HUA offers a few specialized Diplomas (also called a Master’s Certificate) that are earned by taking approximately 12 courses in a concentration and may be pursued in conjunction with a Master’s or Doctoral degree.
- Typically, 36 Quarter Credit hours, or 24 Semester Credit Hours are required to earn a Diploma
- There are a variety of Diploma programs, each leading to a Diploma in an area of concentration.
- Some Diploma Programs require students to take a set of University “Core Courses” and a few “Concentration Area” Courses, while others can be completed entirely within a Concentration Area
- These diplomas target a level of academic accomplishment in between a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degrees
- Eligible candidates must have completed a Bachelor’s Degree. Some course credits taken as part of continuing education or previously earned certificates may be transferred into a diploma program
- Some Diploma course credits may be transferable towards a Graduate Degree program such as a Master’s or a Doctoral Program
Currently available Graduate Diploma Programs:
- Master’s Certificate in Sanskrit (MC. S)
- Master’s Certificate in Advanced Sanskrit (MC. AS)
The Master of Arts (MA) is normally a two-year full-time program of study offered by the HUA which provides a basic understanding of Hindu principles, practices, traditions, values, diversity, history, philosophy, society, culture and civilization. It prepares students for Doctoral studies, or for vocations in teaching, education, chaplaincy and counseling, administration and leadership, non-profit management, priesthood, social work, fine arts and the media. Students can access courses offered both by HUA as well some select Affiliate Partner institutions.
- Typically, 54 Quarter Credit hours, or 36 Semester Credit Hours are required to earn a Master’s Degree
- To earn a Master’s Degree, students will have to take a set of University “Core Courses” and a few “Concentration Area” Courses.
- Eligible Students must have a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent 4-years of post-secondary education
- Students may opt to write a mini-thesis to earn 6 Quarter Course Credits as part of their course work
- Special Students with prior experience in religious, social work or community service, may be eligible to participate in a “Thesis Only” Master’s Program.
- This “Thesis-Only” Option will require the student to write a Thesis over 18 months (or longer) and earn the equivalent of 54 Quarter Credit Hours (i.e. 9 Quarter credit hours per Quarter over 6 Quarters).
- See More about the Master’s Degree Course work and Thesis requirements
Currently available Master’s Degree Programs:
- Master of Arts in Hindu Studies (MA HS)
- Master of Arts in Sanskrit (MA S)
The Doctor of Philosophy Degree builds on the foundations in already developed by the Master’s Degree and offers students opportunities for deep specialization within a tradition or knowledge-system (also called Sampradaya) and cross-disciplinary study, both across Hindu traditions and knowledge-systems as well as contemporary disciplines in the liberal arts, social sciences and humanities. Students can access courses offered both by HUA as well as its Affiliate institutions and are developed for professional careers in teaching, writing, and scholarship, as well as public service, leadership and global engagement with religious organizations, social service and non-profit organizations and educational institutions.
- Typically, 90 Quarter Credit hours, or 60 Semester Credit Hours are required to earn a Doctoral Degree
- To earn a Doctoral Degree, students will have to take a set of University “Core Courses” and a few “Concentration Area” Courses at the Doctoral Seminar level
- Eligible Students must have a Master’s Degree or equivalent of 2-years of post-bachelor’s degree education
- Students must pass a Doctoral Qualifying Exam, (DQE), in order to qualify for the Doctoral Thesis phase of the Program
- Students must write a Doctoral Dissertation based on original research to earn 30 Course Credits as part of their Thesis Phase of their program.
- Ordinarily, the Doctoral Dissertation may take at least two years or more
- Special Students with prior experience in religious, social work or community service, may be eligible to participate in a “Thesis Only” Doctoral Program, provided they qualify by successfully taking the Doctoral Qualifying Exam
- This “Thesis-Only” Option will require the student to write a Thesis over 36 months (or longer) and earn the equivalent of 90 Quarter Credit Hours
- See More about the Doctoral Degree Course work and Thesis requirements
Currently available Doctoral Degree Programs:
- Doctor of Philosophy in Hindu Studies (PhD HS)
The integrated MA-PhD Program combines the Master’s and Doctoral program into an integrated program, that is available to students who have completed a Bachelor’s Degree but who have not yet earned a Master’s Degree. Students will have the option at the end of the Master’s Program to either complete their studies at that stage or continue on into the Doctoral Program.
- Typically, 144 Quarter Credit hours, or 96 Semester Credit Hours are required to earn an integrated Master’s and Doctoral Degree
- Students who do not have a Master’s Degree already, may apply for this MA-PhD integrated Degree program. Students in this program must earn a Master’s Degree first, and then continue with their Doctoral Degree program.
- To earn their Master’s Degree, students will have to take a set of University “Core Courses” and a few “Concentration Area” Courses adding up to 54 Credits of Course work. The mini-thesis option is not available in the integrated program
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- After completing 54 Credits of course-work, students will be eligible to receive a Master’s Degree. At this stage they will have an option, to move on to the Doctoral stage of their program, or terminate their studies at the Master’s level
- Their entry into the Doctoral Stage of their integrated program, students will be required to take an additional 60 hours of Doctoral level Seminar Courses
- After that, they must pass a Doctoral Qualifying Exam, (DQE), in order to qualify for the Doctoral Thesis phase of the Program
- Students must write a Doctoral Dissertation based on original research to earn 30 Course Credits as part of their Thesis Phase of their program.
- Ordinarily, the Doctoral Dissertation may take at least two years or more
- The “Thesis Only” Doctoral Program option is not available in the integrated MA-PhD program
- See More about the Doctoral Degree Course work and Thesis requirements
Currently available Integrated MA-PhD Programs:
- Doctor of Philosophy in Hindu Studies (PhD HS)
Advanced Studies options are available for Students who already have a Doctoral Degree in the liberal arts, humanities or the social sciences. These are Post-Doctoral Study programs that are located at the intersection of Vedic Hindu thought and contemporary human concerns such as Sustainability, Holistic Health, Psychology, Spirituality, Spiritual Counseling, Leadership and Management, Science and Spirituality, Comparative Science of Cultures and Civilizations, Religion and Theology, Sociology, Political Science, Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies.
- Post-Doctoral Fellowships are “Named” fellowships that come with specific Teaching, Writing responsibilities
- Students with specific Research and Publication Projects at the Post-Doctoral level, may apply for this program.
- Fellowships in the Advanced Studies area, usually are awarded for a period of one year at a time, and may be extended at the discretion of the University based on satisfactory progress and performance
- These fellowships are granted based on availability of adequate funding, and the level of need of the student
- See More about the Advanced Studies Fellowship Program – Eligibility and Application requirements