Interdepartmental Committee on Buddhist Studies
Chair:
Robert
A. F.
Thurman
80 Claremont, Room 103
Tel:
212.851.4133
The interdepartmental program in Buddhist studies is offered jointly by the Departments of Religion; East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALAC) and Middle East and Asian Languages and Cultures (MEALAC). Study in the program is carried out in conjunction with work for the Ph.D. degree in one of these departments. Students should refer to the appropriate departmental entry for further information.
Degree Requirements
The requirements listed below are special to this committee and must be read in conjunction with the general requirements of the Graduate School and with the individual departmental requirements.
For the Ph.D. Degree
Advancement to candidacy is by formal satisfaction of the requirements of one of the three departments. Completion of the special requirements of the Program in Buddhist Studies, which are partially listed below, satisfy part of the departmental degree requirements and must be read in conjunction with the requirements of the student’s home department.
Sanskrit: Two years, in which, preferably, one term is Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit.
East Asian Buddhist language: Two years, or a reading knowledge of either Chinese, Japanese, or Korean.
Tibetan or Pali: One year minimum.
Buddhism: One-year course sequence, including undergraduate survey courses. Buddhism: Indo-Tibetan and Buddhism: East Asian, or the equivalent.
Indian civilization: One-term course.
Chinese religions: One-term course.
Topic in modern Buddhism: One-term course.
Examinations: Passing of written and oral comprehensive examination, based on the Buddhist Studies general and concentrated comprehensive field exam format developed by the Religion department, as tailored to the individual student.
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