The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Hindu Studies is normally a two-year full-time program of study which provides an in-depth 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 as some select Affiliate Partner institutions.
- Typically, 60 Quarter Credit hours, or 40 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 10 Program “Core Courses” which are required and an additional set of 10 Elective Courses.
- Students are encouraged to specialize in an Area of Study by taking at least 6 courses from one area, to develop deep expertise.
- 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 establish that they have the equivalency of 54 Quarter Credit Hours (i.e. 9 Quarter credit hours per Quarter over 6 Quarters).
Introduction to Bhagavadgita
The Bhagavadgita is a moksa-sastra, a sacred text that reveals the vision of the Upanisads. In that vision one is,
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
Applied Vedic Science – Advanced (Āyurveda)
The wellbeing of the individual and society in the Vedic vision of the universe included both material and spiritual wellbeing.
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
German Indology
German Indology, a field of inquiry that emerged in nineteenth-century Germany calls itself the “science of Indian antiquity” and “the
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 Patanjali is a foundational text for understanding the world of Yoga. Using this text, the course will
Gandhian Philosophy
To mainstream the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi towards developing a new and enabling perspective from Hindu philosophical tradition to make
Hindu Conflict Resolution
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
An overview of the unique programs, areas of study and courses offered by Hindu University of America. Preliminary reflection on