A Mission-Rooted, Student-Centered Evolution of Graduate Education

 

Forming Scholar-Practitioners for Our Time

Maitripa College’s Master of Arts degree program is a rigorous course of study grounded in traditional Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and practice directly from Tibetan lineage holders. The MA in Buddhist Studies is a 44-credit graduate degree under the direction of Yangsi Rinpoche, combining rigorous academic study with meditation and community service requirements to offer an integrated education in Buddhist Studies.

Our curriculum couples meditative experience of the path with training to integrate Buddhist principles into active service, grounded in philosophical study, logic, contemplative analysis, and research. Graduates are formed as scholar-practitioners prepared for doctoral work, translation, leadership in Buddhist communities, and service in the wider world.

The Low-Residency Transformation strengthens this formation model while expanding access, flexibility, and long-term sustainability.


What Is Changing?

Maitripa College is transitioning our MA and MDiv programs into a low-residency model designed to uphold our contemplative, lineage-rooted approach to education while expanding access, flexibility, and sustainability.


Why We Are Making This Change

This transformation allows us to align with accreditation best practices, integrate emerging educational technologies, and reach a broader community of practitioners and scholars—while preserving our traditional strengths in scholarship, meditation, and service.


What Will Not Change

Our mission, our lineage, and the heart of our educational model remain unchanged. The integration of Scholarship, Meditation, and Service continues to define the structure of the MA curriculum.

Faculty access, mentorship, advising, and spiritual support remain central to Maitripa’s contemplative pedagogy.


How the Low-Residency Model Works

The model includes a blend of asynchronous coursework, synchronous online sessions, and thoughtfully designed residency or retreat components. All elements are aligned with national standards for high-quality distance education.


Commitment to Quality and Compliance

The pathway includes DEAC filings, state authorization, NC-SARA compliance, course design standards, assessment planning, faculty readiness, student onboarding systems, and technology testing to ensure ADA compliance and alignment with national distance education standards.


Low-Residency Transformation FAQ

Please follow the link below for frequently-asked questions related to this topic.