Students come to IBS with a variety of life experiences, enroll as both full- and part-time students, and thus proceed through the program at their own pace. Students who have completed a certificate program as part of our stackable curriculum, for example, may have already completed the two-semester survey courses referenced in the first learning outcome. Those skills are invaluable as students progress through the M.A.B.S. and beginning writing their thesis.
Students in IBS’s Master of Arts in Buddhist Studies program will:
| Program Learning Outcomes (PLO) | Assessed through... | Forms and rubrics |
|---|---|---|
| Explain and communicate effectively at a professional level Buddhism’s history, gender dynamics, traditions, texts, practices, and doctrines | Final research papers, or equivalent, in two-semester survey courses: Buddhism in South Asia Buddhism in East Asia | PLO1 Rubric |
| Apply specialized knowledge of Buddhism to specific areas or disciplines of Buddhist Studies and critically analyze Buddhist history, gender dynamics, traditions, text, practices, and/or doctrines | Final paper or project, or equivalent, in specialized courses: History of Shin Buddhist Tradition Topics in Buddhist Women Readings in Early Buddhist Texts Works of Shinran I Topics in Shin Buddhist Thought Buddhism and the West Topics in Buddhist Practice Engaged Buddhism | PLO2 Rubric |
| Write and defend a research-based capstone project or thesis to show skill at conducting independent research, evaluating a topic of Buddhist Studies, and integrating acquired knowledge with career goals of service or further study. | Degree program final project – the thesis | PLO3 Rubric |