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Degree Requirements: MA Religious Studies
with Language: 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 503	Tibetan I (4) or
REL 507	Sanskrit I (4) or
REL 600	Meditation Practicum I: Seeds of Peace (3)
REL 611	First Turning of the Wheel: Nature of Mind and Emotions (3)
REL 614	Mind and Its World I (3)
SUBTOTAL	13

First year, spring
REL 533	Tibetan II (4) or
REL 537	Sanskrit II (4) or
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)
Religious Studies Elective (3)
SUBTOTAL 16

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 & Shentong Traditions (1.5) Tibetan Tradition students only

Second year, fall
REL 553	Tibetan III (4) or
REL 557	Sanskrit III (4)
REL 635	Meditation Practicum III: Mind-Training (3)
REL 645	Methods and Issues in the Study of Religion (3)
REL 701	The Middle Way School (3)
Religious Studies Elective (3)
SUBTOTAL 16

Second year, spring
REL 583	Tibetan IV (4) or
REL 587	Sanskrit IV (4)
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 and Mandala (3)
REL 885	Master’s Project (noncredit)
Religious Studies Elective (3) History of Religions students only
SUBTOTAL 16 (13 for Tibetan Tradition students) TOTAL CREDITS 61

*It is recommended that students complete the noncredit 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.

**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

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 740	Contemporary American Religion (3)


Contemplative Practice Electives
REL 504W	The Breeze of Simplicty: 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* (3)
REL 690W-791W Shambhala Training Levels 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 609 are Meditation Practicum I and II, as well as a Buddhist monthlong meditation intesive, two weeks of which must be completed before the class begins.

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