Who should take this course?
Well, everyone of course!
If you are interested in Buddhism per se, psychology, philosophy of religion, religion, and/or personal
growth, this course may be right for you. We will approach Buddhism from both doctrinal and practical
perspectives, so whether you are interested in Buddhism purely from an academic perspective or as a
path for personal growth, this course may be right for you. And then, if you would just like to cut down
your ice cream bills, this too would be sufficient reason to sign up today!
What can I hope to learn from the course?
Six weeks is a very short time, but by the end of the course, past students were not only familiar with
the main Buddhist doctrines, but many had gained some personal insight into how Buddhist practice
might apply in one’s life.
What will be expected of you?
First of all, a serious time‐commitment is required. Over the six weeks, you will be busy reading, taking
quizzes on those readings, writing short papers, interacting with other students and myself through
online discussion postings, writing reviews on movies you will watch, and keeping a journal of the whole
experience. You can expect to do something for the class five days a week minimum, and reading the
other two. You are advised to use your time wisely.
Please don’t sign up for the class if you don’t think you can manage this or if you’ve planned a vacation
while the class is taking place.
That being said, past students would tell you that the class is worth the work!
What kind of an Internet connection do I need?
You will need to have a reliable connection (or to have access to a reliable connection, e.g., at a
university or public library), as there will be specific and inflexible deadlines for assignments and
discussion postings. There will be no content in the course that requires a high bandwidth, so the speed
of your connection will purely be a question of your tolerance level.
Who’s the instructor?
My name is Jay P. Feldman. I have an M.A. in Philosophy and have studied Buddhism academically and have been a practicing Buddhist for several years. This is my seventh year teaching Buddhism
at UI; and, although I have taught other classes online for a number of years, this is my third time
teaching Buddhism online.
How will I interact with the other students and the professor?
For the most part, you will interact with other students and myself via a threaded‐discussion online. I
also am very good about responding to email; you can call me by phone, or if you’re local to Moscow,
Idaho, schedule a time to stop in to my office.
Other Questions?
If you have questions or I can help in any way, please feel free to email me:
jayf@uidaho.edu