Studies in Buddhism (473-0-20)
Topic
Buddhist Studies: State of the Field
Instructors
Sarah Hieatt Jacoby
8474671304
Department of Religious Studies, Crowe Hall 4-134, 1860 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208
Office Hours: Wed 1-3pm, Crowe 4-149
Meeting Info
Crowe 4-130 Rel Studies Sem Rm: Fri 1:00PM - 3:30PM
Overview of class
This course will consider the state of the field of Buddhist Studies by examining a selection of relevant recent scholarly works. The nine weeks of this course will survey a wide range of topics, such as Buddhist ritual, cosmology, literature, philosophy, geopiety, and intellectual history. We will attend not only to the range of subject matter covered in new Buddhist Studies scholarship, but also to the methodologies and theoretical approaches favored in selected works. Through engaging in what we can call a type of "reverse engineering process" in which we analyze the parts that comprise the whole of recent monographs in the field of Buddhist studies, our goal will be not only to critique, but to consider how scholars have put together recent projects with an eye toward preparing students for their own research and writing. All required course readings are in English; this is a graduate seminar but motivated undergraduates with a background in Buddhist Studies courses are welcome to request permission from the professor to register.
Registration Requirements
undergrads may request registration by permission numbers; this is a graduate seminar
Learning Objectives
• Gain up-to-date understanding of aspects of the state of the field of Buddhist studies by reading major publications on a variety of topics published in the last few years.
• Consider how recent scholars have constructed monograph-length books and dissertations, paying particular attention to their theoretical and methodological underpinnings as well as their argumentation and use of primary sources.
• Develop research and writing skills that will augment students' present and future research projects.