Buddhist Studies

Overview

The programme

• The ability to read and analyze Buddhist texts in their original languages is an indispensable skill for research in the field. Accordingly, the study of classical Asian languages constitutes a core element of the doctoral program. The specific combination of Asian languages required for any particular Ph.D. student will depend on his/her area of research, but all students will be expected to gain facility in a minimum of two Asian languages, at least one of which will be Classical Chinese, Classical Japanese, Pali, Sanskrit, or Classical Tibetan.

• While linguistic competence is crucial, it is not considered an end in itself. Students at the University of California, Berkeley are expected to acquire a sophisticated appreciation of the historical, social, and cultural milieus from which the Buddhist textual legacy emerged. All students in the Ph.D. program are encouraged to broaden and deepen their understanding of Buddhist phenomena through incorporating archaeological, ethnographic, and visual materials and perspectives.
• The Ph.D. program in Buddhist Studies is designed for students who intend to become scholars and teachers at the university level. Students wishing to enter the Ph.D. program must have a Masters degree or the equivalent in a relevant field, typically East Asian, South Asian, or Southeast Asian studies. A Masters degree in the field of religion is deemed relevant only if it includes significant training in Asian languages and cultures. In addition, all students must have facility in a least one Asian language relevant to their intended area of research at the time of admission.
• The length of time needed to complete the Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies depends on the extent of the student's earlier preparation, the languages required for research in the student's chosen area, financial considerations, and other factors. Normative time to completion for the Ph.D. degree in Buddhist Studies is fourteen semesters (seven years).