Hons in Buddhist Studies (HBA)

Buddhist Studies is an Honours Bachelor of Arts Major program offered at the University of Toronto St. George campus through the Department for the Study of Religion. It traces the socio-historical development of Buddhist traditions across South, Southeast, Central, and East Asia, from their foundations in early India through their transmission into the contemporary West, using historical, text-critical, art-historical, philological, anthropological, and philosophical methods to study Buddhist ritual, philosophy, and modes of practice. Students may take language courses in Sanskrit, Pali, or Tibetan to engage with Buddhist texts in their original languages. The Major requires 7.0 credits and is an open-enrolment program available to students who have completed 4.0 credits. Coursework builds critical and methodological skills, including writing ability and language training, that are transferable to careers in law, government, international consulting, communications, teaching, journalism, and academia. Admission to the University requires an Ontario Secondary School Diploma with six Grade 12 U/M-level courses, including English.