The program learning outcomes (PLOs) of IBS’s M.Div. program are best understood as a set of inter-nesting goals, not steps in a linear progression through the program. 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. Knowledge and skills acquired at one phase of the program are sharpened and refined in later stages, and students thus have the opportunity to return to areas of study for further engagement and refinement.
Students in IBS’s Master of Divinity program will:
| Program Learning Outcomes (PLO) | Assessed through... | Forms and rubrics |
|---|---|---|
| Demonstrate foundational knowledge of Buddhist history, literature, thought, practice, and ethics as the basis for effective ministry, chaplaincy, or religious leadership | research papers written in the two-semester traditions sequence (HRHS 1515 and 1518) and further refined in topics and subject-specific courses | PLO1 Rubric |
| Identify and articulate ministerial skills appropriate to their professional goals, using a range of Buddhist and non-Buddhist sources, and demonstrate how these skills apply to their ministry | Student evaluation within: Field Education | PLO2 Rubric |
| Gain specific, in-depth, knowledge of the teachings and practices of their own Buddhist tradition and develop a well-articulated understanding of how that knowledge serves as a guide and resource for their ministry | Final paper or project, or equivalent, in: Buddhist Spiritual Care | PLO3 Rubric |
| Relate their own tradition to multi-religious, multi-cultural, and multi-Buddhist contexts to support effective engagement with diverse communities | Final paper or project, or equivalent, in: Buddhism and World Religions | PLO4 Rubric |
| Produce research projects and demonstrate communication skills through writing, public speaking, and/or dharma talk | Degree program final project – the thesis | PLO 5 Rubric |