Center for Buddhist Studies

The Center for Buddhist Studies oversees a variety of research programs, scholarly events, and outreach activities, often in collaboration with units on and off campus. Activities include a colloquium series, conferences, a visiting scholar program, a film series (with the PFA), the Numata Visiting Professorship, and the International Buddhist Film Festival (with the Buddhist Film Society).

Group in Buddhist Studies

The Group in Buddhist Studies, which is comprised of faculty from the Departments of East Asian Languages and Cultures, South and Southeast Asian Studies, History of Art, and Psychology offers an interdisciplinary program of study and research leading to a Ph.D. degree in Buddhist Studies.

Course

• Tantric Traditions of Asia
• Buddhist Art and Archaeology along the Maritime & Overland Silk Routes
• Topics in the Study of Buddhism
• Proseminar in Buddhist Studies
• Readings in Indian Buddhist Texts
• Seminar in Buddhism and Buddhist Texts
• Readings in Chinese Buddhist Texts
• Readings in Tibetan Buddhist Texts
• Pure Land Buddhism
• Tantric Traditions of Asia
• Readings in Indian Buddhist Texts
• Readings in Tibetan Buddhist Texts
• Introduction to the Study of Buddhism
• Tantric Traditions of Asia
• Seminar in Buddhism and Buddhist Texts
• Elementary Tibetan
• Readings in Tibetan Buddhist Texts

Undergraduate Minor

The Group in Buddhist Studies offers an undergraduate minor in Buddhist Studies. Students wishing to inquire about or declare the minor should speak with the Student Services Advisor in 3413 Dwinelle Hall. The minor entails both a language requirement and a course requirement, as follows:

Language Requirement
All students must complete two semesters of course work (or summer session courses that are equivalent to two semesters of course work) in a relevant Asian language, typically Sanskrit, Chinese or Classical Chinese, Tibetan, Mongolian, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Khmer, or Burmese. This includes students with prior facility in a relevant Asian language. Such students have the choice of studying a further relevant Asian language on the introductory level, or of taking advanced language classes including seminars dedicated to reading Buddhist sources in the original. Admission to such advanced language classes and seminars is subject to the instructor’s approval and may include a placement exam in accordance with the standard policy employed for the language in question.

Course Requirement
All students must complete a minimum of 5 letter-graded upper-division courses (20 units). All courses require advisor approval and must include:

• Three courses in Buddhist Studies.
• Two "electives" selected from relevant courses in the Departments of East Asian Languages and Cultures, South and Southeast Asian Studies, and History of Art. In addition to content courses this may include upper-division courses in a relevant Asian language. Note that courses used to satisfy the language requirement normally do not count towards meeting the upper division course requirement.
• Buddhist Studies C50 may be substituted for one of the five upper division courses.
• It may be possible for appropriate coursework in an Education Abroad Program administered by UC or another accredited university to satisfy one of the electives, but the student must have this EAP coursework reviewed and evaluated by an advisor on a case by case basis.

Undergraduates interested in going on to graduate school are encouraged to begin preparations early in their undergraduate career. The College of Letters & Science has developed a STEP by Step: A Guide for Preparing for Graduate School to help you plan.

Undergraduates interested in studying abroad may want to consider the following programs:

Kathmandu University Centre for Buddhist Studies at Rangjung Yeshe Institute.

Registration and Enrollment

Although course requirements are essential components of any degree, the central focus of Berkeley’s academic programs is scholarship. Students become familiar with the intellectual boundaries of a discipline, study particular aspects of that discipline in depth, and develop competence in the fundamental skills and methodologies related to it.

The Office of the Registrar supports every registered student, as well as all faculty and staff who interact with them. Specifically, they are responsible for:

• Assisting special populations such as US veterans and service members
• Class enrollment and registration
• Determining residency for tuition purposes
• Diplomas
• Fee assessment
• Preservation and privacy of student records
• Reservations for more than 200 classrooms
• Schedule of classes
• Transcripts
• Verifying registration and graduation

For additional information about registration and enrollment, please access the tabbed information on this page, or visit registrar.berkeley.edu

Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

It is important that you carefully consider the total financing of your education, from your opening term at UC Berkeley to completing your degree. If financial help will be needed beyond the funds that you or your family can provide, you should make the necessary applications for financial assistance well in advance of enrollment.

You should pay particular attention to early deadlines for application for grants, scholarships, Work-Study, and Loans. While the needs and resources of each student differ, the University can provide a general list of tuition and fees and expenses normally encountered.

Note: Fees are subject to change without notice.

Part of your tuition and fees may be refunded if you cancel your registration before the first day of instruction or withdraw before the beginning of the sixth week of classes of any semester. If you are enrolled in classes and/or have paid fees, and you do not plan on attending that term, you must take action; for more details, see the Registrar's website. 

Please note that the cost of attending the University varies according to individual circumstances. The expenses listed in this Guide are approximate costs for the nine-month academic year and should be used only as a guideline.

Please refer to the tabbed information on this page, or visit the Financial Aid website for more information.