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 |
|---|---|---|
| Articulate and analyze Buddhism’s complexity, including historical developments, 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 |
| Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of Buddhist teachings and practices, and explain how this knowledge informs and guides their ministry. | Final paper or project, or equivalent, in specialized courses: Buddhist Spiritual Care I Works of Shinran II Topics in Buddhist Spiritual Care Issues in Buddhist Ministry | PLO2 Rubric |
| Analyze how elements of their own religious/spiritual tradition relate to particular components of at least one other religious/spiritual tradition. | Final paper or project, or equivalent, in: Buddhism and World Religions Spiritual Reflection in Context | PLO3 Rubric |
| Apply ministerial skills grounded in Buddhist principles and professional competencies, and evaluate how these skills influence effective ministry. | Final paper or project, or equivalent, in: Spiritual Reflection in Context Works of Shinran III | PLO4 Rubric |
| Create a culminating project that integrates and applies Buddhist teachings and/or practices to a focused topic in Buddhist ministry. | Degree program capstone project | PLO 5 Rubric |