Degree Students

Maitripa College degree programs are composed of required and elective courses, based on a credit hour system. Students can expect to commit to a minimum of two hours of reading and homework a week per hour of classroom instruction, or credit hour. A service requirement is part of all Maitripa College curricula and requires a minimum number of hours each semester outside class time. The College runs on a semester schedule from late August/early September to December (Fall semester) and January to May (Spring semester), with a summer term from early June to late July/early August.

Full-time Degree Students

Students may pursue their degree as a full-time student, defined as six credits per semester for scholarship purposes. Enrollment in full-time or part-time course loads may vary from semester to semester over the course of their program. Advisors work closely with students to establish a reasonable balance of school with other obligations, such as work, family, and religious practice.

Part-time Degree Students

Enrolled degree students have the option to pursue their degree at a part-time pace if the optimal full-time schedule cannot be accommodated. Students may pursue their degree as a full-time student, defined as between one – five credits per semester. Enrollment in full-time or part-time course loads may vary from semester to semester over the course of their program. Advisors work closely with students to establish a reasonable balance of school with other obligations, such as work, family, and religious practice. Students have five years to complete a 44-credit MA degree and seven years to complete a 72-credit MDiv degree on a part-time basis.

Continuing Education Students & Auditors

CONTINUING EDUCATION STUDENTS are Oregon students who are enrolled in classes for credit, receive a grade, transcript, and credit hours for completed courses. Continuing Education Students are not eligible to register as auditors.

AUDITING STUDENTS are non-Oregon students. Auditors will not receive a grade, transcript, nor graduate credit for courses completed.

The Continuing Education option is designed for students who may be unable to enroll in a degree program but still want the opportunity to improve their knowledge of Buddhism or a particular course subject area, or to obtain skills to enhance their professional life, or for personal spiritual formation. Registering as a continuing education student at Maitripa College enables the student to take advantage of our classes without committing to a program culminating in a graduate degree. Continuing education students are held to the same standards as degree program students and are expected to complete the readings, homework, exams and other course requirements just as would a degree student and will receive a grade recorded on their transcript.

Participation in the program as a continuing education student is restricted to availability of space contingent on degree student enrollment. Continuing education students interested in subsequently pursuing a degree must complete the full application process and fulfill all of the admissions criteria. If accepted, the continuing education student has the option to transfer previous course credit taken at Maitripa toward their degree. Up to twenty-four credits of successfully completed courses taken as a continuing education student may be transferred into the degree program; the earliest course eligible for credit towards the degree must have been taken no more than five years prior to completing remaining degree requirements.