This Handbook applies to students commencing their studies in 2025-2027 and serves as a comprehensive guide to SBU policies and degree requirements. Students should refer to this document for the most current information. Note that some students are following an earlier curriculum with distinct degree requirements.
The SBU website provides access to commonly used forms, anticipated course schedules, and various resources, including this Handbook. Students are also responsible for familiarizing themselves with all SBU academic requirements, policies, and procedures.
In situations when required courses overlap between two (2) or more graduate degree programs at SBU, students who have earned credit for these courses as part of one (1) graduate degree may count those credits toward fulfilling the requirements of another graduate degree. To be eligible, students must apply for these overlapping credits within three (3) academic years from the date the credits were earned.
The SBU has defined these Institutional Learning Outcomes:
Students enrolled in the Master Programs need to exhibit competence in one contemporary research language distinct from their first or primary language. Generally, for native English speakers, languages such as French, German, Chinese, Vietnamese, or Spanish are common choices, while for others, English serves as the required language. This language requirement acts as a “tool” to equip students with the ability to comprehend scholarly content written in that particular language.
Students whose primary language is not English, and who have not yet obtained a college degree from an accredited U.S. English-language institution, must achieve a minimum score of 100 (internet-based) or 600 (paper-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a minimum score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). However, students in this category who provided a U.S. transcript showing evidence of degree completion at the time of admission will be considered as having satisfied their language proficiency requirement.
Students who are fluent in English typically fulfill the language proficiency requirement through one of the following methods:
Please note:
Beyond the modern research language proficiency requirement, students concentrating on ancient texts in their coursework and research may need to gain proficiency in additional languages like Pali, Sanskrit, Chinese, and Tibetan. These languages might be included in their elective coursework, typically through independent studies, or through participation in informal reading groups guided by faculty and staff to help students acquire language skills. Students are advised to discuss with their academic advisor and mentor the targeted proficiency levels in languages and the methods to accomplish them.
The thesis serves as the final research endeavor for Master’s students, enabling degree candidates to produce high-quality original scholarly work contributing to their specialized field in Buddhist Philosophy. Theses should focus on subjects for which there are ample faculty resources at SBU. The Master’s thesis is an academic research piece spanning 35,000-40,000 words, examining a specific subject, issue, or concern within the domain of Buddhist Philosophy. It showcases a comprehensive understanding of pertinent literature, and the necessary philosophical and theological elements associated with the chosen subject. The thesis is required to contain a table of contents and a bibliography with a minimum of 50 sources, including annotations for 30 key sources. It should be formatted in 12-point Times New Roman font and double-spaced. Upon final approval by the student’s Thesis Supervisor, the completed thesis must be submitted to the SBU office for a final review. An electronic copy of the Master’s thesis should be submitted to the SBU Office after the student’s intended year of graduation.
By the onset of the student’s second year, they are required to establish their thesis committee comprising three specific roles:
By a student’s second year they must begin to form their thesis committee. There are three roles on the committee.