The Master of Arts in Religious Studies offers students two areas of concentration: Buddhist Studies and Comparative Religious Studies. Students in the graduate program in Buddhist Studies are expected to acquire a critical appreciation and mastery of Buddhist thought and traditions and an increased familiarity with non-Buddhist traditions and contemporary critical theory. Students in the Comparative Religious Studies concentration are required to be familiar with contemporary critical theory in the academic study of religion and the doctrines of different religious belief systems, including a working knowledge of at least two major religious traditions.

Admission Requirements for the Master Program

1. A B.A. in Religious Studies, Theology, Philosophy or equivalent from an accredited university.  Students with a different B.A. must have fulfilled (or must fulfill in their first semester doing the M.A.) the following undergraduate prerequisites:  
2. An official transcript from the institutions/universities where highest degree awarded or last attended;
3. Copy of diplomas for all degrees earned;
4. Where such a degree is not in the field of religion, proof of a comprehensive knowledge of the fundamentals of Buddhism and/or the religions chosen for comparative study.  For this purpose, the candidate may be required to take designated foundational courses outside doctoral course work or take a comprehensive examination.
5. Verification of English proficiency (for International Students or non-native English-speaking students)
   • Official TOEFL score report with a minimum score of 79 on Internet Based Test (iBT), 213 on the Computer Based Test (CBT) or 550 on the Paper Based Test (PBT). This is applicable only to international students who were educated at institutions where English was not the main language of instruction. In general, all international applicants admitted to the program will also be required to take the English Placement Test administered by the ESL / Academic English Program.
   • or; official IELTS score report with a minimum score of  6.0.  This is applicable only to international students who were educated at institutions where English was not the main language of instruction. In general, all international applicants admitted to the program will also be required to take the English Placement Test administered by the ESL / Academic English Program.
   • Applicants who are not international students and whose native language is not English are required to take an English Placement Test administered by the ESL / Academic English Program.
   • Based on their score on the English Placement Test, students may either enter their degree program directly or be required to further improve their English skills by enrolling in Academic English courses, such as ENGL 100A, English 100B, or other suitable courses. These students usually may concurrently enroll in two courses in their major according to departmental advisement.
   • Students with three or more years of successful participation in a college or university academic program where English was the main language of instruction are not required to submit a TOEFL score, IELTS score or take the English Placement Test.
6. Three letters of recommendation written by people qualified to assess the applicant’s abilities and academic promise.  Letters are to be sent by those making recommendations directly to the Office of Admissions.
7. A typed, double-spaced essay of 400-500 words in English, written by the applicant describing his/her personal goals and aspirations, achievements, educational and career objectives and stating how enrollment at the University of the West would further those objectives.
8. A non-refundable application fee of $100;
9. Completed Financial Sponsor Agreement or Certification of Financial Resources with an official Bank Verification (international students only);
10. Copies of Passport/Visa/I-94 (international students only);
11. Copies of previous I-20 (transferring international students only).

Graduation Requirements for the M.A. in Religious Studies

1. Completion of 33 semester units, including at least 27 units at the University of the West, with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher.  Letter grades are required in all courses with the exception of the following, which are graded Pass/No-Pass: Directed Reading and Research (REL 499 and REL 599), the Comprehensive Examination (REL 699), and the Thesis (REL 700). 
2. Language Requirement:
   1. Concentration in Buddhist Studies: 6 units in a language associated with Buddhist Canonical literature (i.e. Canonical Chinese, Pali, Sanskrit, or Tibetan) are required for the Master of Arts in Buddhist Studies. These 6 units should be completed within the first year of coursework.  Language courses below the 500 level are not counted as part of the required 33 semester units.  Students who already possess reading proficiency in these languages can take a special written examination to fulfill the language requirement.
   2. Concentration in Comparative Religious Studies: 6 units in a research language associated with religious studies (e.g. German, French) are required for the Master of Arts in Comparative Religious Studies. These 6 units should be completed within the first year of coursework.  Language courses below the 500 level are not counted as part of the required 33 semester units.  Students who already possess reading proficiency in these languages can take a special written examination to fulfill the language requirement.
3. Research Training: Successful completion of a thesis or comprehensive examination.  Candidates for the Master of Arts in Religious Studies may elect to complete a Thesis (Plan One) or a Comprehensive Examination (Plan Two).

   •  Thesis (Plan One)
     Students who elect Plan One must enroll in REL 700 (Thesis Research) at the outset of the semester in which they intend to write their thesis and submit a thesis on a research subject agreed to with the professor who has consented to supervise the project.  The thesis proposal must be at least 250 words in length and must include the title and abstract of the subject with a list of bibliographical sources. The Master’s candidate must have a Thesis Committee composed of three faculty members (including the student’s advisor) approved by the Dean of Academic Affairs in consultation with the student prior to the end of the semester during which the thesis class is taken.

   • Comprehensive Examination: Terminal Degree (Plan Two)
     The Comprehensive Examination consists of a written set of four questions that are given to the student by an instructor of REL 699 at the beginning of the student’s final semester.   The student is required to enroll in REL 699 (Comprehensive Examination Research) and to submit the completed examination to the student’s M.A. Committee three weeks before the end of the semester in which they intend to graduate.  The M.A. Committee must include at least two faculty members, including the instructor of 699, and be approved by the instructor of 699 in consultation with the student.  Students may be required to defend their examination answers orally before the M.A. Committee.

     Note: Students who complete the Comprehensive Examination rather than a Thesis cannot progress to the Doctoral Program in Religious Studies.

Residence Requirement

After finishing all course work, but before completing the Comprehensive Examination, a student must keep his or her registration active by paying the registration and library fees until the degree is granted. Failure to maintain registration may interfere with residence requirements and may result in having to repeat REL 699 or 700.

Course Requirements for the Master of Arts in Religious Studies

Core Courses (6 units) (to be taken during the first two semesters):

REL 600 History and Theory of the Study of Religion (3)
REL 601 Seminar on Historical and Textual Methodologies (3)

Goals
Students will acquire knowledge of the tools and theories used for the advanced academic study of religion.

Student Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to do the following:

1. Explain and apply different theories of religion to their academic studies;
2. Be able to discuss and understand the complex issues raised by the questions “What is History?” and “What is a Text?”
3. Comprehend the nature of and engage in academic research.
4. Describe the limits of human knowledge and what this means for the human quest for meaning.

Language (6 units)

Students must begin fulfilling their language requirement as soon as the relevant courses are offered.

Goals
Students will acquire basic working knowledge of a Buddhist canonical language.

Student focused on Comparative Religious Studies will acquire intermediate knowledge of a research language.  They will also gain basic knowledge of a second language.

Student Learning Outcomes
Students focused on Buddhist Studies will be able to do the following:

1. Express basic understanding of the grammar, script, and vocabulary of one of the four Buddhist canonical languages.
2. Be able to read easier Buddhist texts with the help of a dictionary.

Students focused on Comparative Religious Studies will be able to do the following:

1. Express a basic understanding of the grammar, script, and vocabulary of the chosen research language;
2. Be able to read easier texts in the chosen research language with the help of a dictionary.

Additional Course Requirements (24 units)

NOTE: These courses are to be chosen by the M.A. student in consultation with Director of the MA Program.

Concentration in Buddhist Studies:

Students must complete 21 units of course work in Buddhism.  Students must also complete 3 units in Comparative Religious Studies.

Goals

Students will acquire deeper knowledge of Buddhist thought, texts and history and comparative religious issues.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to do the following:

1. Express detailed knowledge of an aspect of Buddhist thought;
2. Outline and critically evaluate select Buddhist texts;
3. Summarize critically a topic in Buddhist history;
4. Critically summarize a detailed topic in Comparative Religious Studies.
5. Relate at a graduate level Buddhist teachings to modern questions of human nature and character development.
6. Explain whether and/or how Buddhist insights may be applicable to the modern world.

Concentration in Comparative Religious Studies:

Students must complete 21 units of course work in Comparative Religious Studies. Students must also complete 3 units of course work in Buddhist Studies.

Goals

Students will acquire deeper knowledge of key issues in Comparative Religious Studies.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to do the following:

1. Express detailed knowledge of a number of issues in Comparative Religious Studies;
2. Critically summarize a detailed topic in Buddhist Studies.
3. Relate at a graduate level religious concerns to modern questions of human nature and character development.
4. Explain whether and/or how religious insights may be applicable to the modern world.

Thesis or Comprehensive Examination (3 units)

• REL 700 Thesis Research (3 units)
  OR
• REL 699 Comprehensive Examination (3 units)

Goals

Students will be able to undertake intermediate graduate level research and writing.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students engaged in Thesis Research will able to do the following:

1. Choose and properly research an academic topic at the MA Thesis level.
2. Correctly utilize academic research tools and express their findings in an acceptable style of academic writing.
3. Correctly follow the rules of formatting, including proper thesis structure and the correct use of citation and bibliographic conventions.

Students taking the Comprehensive Examination will be able to do the following:

1. Properly research answers to four given questions.
2. Express their answers to these questions in an acceptable style of academic writing;
3. Correctly follow the rules of formatting, including proper thesis structure and the correct use of citation and bibliographic conventions.