Buddhist Studies in Canada - Study in Montreal?
In my current quest to figure out what kind of profession I’d like to find myself working in, I’ve been considering going back to school to do my Masters. I have a passion for study, reading, learning and teaching. I say teaching- but I that less in the traditional - ‘listen to me, I have the answers’ kind of way and more in the way that I’ve come to appreciate through Buddhism which is more of a ‘take charge of own your education on this path’.
Many of my favourite teachers were those who encouraged me to discover things on my own, but were there to give guidance at the times when I needed it. I want to be that kind of teacher.
I’ve spent a bit of time on McGill’s Religious Studies website to see if this would help me in my search and I was inspired by looking at much of the research coming out. I was even more thrilled to read that a monograph will be coming out, titled “Wild Geese: Studies of Buddhism in Canada” which really would do much to help me out in my current desire to find out more information on pursuing my Masters.
So I take it to the community now. Is there anyone who can weigh in on McGill’s Buddhist Studies classes? Buddhist Studies in Canada? Feel free to leave a comment (I’ll keep it private if you indicate that you don’t wish to have it published).
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I can’t really speak to what it’s like study Buddhism (or anything for that matter) at McGill. But I did have a chance to meet one of the co-editors of the Wild Geese book while I was at a conference in Montreal this past November. He was a lovely person, and I’ve heard much the same about Victor Hori who is at McGill. So I suspect that studying there would be equally enjoyable. For what it’s worth, which I realize ain’t much!
On the other hand, while I and my wife were walking around the McGill campus, we did see a bunch of students playing a game of Quidditch. So, there’s that!
Hi again. A friend-colleague of mine tried to post a comment but had some sort of technical difficulty so he asked me to post on his behalf:
TMcG, this is a comment from Jeff Wilson, assistant professor of Religious Studies and East Asian Studies at the University of Waterloo. For some reason I can’t seem to post comments here, so I’ve asked Scott to post this for me.
The opportunities to do Buddhist Studies in Canada are limited, but luckily we do have some excellent programs here. McGill’s Buddhist Studies program has a very high reputation, you should definitely look into it further. You should also look at the Buddhist Studies programs at McMaster, University of Toronto, and University of Calgary.
If you are interested in studying Buddhism as a phenomenon taking place in Canada, your options are also limited, but there are some possibilities. In that case, you probably will not be able to pursue a traditional Buddhist Studies degree, as these programs are typically focused on textual study and are Asian-oriented. Instead, you will need to study with someone who focuses on this subfield in particular, and it will likely be in a Religious Studies program rather than a Buddhist Studies one. At the MA level, you could investigate studying at Wilfrid Laurier University in their Religious Studies program-Janet McClellan, who works on Canadian Buddhism, is there and has directed students with this interest. If you proceed to the PhD level, you may want to consider working with me-I teach in the joint University of Waterloo-WLU PhD program (we have a single, specific track: religious diversity in North America), and accept PhD candidates who want to work on North American Buddhism, which is my specialty.
Deciding to pursue a graduate degree is a big step, as it is usually seen as committing yourself to becoming a professor in the field (especially if you go to the PhD), and not only is it lots of hard work, but there are only limited jobs available. Therefore, you should really do your homework and investigate all your options, not only McGill, even if it is in your backyard. You will need to find the place that truly does match your interests, can provide what you need, where you will work with people you respect and get along with. Much of this comes down to personalities-yours and that of the department-and you should take the time necessary to ensure you find the right fit. As it so happens, you have just missed the deadline for graduate applications for this year. So you have an entire year to investigate your options in Canada and find the right one. Good luck!
I too am struggling to find out what kind of work I want to do. Going back to school is a bit of a scary proposition. I’m all for education, however, my wife and I are already dealing with significant student loan debt from her going to law school. Adding to that just does not seem like a fun prospect.
Thanks so much @djbuddha, Jeff Wilson and Nate. You’ve all given me so much to think about. I really do wish there were more Buddhist ‘guidance counselors’ in the world to help out!
Some details on our program at McMaster University:
Department of Religious Studies
Main Contact Address: Department of Religious Studies, University Hall, Room 105, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1 Canada, Phone: 905 525 9140, Fax: 905 525 8161
Graduate Studies Track(s): MA and PhD in Asian Religions, Areas: Buddhism, East Asian Religions
Primary Instructors and Field(s):
* James A. Benn (PhD, University of California, Los Angeles; MA, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London; MA, BA, University of Cambridge) Chinese Religions.
* Shayne Clarke (PhD, University of California, Los Angeles; MA, BA, University of Canterbury (NZ)) Indian Buddhism.
* Mark Rowe (PhD, Princeton University; MA, Princeton University; MA, Kyoto University; BA, McGill University) Japanese Religions.
Department/Program Home Page: http://www.socsci.mcmaster.ca/relstud/
Comments, descriptions: Students are trained in the study of Buddhism and East Asian Religions in their historical and cultural contexts. Current strengths of the department include medieval Chinese religions, especially Buddhism and Taoism, modern Japanese religions, contemporary Buddhism in Japan, and monastic Buddhism in India. Students are encouraged to study with all three faculty members in the Asian field. In addition to seminars in Asian Religions, students also take one course in theoretical approaches to the study of religion together with students from other fields in the department.
Financial support from the university is available to full-time students on a competitive basis. The “Plan for Graduate Education at McMaster” sets a minimum guaranteed funding for doctoral students. Scholarships are given for the first two years of the M.A. programme and the first four years of the Ph.D. programme. Outstanding students are eligible for additional university scholarships.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact faculty in their area of interest before they apply.
McMaster University has a distinguished record in the study of Asian religions. Graduates of the program hold academic positions across North America and the rest of the world. The university’s library has a strong research collection for the study of Asian Religions in both European and Asian languages.