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The Institute of Buddhist Studies in partnership with the Sati Institute (SITS) offers a Master of Buddhist Studies: Theravada Track. Theravada is the Buddhism practiced widely in South and Southeast Asia and is based on the early teachings of the Buddha as they are preserved in the Pali canon. In North America, Theravada Buddhism is associated with insight meditation (vipassana) and is the primary source for secular applications of mindfulness and loving-kindness practices. It is also associated with the growing number of Theravada temples founded by immigrant groups from Southeast Asia.

In addition to the courses required by IBS for the MBS degree (please see IBS Program Overview for these requirements), the Sati Institute’s Theravada Track requires courses designed for specialization in that area. Please see the IBS catalogue for a full description of the MBS graduation requirements.

With the exception of the Introduction to the Study of Theravada Buddhist Traditions, which should be taken in the Fall semester during one’s first year of enrollment, the 30-units of courses required for the MBS with an emphasis in Theravada Buddhist Studies can be taken over the two year period. Some courses will be offered every other year.

The specific requirements for an MBS with an emphasis in Theravada Buddhist Studies are:

• Introduction to the Study of Theravada Buddhist Traditions (3units)
• Meditation in the Theravada Tradition (3 units)
• Pali I and II (or reading proficiency) (6 units)
• Readings in Early Buddhist Texts from the Pali canon (12 units)
• Buddhist Ethics (3 units)
• Indian Philosophy (3 units)
• Thesis (6 units)

For additional information, please contact Nona Olivia, Phd, Dean of the Sati Institute of Theravada Buddhist Studies, SITSBSdean@sati.org