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 |
|---|---|---|
| develop 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 Evaluation Form |
| develop 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 | the completion of field education training at an approved field site (FE-2400), the Sati Center’s Buddhist Chaplaincy Training, and/or Clinical Pastoral Education (FE-3400) | Field Education Supervisor and Self Evaluation Forms |
| 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 | the final paper or project of either the Buddhist Pastoral Care (PSHR 3013) or Buddhist Ministry (HRCE 3014) course, and further refined through ongoing study and reflection and/or monthly formation meetings | PLO3 Evaluation Form |
| relate their own tradition to multi-religious, multi-cultural, and multi-Buddhist contexts to support effective engagement with diverse communities | the final paper or project of either the IBS’s Buddhism and World Religions course (HRIR 2000) or another inter-religious course at any school in the GTU consortium | PLO4 Evaluation Form |
| produce research projects and develop communication skills through writing, public speaking, and dharma talks | the degree program final project (the thesis) as well as the thesis proposal | Thesis Proposal Form |