Program Description
The Buddhist Studies disciplinary concentration within the South Asian 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. The program offers a concentration in South Asian Buddhism, with the primary focus of coursework in Sanskrit, and secondarily in Pali, Gandhari, and Classical 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 an 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
Admitted students will be assigned an interim faculty adviser. 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 departmental M.A. and Ph.D. policies and procedures.
M.A. Concentration
Admission
The applicant must meet the minimum admissions requirements of the Graduate School for the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. Applicants to the MA program will ideally have at least two years of Sanskrit training and preparation in the Buddhist history and culture of South, Central or East Asia. Students with one year of Sanskrit will be considered on a case-by-case basis, particularly if they have strong experience in a second Buddhist language or in Buddhist Studies more generally. 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.
Requirements for Course Work and Credits
Students in the MA program must satisfy the degree requirements set by the Graduate School at the time of their graduation. The MA program requires a minimum of 45 credits at the 400-level or higher. At least 18 credits must be completed in numerically graded courses at the 400 and 500 level, and 18 credits at the 500 level and above. Each student will customize their course of study in consultation with their faculty advisor. Buddhist studies seminars and text reading courses offered within the department must be included.
In addition to coursework and the completion of two general examinations, the MA degree requires students to submit original research in one of two ways:
- as a thesis, in which case the student takes at least 36 course credits and 9 additional thesis credits (ASIAN 700), OR
- in the form of two article-length research papers that have been written either independently or as part of their coursework, in which case all 45 minimum credits will be course credits.
Language Requirements
Students are required to complete language study through the fourth-year level of Sanskrit (or demonstrate equivalent competence), or through third-year Sanskrit and at least one year of another language relevant to the student’s program of study (e.g., Pali, Classical Chinese, Japanese, etc).
M.A. General Examination
Students must pass two written examinations to receive an M.A. degree. Each is two hours in duration. Typically, one demonstrates the student’s competence in reading Buddhist texts in their primary language area, and the other is on a broader theme in Buddhist studies. The student will meet with their faculty advisor at least one quarter prior to the examinations in order to discuss necessary preparation.
Ph.D. Concentration
Admission to the Ph.D. program
The MA and PhD programs are separate and independent. Admission to the MA program does not guarantee admission to the PhD program. MA students who wish to proceed to the PhD program must file a Petition to Proceed no later than their final quarter as an MA student, and the petition must be approved prior to the MA degree being awarded. See department policy 2.5 and consult the Academic Counselor for more information.
Applicants to the Ph.D. program must meet the minimum admissions requirements of the Graduate School. For admission to the PhD program in Buddhist Studies, preference will be given to students with an MA in a relevant field and advanced reading competence in Sanskrit.
Degree Requirements
PhD students must meet the Graduate School's graduate degree requirements as well as the specific PhD degree requirements of the department and Graduate School:
- A minimum of 90 credits (including a minimum of 27 dissertation credits, ASIAN 800). Note: With program approval, any number of credits from a UW ASIAN L&L MA, or up to 30 credits from a relevant, accredited MA from outside the UW, will count toward the PhD coursework requirement
- A 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Fulfillment of the language requirement (see below)
- Three Field Examinations
- PhD General Examination
- Dissertation Prospectus
- Dissertation
- PhD Final Examination (dissertation defense)
Language Requirement
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. One of these languages must be Sanskrit. In addition to competence in their major Asian languages, where appropriate, students will be strongly encouraged to acquire reading knowledge of one additional modern research language relevant to their field (e.g., Japanese, French, German).
Field Examinations
Students are required to pass three 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 have as its subject an adjacent field or discipline.
PhD General Examination
Once these field examinations have been satisfactorily completed, the student is eligible to take a two-hour comprehensive oral examination (the General Examination), administered by his or her supervisory committee.
Dissertation Prospectus
When the General Exam has been passed, students are accorded candidate status (Ph.C.) and are ready to submit a dissertation proposal to their Reading Committee. This explains the topic of their projected dissertation, its originality and significance, a bibliography of works related to the topic, and the feasibility of the plan in view of the time and resources available.
Dissertation
The student engages in research and the writing of their dissertation under the direction of their Doctoral Supervisory Committee (which also functions as the Reading Committee unless otherwise specified).
PhD Final Examination (Dissertation Defense)
When the Doctoral Supervisory Committee deems the student ready, a final examination will be conducted in which the dissertation is evaluated. When the final examination has been passed and the result has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School, then the requirements are complete and the degree is granted.