Buddhist Studies
Degrees Offered: Graduate M.A., Ph.D. concentrations
Introduction
The Buddhist Studies disciplinary concentration within
the South Asia languages and literature program in the
Department of Asian Languages and Literature offers courses
leading to the general departmental M.A. and Ph.D. degrees
with a specialization in Buddhist Studies. Courses in Buddhist
Studies may also be taken in completion of a B.A. degree,
or of an M.A. or Ph.D. degree with a specialization in
another area.
The program focuses on the study of canonical and post-canonical
languages and literature of the Buddhist tradition. Therefore,
successful completion of the program requires extensive
language and textual study. Areas of concentration within
the program include South Asian Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism,
or Inner Asian Buddhism, with the relevant languages (Sanskrit,
Pali, Tibetan, Old Turkish, Chinese).
Related courses in disciplines other than language and
literature, such as cultural anthropology, history, philosophy,
religion, and ethnomusicology, constitute an important
part of the program, and students will normally take courses
in these disciplines. The specific program of courses will
be worked out on a individual basis between the student
and academic adviser. Prospective students should consult
with the adviser to the Buddhist Studies disciplinary concentration
as to the availability of offerings in each area.
Advisers
Students should request an adviser within one year and
one term of the beginning of their program; if no adviser
is requested within that period, one will be assigned.
Each student is expected to work out a course of study
with the adviser which concentrates on areas pertinent
to the language specialization. In addition, all students
are required to comply with the rules and procedures of
the Department of Asian Languages and Literature (copies
of which are available from the Department).
Admission
The applicant must meet the requirements of the Graduate
School for the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees as outlined in the
University Bulletin. In addition, some previous study of
the language and civilization of one of the areas of concentration
is desirable. For admission to the M.A. program with disciplinary
specialization in the Buddhist Studies disciplinary concentration,
preference will be given to students with prior preparation
in a relevant language or in the history and culture of
one area of concentration. Students lacking such preparation
may be admitted to the M.A. program; however, they must
remedy any deficiencies by adding, as early as possible,
such courses as the academic adviser considers necessary.
M.A. Concentration
I. Requirements for Course Work and Credits
- For the M.A. non-thesis, 45 course credits, 18 of which
must be 500 level and above, are required. Buddhist Studies
seminars and text reading courses offered within the
department must be included. Students are also required
to complete language study through the fourth-year level
in their major language and through the second-year level
in a
second Asian language.
- The M.A. thesis program requires a minimum of 45 course
credits plus 9 thesis credits. At least 18 of the 45
credits must be taken at the 500 level or above. Buddhist
Studies seminars and text reading courses offered within
the department must be included. The language requirements
in this program are the same as in the non-thesis program.
In addition, the student must write an acceptable M.A.
thesis according to the rules and policies of the Department
of Asian Languages
and Literature and pass an oral examination.
II. Foreign Language Requirements
Students must demonstrate competence in their major language,
and must complete the course requirements in their second
Asian language as outlined above. These two languages may
include one classical language and one relevant modern
language, or two classical languages. In either case, one
of the languages must be Sanskrit. In addition, students
must demonstrate through a written examination reading
knowledge of one foreign language relevant to their area
of specialization, which must be other than English and
the student's native language. It may be the student's
second Asian language or a European or Asian research language.
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Ph.D. Concentration
Normally, entry into the Ph.D. program is contingent upon
successful completion of the M.A. degree in Asian Languages
and Literature at the University of Washington and a satisfactory
evaluation by South Asian Language Program faculty. Students
with sufficient background, usually the successful completion
of a relevant M.A. degree at another institution, may be
considered for admission into the Ph.D. program. Students
are expected to fulfill the Graduate School's residence
requirements (see the Department of Asian Languages and
Literature's Policies and Procedures), to fulfill foreign
language requirements, to pass a series of examinations
(described below), and to write and defend a dissertation.
Students who have completed an M.A. in Asian Languages
and Literature at the University of Washington with a specialization
in the Buddhist Studies disciplinary concentration, as
described above, will often have fulfilled the residence
requirements for the Ph.D. as set out by the Graduate School.
If not, these must be satisfied as the student moves toward
the Ph.D. Often, course work will continue to be appropriate.
For the Ph.D., students are expected to demonstrate the
ability to do original research utilizing primary languages
of Buddhist traditions in accordance with their chosen
areas of concentration. Students are required to demonstrate
competence in their major Asian languages and pass written
examinations in two research languages other than English
and the student's native language (that is, one written
examination in addition to the examination completed at
the M.A. level). Where appropriate, students will be strongly
encouraged to acquire competence in a modern research language
in order to pursue research in the field: for example,
in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tibet, China, or Japan. Students
are also required to pass four written field examinations
selected in accordance with the student's interests. Generally,
at least two of these examinations will be directly related
to some aspect of Buddhist Studies and a third will fall
within the general purview of South Asian languages and
literature. A fourth field examination can have as its
subject an adjacent field or discipline. Once these field
examinations have been satisfactorily completed, the student
is eligible to take a two-hour comprehensive oral examination,
administered by his or her supervisory committee. When
that has been passed, students are accorded candidate's
status (Ph.C.) and are ready to submit a dissertation proposal.
The Ph.D. is conferred once the completed dissertation
has been defended successfully before the student's supervisory
committee.
M.A. || Ph.D. || top
