Course Catalog: 2015-16

FIVE COLLEGE BUDDHIST STUDIES CERTIFICATE

The Five College Buddhist Studies Certificate Program is administered by the Five College Buddhist Studies Council through its Faculty Liaison Committee, which consists of the certificate program advisors from each of the five colleges. Because Buddhist Studies is an interdisciplinary field—straddling anthropol­ogy, art history, Asian studies, history, language study, literary and textual studies, philosophy, and religious studies—students are often unaware of the integrity of the field or of the range of resources available for its study in the valley. The Certificate Program provides a framework for students interested in Buddhism to develop a coherent, interdisciplinary approach to the study of this subject as a complement to their majors.

An Amherst student qualifies for the certificate by satisfactorily completing the following requirements:

1. The certificate must be comprised of at least seven courses, at least one of which must be at an advanced level (200 or 300 at Hampshire, 300 or above at Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, or the University of Massachusetts; comparable upper-level courses at Amherst).
2. Students must take at least one course in three different disciplines of Buddhist Studies (anthropology, art history, Asian studies, philosophy, religious studies, etc.).
3. Students must take at least one course addressing classical Buddhism and one course addressing contemporary Buddhist movements (19th- 21st century), and they must study Buddhism in at least two of the fol­lowing four geographical areas: South and Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Tibeto-Himalayan region, and the West.
4. Students must receive a grade of at least “B” in each course counting to­wards the certificate.

For students who wish to pursue a certificate in Buddhist Studies as prepa­ration for graduate study in this field, the Program strongly recommends the study of at least one canonical language (Sanskrit, Pali, Chinese, or Tibetan) and/or the modern language of at least one Buddhist culture (especially for those who have an ethnographic interest in Buddhism). While language study is not required, up to two canonical or appropriate colloquial Asian language courses may count towards the seven required courses for the certificate. Stu­dents are also strongly encouraged to consider study abroad.

Faculty advisors will help students design their programs of study. Further information about the Five College Buddhist Studies Certificate is available at http://www.fivecolleges.edu/sites/buddhism. For 2015-16 the Amherst fac­ulty advisor will be Professor Maria Heim of the Religion Department.