The Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Hindu Studies, builds on the foundations already developed by the Master’s Degree in Hindu Studies and offers students opportunities for deep specialization within a tradition or knowledge-system (also called Sampradāya a) 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.
- For students who already possess a Master’s Degree in Hindu Studies, 60 Quarter Credit hours, or 20 courses are required to earn a Doctoral Degree
- Students who do not have a Master’s Degree in Hindu Studies but possess an equivalent of 2-years of post-bachelor’s degree education in the liberal arts, humanities or social sciences, may also apply. They may receive partial equivalency credit for courses they have taken as part of the Master’s Degree they have.
- Students who do not have a Master’s Degree already may apply for an accelerated MA-PhD Degree program.
- Typically, 90 Quarter Credit hours, or 60 Semester Credit Hours are required to earn an integrated Master’s and Doctoral Degree
- Once admitted into the accelerated program, students will have the option of completing their study with a terminal Master’s Degree or continue with their Doctoral Degree.
- To earn a Doctoral Degree, students will have to take a set of Research level “Core Courses” and specialize in one or two Areas of Study, at the Doctoral Seminar level
- All Students must pass a Doctoral Qualifying Exam, (DQE), and demonstrate an adequate level of proficiency in Sanskrit, in order to qualify for the Doctoral Thesis phase of the Program
- Students must write a Doctoral Dissertation based on original research as part of the 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 and can establish equivalency with the course work requirements.
- This “Thesis-Only” Option will require the student to write a Thesis over 36 months (or longer) and establish the equivalency for 60 Quarter Credit Hours.
The Bhagavadgītā and the West
This course traces the history of the Western reception of the Bhagavadgītā, a central text of classical Hinduism. The course
Decolonizing the Hindu Condition
This course will analyze in detail the psychological and sociological consequences of the British colonial narratives on Hindus, and how
Race & Modern Hinduism
This course traces the construction of “race” in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Europe, beginning with the theological, political, and scientific source
The Mahābhārata War
The very title “Mahābhārata” conjures up images of a great war in which 18 armies were annihilated. Using divine weaponry,
Introduction to Bhagavadgita
HSF5002 - The Bhagavad Gita is a moksha-shastra, a sacred text that reveals the vision of the Upanisads. In that
Advaita Vedanta: A Method
This course will explore and demonstrate the use of the methods (prakriyas) used in the Upanisads to unfold the non-dual
Freedom and Reality: An Introduction to Advaita Vedanta
Who am I, really? Why am I here? Why do we suffer? Is there any solution to the problem of
Comparative Religion: Death and Meaning
The central problem of human life is twofold: morality and mortality. Given the certainty of death, is there a meaning
History of Dharmaśāstras II
This is the second course in a two-part survey course that provides an overview of dharma literature from the Hindu
Brahmasūtras
The Brahmasūtras are aphorisms on Brahman. Along with the Upaniṣads and the Bhagavadgītā, they form a triad of foundational texts
History of Dharmaśāstras I
This two-part survey course provides an overview of dharma literature from ancient and medieval texts of the Hindu tradition. The
Research and Writing Preparatory Seminar
This introductory seminar introduces students to the fundamentals of academic research and writing. A prerequisite for beginning graduate study, it
Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo
An exploration of Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy and select writings with a focus on the intersection of spirituality and practicality towards
The Mahābhārata II
In part-II of this two-part course, we shall consider the Mahābhārata’s reception in the commentaries and lived Hinduism, especially the
Human Rights: A Hindu Perspective
To demonstrate how human rights concept and policy could be found in Hindu philosophy, and also how such a linkage
Discover Life by Exploring India
A unique study abroad course that offers an authentic, transformative and enriching experience. This course is aimed at students of
Philosophy of Nonviolence
An examination of the concept of nonviolence, its evolution and practice in various cultures and traditions.
The Humanities and the University – II
Inspired by neo-humanism, the research university was to facilitate self-cultivation, aesthetic appreciation (especially through knowledge of classical antiquity), and a
International Politics: A Hindu Perspective
To explore methods to bridge the chasm between the practice of international politics and universal moral principles.
Contesting Neo-Hinduism
The current mainstream narrative in western academia is that there are two kinds of Hinduism: traditional and neo and that
Philosophy of Science and Hinduism
In the colonial and postcolonial contexts, there have been many attempts both by Indians and western people to situate the
Philosophical Foundations of Orientalism
Orientalism employs a technique termed “deconstruction.” In order to effectively and critically examine a colonial and postcolonial discourse, it is
Orientalism and Hinduism
In postcolonial scholarship, Edward Said’s work Orientalism can be considered a landmark text. This course helps students understand what Said
Arthaśāstra
To examine the core ideas such as state, war, and peace in the ancient text Arthashastra, a major treatise on
Śhānti Parva
To elaborate ideas of good governance and duties of a ruler towards his subjects and Dharma as enshrined in Śānti
The Vision of the Bhagavad-Gītā
Distilled from the Upaniṣad, the Śrīmad Bhagavad-Gītā is a fundamental text of Hindu Dharma which has given rise to many
Anticolonialism and Postcolonialism
This course introduces the theories of various anticolonial and postcolonial writers in order to create a framework for a critical
The Foundation of Vedānta
Vedānta also known as the Upaniṣad, found at the end of all four Vedas, reveal the goal and purpose of
An Overview of the Veda
The Vedas are the oldest body of sacred knowledge known to man. A bird’s eye view of the four Vedas,
Vālmīki’s Rāmāyaṇa
Vālmīki’s Rāmāyaṇa is a classic story of human self-development focused on the relationship between the macrocosm (the kingdom) and the
The Mahābhārata I
Aimed at intermediate and advanced students, this course provides a comprehensive overview of Mahābhārata scholarship, including textual and historical issues
Ādi Śaṅkara
Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, the author of numerous commentaries and pedagogical tracts, is the seminal philosopher in Hinduism, especially its “advaita vedānta”
Bhakti and Philosophy
In religious studies, bhakti is often described as devotion or intense feeling, and presented as “faith” in contrast to “reason.”
Ancient Greek Philosophy
What is the meaning of existence? What is the nature of truth? These were the questions asked by ancient Greek
Historicism and Its Crisis
The intellectual movement known as historicism dominated the nineteenth century. At its simplest, it is the view that history is
Textual Criticism
This course teaches the fundamentals of textual criticism. Alongside a historical survey of scribal and editorial practices, we shall explore
The Humanities and the University – I
Inspired by neo-humanism, the research university was to facilitate self-cultivation, aesthetic appreciation (especially through a knowledge of classical antiquity), and
The Philosophy of History
Building on “Historical Methods and Sources,” this course introduces students to the philosophy of history, i.e., the philosophical inquiry into
Historical Methods and Sources
As a mode of knowing, history has acquired unparalleled prestige. We now think that to know when, where and under
The Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment or, simply, the Enlightenment extended from the late seventeenth to the eighteenth century. This epoch had
Aryanism and Indology
The idea of an Aryan “master race” has an enduring hold on the racist imagination. But when and how did
Critical Issues in Hindu Studies
This course outlines the critical issues involved in the European understanding of Hindus and India, developed within the framework of
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali is a foundational text for understanding the world of Yoga. Today, Yoga has a worldwide
Gandhian Philosophy
To mainstream the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi towards developing a new and enabling perspective from Hindu philosophical tradition to make
Hinduism & Peace
An exploration of Hindu thought, particularly those elements which are relevant from a conflict resolution perspective.
Introduction to Conflict and Peace Studies
An overview of conflict resolution and peace studies with a focus on the major theories and their application to contemporary
Orientation to Hindu Studies
HSF5000 - An overview of the unique programs, areas of study and courses offered by Hindu University of America. Preliminary