Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Programs

Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Courses

Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Programs

Minor Program:

(4 full courses or their equivalent, including one at the 300+level)

  1. NEW232Y1 (Buddhist Psychology: Theories and Applications)
  2. NEW332H1 (Buddhism and Psychotherapy) or NEW333H1 (Buddhism and Cognitive Science)
  3. NEW331H1 (Buddhism and the Science of Mindfulness Meditation) or NEW339H1 (Yogacara Buddhism and Western Psychology)
  4. NEW431H1 (Cultivating Consciousness) or NEW214H1 (Socially Engaged Buddhism) or NEW438H1 (Research Seminar in Buddhist Psychology)
  5. 1.5 full course equivalent from: ANT100Y1, ANT204H1, ANT253H1, ANT348H1, ANT356H1; COG250Y1; EAS324H1, EAS325H1, EAS346H1, EAS361Y1, EAS368Y1, EAS369Y1, EAS393Y1; HPS100H1, HPS250H1, HPS324H1, HPS326H1 HPS352H1; NEW214H1, NEW232Y1, NEW302H1, NEW303H1, NEW331H1, NEW336H1, NEW339H1, NEW431H1, NEW433H1, NEW438H1; PHL100Y1, PHL201H1, PHL232H1, PHL240H1, PHL244H1, PHL319H1, PHL320H1, PHL331H1, PHL332H1, PHL335H1, PHL340H1, PHL342H1; PSY100Y1, PSY220H1, PSY230H1, PSY240H1, PSY270H1, PSY305H1, PSY316H1, PSY321H1, PSY326H1, PSY333H1, PSY336H1, PSY341H1, PSY342H1, PSY343H1, PSY414H1, PSY424H1, PSY425H1; RLG206Y1, RLG207Y1, RLG210Y1, RLG211Y1, RLG231H1, RLG246H1, RLG301H1, RLG302H1, RLG303H1, RLG304H1, RLG372H1, RLG373H1, RLG375H1, RLG376H1, RLG377H1, RLG380H1, RLG421H1, RLG425H1, RLG440H1, RLG463H1, RLG466H1, RLG467H1, RLG469H1, RLG470H1; SOC101Y1, SOC103H1, SOC212Y1, SOC215Y1, SOC250Y1, SOC348H1, SOC363H1, SOC410H1, SOC483Y1; UNI483Y1; VIC106H1

Courses

NEW214H1 Socially Engaged Buddhism (formerly NEW214Y1)

A comprehensive survey of socially engaged Buddhism. Particular focus on contemporary movements in Vietnam, Tibet, China & Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and India. The role of women in Buddhism. Exclusion: NEW214Y1; DR=HUM

NEW232Y1 Buddhist Psychology: Theories & Applications

Explores the contributions of Buddhism to the study of human consciousness and behaviour. Focus is on the expanding academic discourse on the intersection of Buddhist and Western theories of psychology, phenomenology and psychotherapy. Includes analyses of the application of Buddhist mindfulness meditation in clinical interventions for mental and physical disorders. Exclusion: NEW402Y1, NEW432Y1; DR=HUM

NEW331H1 Buddhism and the Science of Mindfulness Meditation

Examines the modern mindfulness movement from a scientific and Buddhist perspective. Emphasis will be placed on the key Buddhist sutras and commentaries related to the practice of mindfulness and their relation the mindfulness meditation practices increasingly popular in the West. Recommended preparation: NEW232Y1; DR=HUM

NEW332H1 Buddhism and Psychotherapy

Evaluates the relationship between Buddhist psychology and the practice of Western psychotherapy. Areas that will be studied include positive psychology, psychoanalysis, cognitive-behaviour therapy, mindfulness meditation and Jungian psychology. Comparisons with original Buddhist teachings and commentaries will be made. Recommended preparation: NEW232Y1; DR=HUM

NEW333H1 Buddhism and Cognitive Science

Explores some important connections between Cognitive Science and Buddhism. In particular it will examine the insights of cognitive science into central Buddhist concepts such as wisdom, mindfulness, meditation, insight and self-control, as well as related concepts such as flow and mystical experience. Recommended preparation: NEW232Y1/RLG206Y1; DR=HUM

NEW336H1 Special Topics in Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health

Topics vary from year to year depending on the instructor. Recommended preparation: NEW232Y1; DR=HUM

NEW339H1 Yogacara Buddhism and Western Psychology

A comparative study of mind in Indian Yogacara Buddhism and modern psychology. Yogacara teachings address the three aspects of mind, the storehouse consciousness, and the notion that the root of all phenomena is mind, allowing a dialogue with the modern scientific understanding of the mind in psychology. Recommended preparation: NEW232Y1; DR=HUM

NEW431H1 Cultivating Consciousness: Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness in Practice

The scientific study of subjective experience. Students’ own consciousness will be the laboratory for self-study using awareness-raising techniques from Buddhist and Yogic traditions including breathing exercises, conscious movement, concentration, and mindfulness. Students will objectively measure their experience and will be expected to maintain a daily meditation practice. DR=HUM

NEW433H1 Advanced Special Topics in Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health

An upper-level seminar. Topics vary from year to year, depending on the instructor. Recommended preparation: NEW232Y1/RLG206Y1; DR=HUM

NEW438H1 Research Seminar in Buddhist Psychology (formerly NEW338H1)

Critically evaluates the empirical research literature relevant to the study of Buddhist psychology. Conceptual, methodological and interpretive limitations of the scientific literature are discussed. Students will apply their understanding by designing an experiment to empirically evaluate an aspect of Buddhist psychology. Prerequisite: one statistics course (e.g. PSY201H1, PSY202H1, SOC202H1) or permission of the instructor Recommended Preparation: NEW232Y1/331H1/333H1 Exclusion: NEW338H1; DR=SOC SCI