Offering Colleges
The Master in Buddhism and Sustainable Development (MBSD) degree program will demonstrate a sound understanding of Buddhist Philosophy which is endowed with the practical acuity to analyze development issues of our society and thereby reach out to the solutions in a peaceful, non-violent and sustainable way. As a program of Faculty of Buddhist Studies, Lumbini Buddhist University, this course of study is focused largely on the social science and humanity perspective as a disciplinary notion, though it has also derived different concepts and ideas of sustainable development from natural and applied sciences. This program includes 16 regular courses (100 marks/ 3 Credit hours each) including a compulsory Thesis. Eight elective courses have been planned (two electives in each semester). Students will select one elective subject in each semester.
The core objective of the MBSD courses of study is to cater to a multiplicity of Buddhist perspectives on development (its theories, practices and policies), and thereby offer ways of sustainability for inner peace and happiness in the world. In specific, this program has been designed with the following learning objectives:
- To gain a higher and intuitive understanding of the philosophical idea of Buddhism and its practical ways in analyzing development issues of our society, and thus become capable of finding and executing solutions in a peaceful, non-violent and sustainable way.
- To inculcate and demonstrate knowledge and understanding in their major areas of study, including the insights into current research and development works
Salient Features
Upon completion of the MBSSD courses of study, students must be able to:
- demonstrate an ability to critically and systematically conceptualize and analyze the issues and ideas of development from a Buddhist perspective of view, meditation and conduct.
- become a dedicated learner of Buddhist practice of meditation following the ethical values and the Sīlas of the Buddhist teachings
- identify the challenges and opportunities of sustainability of development works, human integrity and peaceful life considering the present needs without compromising the needs and aspirations of future generations;
- exhibit an ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate issues of sustainability and to plan and manage the diversities and complexities using appropriate methods including selfless leadership;
- show an ability to present and discuss their conclusion and the knowledge and arguments behind them in good dialogue with different groups, orally and in writing, in national and international contexts
Eligibility
Students from any discipline having passed Bachelor Degree or its equivalent from any recognized universities are eligible to apply for admission in Master’s degree program. Eligible candidates may apply to LBU by filling out an application form available at the Central Campus in Lumbini or affiliated Campus or an appropriate application form available online. Admission to the program will take place on a yearly basis. To be eligible for the program, the candidate needs to appear for a written entrance examination followed by an interview. The maximum number of candidates for Master’s degree program in Buddhism yearly is set to 40 students per class.
Admission Procedures:
Students shall be selected for admission on the basis of merit, as decided by performance in the written entrance test and oral interview.
Entrance Examination:
Students should face a written examination of one hour for admission. The entrance examination carries 100 marks for objective-type questions.
Curricular Structure
Year I; Semester I
| MBSD511 | Introduction to Buddhist Philosophy | 3 |
| MBSD 512 | Foundation of Development | 3 |
| MBSD 513 | Sustainability study | 3 |
| MBSD 514 | Ecology, environment and sustainable development | 3 |
Elective-I
| MBSD 515A | Governance and development | 3 |
| MBSD 515B | Project design and management | 3 |
Year I; Semester II
| MBSD 521 | Abhidharma and Psychology | 3 |
| MBSD 522 | Sustainable pathways of development | 3 |
| MBSD 523 | Buddhist Meditation | 3 |
| MBSD 524 | Narratives of development in Nepal | 3 |
Elective-II
| MBSD 525 | Sustaining peace and social transformation | 3 |
| MBSD 526 | Sustainable livelihood and entrepreneurship development | 3 |
Year II; Semester III
| MBSD 531 | Non-violent communication and spiritual counseling | 3 |
| MBSD 532 | Community Development: Principles and Practices | 3 |
| MBSD 533 | Research Methodology | 3 |
| MBSD 534 | Disaster risk reduction: Strategies and practices | 3 |
Elective-III
| MBSD 535 | Tools on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) | 3 |
| MBSD 536 | Child care and social gerontology | 3 |
Year II; Semester IV
| MBSD 541 | Buddhism, society and selfless-leadership | 3 |
| MBSD 542 | Policy and planning in development | 3 |
| MBSD 543 | Population, migration and remittance | 3 |
| MBSD 544 | Thesis | 3 |
Elective-IV
| MBSD 545 | Hospitality and Tourism development | 3 |
| MBSD 546 | Social and environmental safeguards | 3 |