Anugraha Institute for Yoga and Interspiritual Studies

Students must complete a total of 48 credit hours in the first two years to qualify for entry into the third and final year leading to the Ph. D., or Doctor of Philosophy degree in Yoga and Interspiritual Studies.

 

In each semester of the first two years, students take two online seminars, one independent study, and one elective.

 

For example, in Fall semester 2017, the two online seminars are to be foundational courses in Interspiritual Studies conducted by Dr. Kurt Johnson and Dr. Charles Semowich.  In Spring semester 2018, the two seminars are to be foundational courses in Yoga.

 

Independent studies conducted by Sw. Shraddhananda address the experiential or existential dimensions of the student's scholarly and spiritual process. A long-time devotee of experimental education with an emphasis on the personal relevance of acquired knowledge, Sw. Shraddhananda  intends to ask students to produce a final Independent Study paper each semester written in the first person "I."

 

Electives are to be offered through the Anugraha Institute, and students may propose electives taken outside the Institute for course credit.

 

In the third year, students must pass a language proficiency examination related to their major area of doctoral study (Sanskrit for those who focus on Yoga), sit for comprehensive exams based on a list of 10 books submitted by the student to the faculty, undertake a month long spiritual retreat at Anugraha House (or an Institute-approved retreat site such as the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Kentucky,  Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia, Gurudev Siddha Peeth or Shantivanam in India, or Sky Farm in California,) and complete a high level dissertation subject to approval by two Anugraha Institute faculty following an oral defense.

 

Graduation is to be held in early June, a beautiful time of the year for students and their families or intimate associates to visit the Lake Cumberland Valley of Kentucky.