BA Internal - External

•  Undergraduate Programme

The Department offers courses in two subject areas, Pali and Buddhist Studies. After the first two semesters or the first year, students may choose to follow either the special B.A degree programme or the general B.A. degree programme. For the special and general degree requirements, please contact the Course Unit Office or the Dean's Office, Faculty of Arts.

The courses offered by the Department in each subject area are given below. Courses are taught in the Sinhala and English media.

Buddhist Studies :

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Year

Semester

Code

Course Title

Prerequisites

Special
Degree

General
Degree

Cumulative
Courses
Special

Cumulative
Courses
General

1

1

BST 101

Early History of Buddhism

None

C

C

1

1

2

BST 102

Introduction to the Teachings of Buddhism

None

C

C

2

2

2

1

BST 201

History of Buddhism in India (post Asokan)

None

C

C

3

3

BST 202

Background to Early Buddhism

None

C

O

4

BST 203

Development of Buddhist Doctrines I

None

C

O

5

BST 204

Buddhist Literature

None

C

O

6

200 level

Any subject outside the discipline

7

4

2

BST 210:

Development of Buddhist Doctrines II

None

C

O

8

5

BST 211

Social and Political Philosophy of Buddhism

None

C

O

9

BST 212

Early Buddhism

None

C

C

10

BST 213

Elements of Buddhist Art

None

C

O

11

200 level

Any subject outside the discipline

12

6

3

1

BST 301

Buddhist Ethics

None

C

C

13

7

BST 302

Early Buddhist Monastic Institutions

None

C

O

14

BST 303

Rites and Ceremonies in Buddhism

None

C

O

15

8

BST 313/ 314/ 315

One out of these three*1

None

O

No

16

300 level

Any subject outside the discipline

17

2

BST 310

Buddhism and Problems of Philosophy

None

C

O

18

9

BST 311

Contemporary Buddhism

None

C

C

19

BST 312

Expansion of Buddhism: South-East Asia

None

C

O

20

10

BST 316/ 317/ 318

One out of these three*2

**

O

No

21

300 level

Any subject outside the discipline

22

4

1

Abbreviations:

C = Compulsory

O = Optional

No = Not open to General Degree Students

*1 = BST 313 Abhidhamma I

BST 314 Life of the Buddha

BST 315 Textual Criticism

*2 = BST 316 Abhidhamma II

BST 317 Buddhist Mythology

BST 318 Buddhism and Gender Issues

** = Only those Buddhist Studies Special Degree students who have followed BST 313 - Abhidhamma I.

BST 313 Abhidhamma I Not applicable

Optional Not applicable

Optional Not applicable

Semester 2 Compulsory Optional

Compulsory Compulsory

Compulsory Optional

Optional Not applicable

Optional Not applicable

400 level Semester 1 BST 401 Impact of Buddhism on the Culture of Sri Lanka Compulsory Optional

BST 402 Buddhist Psychology Compulsory Optional

BST 413 Early Mahayana Schools of Buddhism Optional Optional

BST 414 Buddhism and World Religions Optional Optional

BST 498 Dissertation Compulsory Not applicable

Semester 2 BST 410 Buddhist Logic and Epistemology Optional Optional

BST 411 Buddhist Art in a Selected Region Compulsory Optional

BST 414 Buddhist Mental Culture Compulsory Optional

BST 415 Buddhism and Society Optional Optional

BST 498 Dissertation Compulsory Not applicable

Pali Studies:

100 level Semester 1 PST 101: Prescribed Texts and Unspecified Texts Compulsory Compulsory

Semester 2 PST 102: Prescribed Texts and Fundamental Grammar Compulsory Compulsory

200 level Semester 1 PST 201: Prescribed Text Compulsory Compulsory

PST 202: Background to Early Buddhism Compulsory Optional

PST 203: Theravada Vinaya Compulsory Optional

PST 204: Methodology for Pali Studies Compulsory Optional

Semester 2 PST 210: Unspecified Texts, Prose Composition and

History of Pali Literature I Compulsory Compulsory

PST 212: Early Buddhism Compulsory Optional

PST 213: Social and Political Philosophy of Buddhism Compulsory Optional

300 level Semester 1 PST 301: Prescribed Texts Compulsory Optional

PST 302: Unspecified Texts, Prose Composition and

History of Pali Literature II Compulsory Compulsory

PST 303 History of Pali Grammar Compulsory Optional

PST 313 Introduction to Pali Optional Optional

PST 314 Textual Criticism Optional Optional

PST 315 AbhidharmaI Optional Optional

Semester 2 PST 310 Prescribed Texts Compulsory Compulsory

PST 311 Pali Commentarial Tradition Compulsory Optional

PST 312 Introduction to Sanskrit Compulsory Optional

PST 316 Abhidhamma II Optional Optional

400 level Semester 1 PST 401 Prescribed Texts Compulsory Optional

PST 402 Prakrit and Buddhist Sanskrit Texts Compulsory Optional

PST 412 Pali Vamsa Literature Optional Optional

PST 413 Sutta Studies Optional Optional

PST 498 Dissertation Compulsory Not applicable

Semester 2 PST 410 Unspecified Texts and Prose Composition Compulsory Optional

PST 411 Schools of Buddhism Compulsory Optional

PST 414 Buddhist Psychology Optional Optional

PST 498 Dissertation Compulsory Not applicable

•  Graduate Degree Programmes :

Students may enroll for Master of Arts, Master of Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy programmes in Pali or in Buddhist Studies. The Faculty of Arts calls for applications for enrollment in the Diploma and Master's Degree Programmes annually by newspaper advertisement. Students may apply for enrollment in the Doctor of Philosophy Programmes during any time of the academic year.