Master in Buddhist Studies (Master's)

Tuition is At the Won Institute, we understand that tuition and fees can be a major financial investment. Learn more information about tuition and fees, and our financial resources including scholarship opportunities., while applications for the Jan 2027 intake are due by Nov 1, 2026.

This program is the only master's degree in Won Buddhism offered outside South Korea. It focuses on integrating Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian teachings within a Western academic context. Students develop a personal contemplative practice and apply Won Buddhist principles through a self-designed practicum. The program prepares graduates for roles as ministers, teachers, or practitioners in diverse settings.

Focus areas include Won Buddhist philosophy, meditation and mindfulness, history of Won Buddhism, contemplative practice, application of Buddhist principles in modern life, dharma teaching and leadership.

The program requires two years of full-time study and includes coursework in Won Buddhist ethics, meditation, and theory. Students complete a practicum in a setting they design, such as a space for teaching dharma or meditation.

Graduates become ordained ministers, meditation instructors, Won Buddhist teachers, academic researchers, or lay leaders in the Won Buddhist community.

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in any field or in Won Buddhism. Completion of the Preparatory Won Buddhist Studies (PWBS) courses is required. Additional requirements may apply for students seeking ordination.

Online and in-person hybrid; full-time, two-year program. For international students, tuition is around the median for US programmes.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine form the Institute’s largest academic area. The Doctor of Acupuncture program prepares graduates for leadership in acupuncture and integrative medicine, while the Master of Acupuncture Studies provides a three-year graduate education in Chinese medical theory and the uses of acupuncture. A Chinese Herbal Medicine certificate combines online lectures with in-person clinical requirements and prepares students for the NCCAOM Chinese Herbology Exam. Meditation and contemplative coursework provide a shared core across programs.

Won Institute opened its doors in 2002, beginning with seven students. Its first graduating class, in 2004, included students of Applied Meditation and Won Buddhist Studies. The Institute began its first acupuncture class in 2005, introduced the Chinese Herbal Medicine certificate in 2011, and started the Doctor of Acupuncture program in 2020. The school moved to the Global Dharma Building in 2021.

The campus is at 800 Jacksonville Road in Warminster, Pennsylvania. Students learn in small classes with faculty who include professional practitioners, business owners, and meditation teachers. On-site professional and student clinics provide acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine services. International students should note that the Doctor of Acupuncture Completion Track is offered asynchronously online, while the Chinese Herbal Medicine certificate includes in-person clinical work. Won Buddhist Studies is taught in a Western context, with the master’s program preparing students to practice and teach Won Buddhism in the United States.