Concentration in “Veganism, Animals, and Ecology” for the MA – Engaged Jain Studies Track
Arihanta Institute teaches courses in the “Veganism, Animals, and Ecology” concentration for the Engaged Jain Studies MA track at Claremont School of Theology.
To add a concentration in “Veganism, Animals, and Ecology,” graduate students take 3 courses for a total of 9 credits (3, 3-credit courses). These courses could include, from Arihanta Institute:
1) “Jain Veganism in the History of Global Veganism”
2) “Food Politics in South Asia and Beyond”
3) “Veganism, Climate Change, and Environmental Justice”
To add a concentration in “Veganism, Animals, and Ecology,” graduate students take 3 courses for a total of 9 credits (3, 3-credit courses). These courses could include, from Arihanta Institute:
1) “Jain Veganism in the History of Global Veganism”
2) “Food Politics in South Asia and Beyond”
3) “Veganism, Climate Change, and Environmental Justice”
“Jain Veganism in the History of Global Veganism” provides a global history of vegetarianism and other dietary trends that ultimately contributed to the eventual emergence of modern-day “veganism.” Two additional courses, “Food Politics in South Asia and Beyond” and “Veganism, Climate Change, and Environmental Justice” address, respectively, regional and global concerns related to transitions to plant-based food systems. The former course surveys the religious, cultural, economic, and political issues pertaining to food in South Asia, while the latter discusses how the universal problem of climate change impacts extant food systems and motivates transitions to plant-based food systems. These two courses thus support consideration of both South Asian and Global Perspectives, as the subtitle of the Engaged Jain Studies MA track indicates.
In addition to these courses offered by Arihanta Institute, students will also be able to take existing and future courses offered at CST to fulfill the 9-credit requirement.
In addition to these courses offered by Arihanta Institute, students will also be able to take existing and future courses offered at CST to fulfill the 9-credit requirement.
Why “Veganism, Animals, and Ecology” alongside Engaged Jain Studies?
Vegetarianism has been a core Jain practice for thousands of years, a feature that no other religious tradition can boast with comparable emphasis, longevity, and adherence. Among those who know nearly nothing about Jainism, most do know that Jains are strict vegetarians out of a concern for the welfare of animals and other life forms. Currently, veganism is on the rise within Jain communities in India and abroad owing to the same concern adapted to current geographic, economic, and agricultural circumstances. However, this evolution in tradition is not without emic and etic debate, and as such the concentration in “Veganism, Animals, and Ecology” within the MA program only enriches critical analyses of “engaged” Jain ethical practice.
More broadly speaking, “vegan” has entered mainstream discourse over the past decades, along with the number of people adopting vegetarian, flexitarian, and vegan diets rising each year. Young people recognize how veganism serves as a nexus for overlapping and pressing social justice issues, including, but not limited to: animal rights, preventative health care, food justice, environmental justice, climate change, and labor rights.
Vegetarianism has been a core Jain practice for thousands of years, a feature that no other religious tradition can boast with comparable emphasis, longevity, and adherence. Among those who know nearly nothing about Jainism, most do know that Jains are strict vegetarians out of a concern for the welfare of animals and other life forms. Currently, veganism is on the rise within Jain communities in India and abroad owing to the same concern adapted to current geographic, economic, and agricultural circumstances. However, this evolution in tradition is not without emic and etic debate, and as such the concentration in “Veganism, Animals, and Ecology” within the MA program only enriches critical analyses of “engaged” Jain ethical practice.
More broadly speaking, “vegan” has entered mainstream discourse over the past decades, along with the number of people adopting vegetarian, flexitarian, and vegan diets rising each year. Young people recognize how veganism serves as a nexus for overlapping and pressing social justice issues, including, but not limited to: animal rights, preventative health care, food justice, environmental justice, climate change, and labor rights.
Apply Today!
To schedule an appointment with one of our advisors to learn more about our program, please email study@arihantainstitute.org