Degree Requirements

First year, fall
REL 645 Methods and Issues in the Study of Religion (3)
REL 779 Interreligious Dialogue (3)
Religious Studies Elective (3)
Contemplative Practice Elective (3)
SUBTOTAL 12

First year, spring
REL 585 Spiritual Models of Social Action (3)
REL 651 Contemplative Practice Retreat* (noncredit)
Three Courses from the Religious Studies Electives (9)
SUBTOTAL 12

Second year, fall
REL 655 Trends in Religious Studies (3)
Contemplative Practice Elective (3)
Two Courses from the Religious Studies Electives (6)
SUBTOTAL 12

Second year, spring
REL 672 Non-Dualism in Theory and Practice (3)
REL 885 Master’s Project (noncredit)
Contemplative Practice Elective (3)
Religious Studies Elective (3)
SUBTOTAL 9
TOTAL CREDITS 45

* It is recommended that students complete the noncredit monthlong Contemplative Practice Retreat requirement (REL 651) no later than the winter break between the fall and spring semesters of their second year. This requirement can be done in two-week sections.

Religious Studies Electives

General Electives
REL 525 Contemplative Christianity (3)
REL 529 Foundations of Judaism: Torah, Prayer and Acts of Kindness (3)
REL 530 Contemplative Hinduism (3)
REL 535 Introduction to Jewish Mysticism (3)
REL 545 Contemplative Islam (3)
REL 623 Religious Experience in Africa: Sacred Cosmos, Ritual & Community (3)
REL 625 Prayer and Prophecy: Biblical Literatures (3)
REL 634 Hindu Yoga-Tantra (3)
REL 676 Contemplative Jewish Practice (3)
REL 740 Contemporary American Religion (3)

Buddhism Electives
REL 546 Buddhism in America: Dharma Comes West (3)
REL 611 First Turning of the Wheel: Nature of Mind and Emotions (3)
REL 614 Mind and its World I (3)
REL 624 Mind and its World II (3)
REL 661 Second Turning of the Wheel: The Bodhisattva Path (3)
REL 701 The Middle Way School (3)
REL 710 Third Turning of the Wheel (3)
REL 750 Path to Enlightenment (3)
REL 751 Buddhism in Tibet (3)

Contemplative Practice Electives
REL 504W The Breeze of Simplicity: Buddhist Meditation Weekend (1)
REL 540 Zen Buddhism (3)
REL 554W Opening the Heart: Buddhist Meditation Weekend (1)
REL 571 Centering Prayer as Christian Contemplation (3)
REL 600 Meditation Practicum I: Seeds of Peace (3)
REL 609W Mindfulness Instructor Training I** (1)
REL 620 Meditation Practicum II: Self & No Self* (3)
REL 635 Meditation Practicum III: Mind-Training* (3)
REL 690W–791W Shambhala Training Levels I–XII (1)
REL 709W Mindfulness Instructor Training II ** (1)
REL 780 Meditation Practicum IV: Maitri & Mandala* (3)
REL 809W Mindfulness Instructor Training III** (1)

* These courses must be taken in sequence.
** These courses must be taken in sequence.The prerequisites for REL 609W are meditation practica I and II as well as a Buddhist monthlong meditation intensive, two weeks of which must be completed before the class begins.

Degree Requirements:
MA Religious Studies: Indo-Tibetan Buddhism
History of Religions & Tibetan Tradition Emphases
The courses students take vary slightly after the first year depending on whether they choose the History of Religions or the Tibetan Tradition Emphasis.

First year, fall
REL 600 Meditation Practicum I: Seeds of Peace (3)
REL 611 First Turning of the Wheel: The Nature of Mind & Emotions (3)
REL 614 Mind and Its World I (3)
REL 645 Methods and Issues in the Study of Religion (3)
SUBTOTAL 12

First year, spring
REL 620 Meditation Practicum II: Self and No-Self (3)
REL 624 Mind and Its World II (3)
REL 650 Dathun: Monthlong Meditation Intensive* (noncredit)
REL 661 Second Turning of the Wheel: The Bodhisattva Path (3)
SUBTOTAL 9

First year, summer
Tibetan Tradition Emphasis students only will attend Nitartha Institute**
REL 705 The Mind Only School (1.5) Tibetan Tradition students only
REL 720 Buddha Nature and Shentong Traditions (1.5) Tibetan Tradition students only
SUBTOTAL 3

Second year, fall
REL 635 Meditation Practicum III: Mind Training (3)
REL 701 The Middle Way School (3)
Religious Studies Electives (6)
SUBTOTAL 12

Second year, spring
REL 710 Third Turning of the Wheel (3) History of Religions students only
REL 750 Path to Enlightenment (3) Tibetan Tradition students only
REL 751 Buddhism in Tibet (3) or
REL 760 Vajrayana: Symbol, Iconography and Ritual (3)
REL 780 Meditation Practicum IV: Maitri & Mandala (3)
REL 885 Master’s Paper/Project (noncredit)
Religious Studies Elective (3) History of Religions students only
SUBTOTAL 9 (12 for History of Religions students)
TOTAL CREDITS 45

* It is recommended that History of Religion emphasis students complete the noncredit month-long dathün requirement (REL 650) by the winter break between the fall and spring semesters of their first year, or at the latest during the summer following their first year. Tibetan Tradition emphasis students are only required to attend two weeks of dathun.
** Tibetan Tradition emphasis students are required to complete the requirement of attending a monthlong Nitartha Institute program in the summer following their first year. This is integral to the sequence of the curriculum.

Religious Studies Electives
At least one of the two electives of the History of Religious Emphasis must be a Buddhism Elective. The other elective of both Emphases can be a Buddhism Elective, Religious Studies Elective or Contemplative Practice Elective.

Buddhism Electives
REL 540 Zen Buddhism (3)
REL 546 Buddhism in America: Dharma Comes West (3)
REL 710 Third Turning of the Wheel (3)
REL 750 Path to Enlightenment (3)
REL 751 Buddhism in Tibet (3)
REL 760 Vajrayana: Symbol, Iconography and Ritual (3)

General Electives
REL 525 Contemplative Christianity (3)
REL 529 Foundations of Judaism: Torah, Prayer and Acts of Kindness (3)
REL 530 Contemplative Hinduism (3)
REL 535 Introduction to Jewish Mysticism (3)
REL 545 Contemplative Islam (3)
REL 585 Spiritual Models of Social Action (3)
REL 623 Religious Experience in Africa: Sacred Cosmos, Ritual and Community (3)
REL 625 Prayer and Prophecy: Biblical Literatures (3)
REL 634 Hindu Yoga-Tantra (3)
REL 676 Contemplative Jewish Practice (3)
REL 749 Contemporary American Religion (3)

Contemplative Practice Electives
REL 504W The Breeze of Simplicity: Buddhist Meditation Weekend (1)
REL 540 Zen Buddhism (3)
REL 554W Opening the Heart: Buddhist Meditation Weekend (1)
REL 571 Centering Prayer as Christian Contemplation (3)
REL 609W Mindfulness Instructor Training I* (1)
REL 690W–795W Shambhala Training I–XII (1)
REL 709W Mindfulness Instructor Training II* (1)
REL 809W Mindfulness Instructor Training III* (1)

*These courses must be taken in sequence. The prerequisites for REL 609W are meditation practica I and II as well as a Buddhist monthlong meditation intensive, two weeks of which must be completed before the class begins.

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