Academic Area Pathways

• 236EVisiting Holy Sites

  Identify and locate major Buddhist pilgrimage sites while analyzing their historical and symbolic significance, evaluate the practices and attitudes that constitute authentic pilgrimage versus religious tourism, and demonstrate culturally appropriate conduct that honors the sacred nature of Buddhist temples and holy places.
• 238EHistory of Buddhism

  Trace and analyze the geographical and cultural spread of Buddhism from ancient India to contemporary global contexts; evaluate the factors that facilitated or hindered dharma transmission across different civilizations; and synthesize understanding by examining how Buddhist teachings adapted to diverse cultures while maintaining core principles throughout historical periods.
• 239EWomen in Buddhism

  Analyze the Buddha’s teachings on gender equality, and evaluate the historical challenges women have faced in Buddhist traditions despite these teachings.
• 240EThe Dhammapada

  Analyze key themes in the Dhammapada, and evaluate how these ancient teachings remain relevant to contemporary issues and experiences.
• 300EVows

  Analyze the logic and purpose of taking vows in Buddhist practice, evaluate how different types of vows (Pratimoksha, Bodhisattva, Vajrayana) support increasing skillful means and wisdom, and implement practices of ethical consistency that align personal commitments with expressed values and stated intentions.
• 302EThree Poisons: Ignorance

  Analyze ignorance as misunderstanding—particularly regarding impermanence, interdependence, and selflessness. Evaluate how ignorance serves as the root of all afflictions and distorted perceptions, and implement practices such as mindfulness, reflection on interdependence, and analytical meditation to weaken habitual confusion and cultivate wisdom and clarity in daily life.
• 202EThe Buddha and Social Hierarchies

  Analyze the radical nature of the Buddha’s teachings on caste, and evaluate their significance within the cultural context in which they emerged.
• 203EBuddhism and Indigenous Cultures

  Analyze which indigenous cultures pre-existed Buddhism in at least five regions, and evaluate what has remained constant and what has transformed in Buddhist traditions based on cultural interactions.
• 204EThe Decline of Buddhism

  Analyze factors contributing to Buddhism’s decline historically, and create strategies to preserve dharma traditions in contemporary contexts.