Question and Answers About Gauden University

How do I learn more about Gauden's offerings?
The quickest, easiest way for you to look at our offerings is for you to view and/or download our catalogs from our website by going to Renewal>Renewal Catalog and Divinity Programs>College Catalog.

How do I contact Gauden?
The best way to reach us to ask questions or exchange information is by email – info@gauden.org. If you want to speak by phone, leave a message in our voice mail -- 707.773.3799-- that includes your name, number, and good times to reach you and we will return your call.

What does it mean that Gauden is a distance learning university?
Gauden's programs blend distance learning and in-person courses to enable you to live anywhere and study with us while keeping your commitments to home, family, and career. We offer in-person classes and use leading-edge education technology and teleconferencing to make learning simple, accessible, interactive, and convenient. For our degree and certification programs, much of the work is done independently, with various kinds of support and supervision from faculty and peer learning opportunities.

Since Gauden is a distance learning institution, what kinds of interactions will I have with faculty and peers?
At Gauden, we understand the importance of offering opportunities for interaction. 
In-person classes offer students the opportunity to meet others and enjoy the warm human connection that, for all their amazing virtues, long-distance connections cannot offer. These classes enable the University to offer material that is best learned through in-person interactions and experiences.

Additionally, Gauden’s learning environment is structured to enable students to benefit from opportunities to exchange ideas, offer support, and share experiences with each other. Phone conferences and online forums help students connect and interact with the Gauden community.

For those enrolled in degree or certification programs, regular one-on-one and small group teleconference meetings with faculty are designed into the curriculum. Phone conferences are an opportunity for students to ask questions and receive guidance while providing faculty the chance to get to know the student individually and assess their growth and development. This relationship building is a key part of the Gauden experience and differentiates Gauden from programs with less personal, warm contact.

Where are live classes held, and how do I register?
Live classes are held in a variety of locations to make them convenient and accessible for people coming from around the country and world. Go to our web site to the course calendar and choose the date and location that works best for your schedule. If you are registering for the Renewal seminar, Radiant Reflection or Community Development classes, pay for the course by going to Admissions-Payment. We will contact you to confirm logistics and details. If you are enrolled in a degree or ordination program in the College, please go to the College Calendar. Contact the organizer of the course in which you are interested to register. Once you have received confirmation of your registration with the class organizer, then pay your course tuition by going to Admissions – Payment.

I already have a spiritual practice. Are these courses appropriate for me?
We believe that all people have an inner light, a Divine spark, that is sacred. Our practices are open to and suitable for anyone who believes in or seeks a closer relationship with the Divine, by whatever name you call it.

What is the difference between the Institute and the College?
The Institute for Professional Development provides training in Renewal and continuing education programs for people in the helping professions who want to learn potent and practical methods for effecting change within themselves, their organizations, and their communities. The College of Divinity offers academic degrees for people who want to experience accelerated transformational shifts in their spiritual consciousness, and vocational programs for those who wish certification as interfaith spiritual healer counselors or ministers.

What are the different credentials the University currently offers through its programs? Through the Institute of Professional Development we offer certification in spiritually-based reflective practice, as a Renewal practitioner at three different levels (Core, Group, and Community).Through the College of Divinity we offer academic Master of Divinity degrees and stand-alone vocational certification and ordination programs.