The Graduate Institute of Religious Studies set up in 2001, and is divided into two sections: Religious Studies and Buddhist Studies. It offers a two-year MA program that seeks to introduce graduate students to the advanced studies of religion and Buddhology.
Focus
The focus of Religious Studies is broadly on studies both of traditional world religions and of Taiwanese folk religions. The focus of Buddhist Studies is on studies of Indian Buddhism and Chinese Buddhism, and also on Taiwanese and Huamnistic Buddhism. Courses are offered on religious Body-Mind-Spirit Health as well.
Characteristics of the Cuerriculum
Apart from our own faculty, a number of teachers from the department of Life-and-Death Studies, Philosophy, Liturature, and the Colledge of Social Science also hold courses to ensure the variety of courses. Comparative studies between eastern religions (such as Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism and Taiwanese folk religions) and western religions are encouraged.
