IBS 2009 Fall Semester

The Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS), a Graduate Seminary for Buddhist Studies, began its 2009 fall semester with an enrollment of 65 students. Of the total 26 are IBS students and 39 are students for the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), a consortium of Christian Seminaries.

Dr. Richard Payne, IBS Dean, stated that in the past few years the enrollment has increased due to the new IBS location within the Jodo Shinshu Center, Berkeley. Because of our close proximity to the GTU and the University of California, the campus atmosphere of the IBS has become the focal center for Buddhist Religious Studies.

Of the 26 IBS students 19 are on the MA program, 3 are exchange students from Ryukoku University, 2 are special students, 1 students is with the International Ministerial Orientation Program (IMOP), and 1 auditor.

Of the GTU consortium schools 11 are from the GTU, 13 from the Pacific School of Religion, 8 from the Starr King School of Ministry, 3 from the Jesuit School of Theology, 2 from the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, 1 from the Franciscan School of Theology, and 1 from San Francisco Theological Seminary.

“On September 1, 2009, the IBS celebrated its 60th anniversary. The faculty and staff are deeply grateful to the members and friends of the Buddhist Churches of America for their continued support in our journey to support the Shin Buddhist movement and Buddhism in the United States,” said Dr. Payne.