University of the West

Buddhist Chaplaincy

The Buddhist Chaplaincy program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel as Buddhist practitioners working in the field of professional chaplaincy. The program incorporates the requirements of the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) by offering 72 semester hours covering nine core educational areas. It is designed to be completed in two and one-half years.

Buddhist Counseling

The Buddhist Counseling Certificate is an advanced graduate certificate in psychology, tailored to help professionals in the field of behavioral health and those interested to learn more about the intersection of Buddhism and applied psychology. Students take a core curriculum in Buddhist Psychology, along with electives in Religious Studies and Buddhist Chaplaincy. The certificate does not meet the requirements to sit for licensure in MFT or LPCC in any state.

Buddhist Ministry

The Doctor of Buddhist Ministry is an advanced professional degree culminating in a doctoral project. This selective program enhances the practice of ministry for religious leaders who already hold a Master of Divinity or equivalent degree by cultivating their understanding and application of ministry, ministerial skills, research methods, and professional ethics through humanistic engagement.

Buddhist Spiritual Care

The Master of Arts in Buddhist Spiritual Care (MABSC) provides students an opportunity to learn and contribute to the new field of professional Buddhist spiritual care. This program provides students and Dharma practitioners with a deeper understanding of how Buddhist philosophy, history, and teaching intersect with social and community engagement and are applicable to the contemporary world. As a low-residency program, it is designed to meet the needs of working professionals.

Business Administration

The Graduate Certificate in Business Administration allows students to work directly with the Business Administration chair to design a personalized curriculum tailored to their own career needs and goals. Students have the option of creating a concentration in a specific area of study, such as Computer Information Systems or Data Analytics. Students complete seven courses selected from the MBA curriculum.

Business Administration

The Undergraduate Certificate in Business Administration is designed for individuals seeking to expand their knowledge and skills in business. The program introduces the fundamental concepts and practices of business to develop a broad-based practical understanding of its context, purpose, and underlying functional areas: accounting, economics, finance, marketing, and management.

Business Administration

UWest offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting, Computer Information Systems, International Business, and Marketing. This program educates students using a cross-functional, cross-cultural perspective to equip them with the intellectual tools they need to assume responsible positions in organizations and to develop them into well-rounded professionals and managers with a capacity for lifelong learning.

Business Administration (Master of Business Administration)

The MBA program provides in-depth technical education in specialized fields and addresses issues of management in different cultural contexts and ethical aspects of decision making. This program prepares graduates for leadership positions in for-profit and nonprofit organizations and is designed for completion in two years of full-time study.

Business Administration (Professional Master of Business Administration)

The Professional Master of Business Administration (ProMBA) degree program is designed for business professionals, executives, and owners with three or more years of managerial or professional experience. Students expand their knowledge and skills to advance their professional careers, and can complete the program in as little as one year with flexible distance or traditional enrollment options.

Eastern Philosophy and Management

The Doctor of Eastern Philosophy and Management (DEPM) is built on and fully uses the strength of the university's programs and research on cultures, religions, and management. The DEPM offers a unique synthesis of Eastern philosophy and management principles, blending rigorous academic inquiry with practical application in a hybrid learning format. The 54-unit program may be completed in three years of full-time attendance.

Liberal Arts

University of the West's Liberal Arts degree program offers each undergraduate a self-designed cross- and interdisciplinary learning path. Liberal Arts majors follow their intellectual curiosity to pursue specific interests and a wide-ranging understanding of the history and sweep of human endeavor. The Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts is designed for completion in four years of full-time study.

Mindfulness Facilitation

The Mindfulness Facilitation certificate program explores theories and practices of mindfulness, wellness, and ethics within multiple worldviews and contexts. Students receive a foundation based on multicultural contemplative literature and apply the theories learned to their own experiences through direct engagement and critical reflection. Upon completion, students have the practical skills needed to facilitate mindfulness practice for small groups.

Post-Master of Business Administration

The Post MBA certificate is an advanced graduate certificate in Business Administration, designed for individuals who have already earned an MBA or other graduate business degree. Working with the department chair, students create an individual study plan centered on a theme, such as international business management, computer information systems, or financial management.

Psychology

The learning outcomes for the BA Psychology degree are informed by the American Psychological Association's 10 Optimal Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major as well as the university's institutional learning outcomes. These outcomes reflect the knowledge and skills undergraduates are expected to acquire during their studies at UWest.

Psychology (Marriage and Family Therapy)

The 63-unit Master of Arts in Psychology - Marriage and Family Therapy prepares students to meet requirements for California licensure to provide psychotherapy as Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT). The program focuses on the intersection between Buddhist psychology and Western multicultural and recovery-oriented evidence-based practice in helping individuals, couples, families, and groups.

Psychology (Multicultural Counseling)

The 33-unit Master of Arts in Psychology - Multicultural Counseling (MCC) is designed for individuals who wish to pursue a graduate degree in the field of human services or psychology, open to students with a baccalaureate degree in an unrelated field and to working professionals. Courses are taught from the integration of Eastern and Western perspectives.

Religious Studies

The Master of Arts in Religious Studies is a two-year, full-time degree program that allows students to gain a critical appreciation and understanding of different facets of religion. More specifically, it seeks to extend a student's background in Buddhism and Buddhist Studies, with an emphasis on practical applications in the contemporary world.

Religious Studies

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Religious Studies is an advanced research degree leading to a dissertation. Research and writing skills are developed to the level necessary to participate in professional academic discourse. Progress through the doctoral program is determined by coursework, language requirements, qualifying examinations, and a dissertation.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

The TESOL Certificate program offers students training in the knowledge and skills necessary to teach English as a second or foreign language, and upon completion students are awarded the TESOL certificate. This certificate is of value to individuals interested in teaching English as a second language at language institutes, in community agency ESP and adult education, and to those who plan to teach English as a foreign language abroad.