MA in Religious Studies
with Language

This 61-credit MA in Religious Studies with Language degree includes all the course work of the MA in Religious Studies degree plus training in either Sanskrit or Tibetan through two years of course work or more. This degree is recommended for students without previous language study interested in pursuing further academic work in the field of Religious Studies or students with a special academic interest related to studying either language.

The degree is designed for students who wish to pursue a PhD in Religious Studies or Buddhist Studies, with the eventual career goal of college or university teaching, or who wish to become professional translators. Students in these degree programs take an additional four courses of Sanskrit or Tibetan; some students elect to study both languages. Graduates who do well in this program regularly enroll in competitive PhD programs.

The MA Religious Studies with Language degree
offers two concentrations: Contemplative Religions
and Indo-Tibetan Buddhism.

Contemplative Religions concentration (45 credits) is especially designed for the student who wishes study comparative religions, their related contemplative practices and interreligious dialogue. Students develop literacy in the living practice traditions of world religions, with a special emphasis on dialogue skills and an appreciation for religious pluralism. Graduates of this program will be especially suited for higher degree studies in religion, as well as teachers within their respective faith communities, and secondary school teachers in the humanities.

Indo-Tibetan Buddhism concentration
(45 credits) is an in-depth study of Tibetan Buddhism and its Indian roots, with a balance between study
and the practice of meditation. These students seek personal enrichment and career enhancement through systematic study of Buddhism and applied meditation. This degree is an excellent foundation for advanced degree study, as well as preparation for careers in nonprofit agencies, dharma centers, secondary school teaching and social service. For more information on these concentrations, see the MA Religious Studies section.

The MA Indo-Tibetan Buddhism concentration combines a western-style History of Religions approach and a classic Tibetan Tradition approach to the study of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism in their first year of study. By the end of their first year, students chose either a History of Religions emphasis or a Tibetan Tradition emphasis for their remaining courses in Buddhism. The curriculum of both emphases is arranged according to the Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma.

The History of Religions emphasis includes cultural, social, artistic, historical, phenomenological, and religious perspectives that has been developed over more than twenty-five years of teaching Buddhism to westerners at Naropa University. The Tibetan Tradition emphasis presents the in-depth foundational material of the traditional educational system of a Tibetan monastic college (shedra), based on the Western-style classes and materials developed at Nitartha Institute since 1995 when it was founded by the Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. (The Tibetan Tradition Emphasis fulfills the core and intermediate curriculum of Nirtartha Institute.)

Sanskrit
The lingua franca of Buddhism, Sanskrit stood close to the spoken tongue of the Buddha himself; it was the idiom of Indian Buddhist texts, and it functioned as the common language of Buddhism throughout Asia. The Sanskrit concentration provides students with a knowledge of Sanskrit grammar and vocabulary, as well as initial reading knowledge providing access to the world of Buddhist texts.

Tibetan
Study of the Tibetan language provides access to the rich and diverse world of Tibetan Buddhist literature, to the oral teachings of contemporary Tibetan masters, and to a great body of Indian texts that survive only in Tibetan translation. This concentration provides training in both classical Tibetan and the spoken language. Study of classic Tibetan involves learning grammar and vocabulary of the classical language and reading simple texts. Modern Tibetan is learned through the study of the contemporary idiom with practice in hearing and speaking Tibetan.