Course Description
The Graduate Seminar is the capstone of the Yogic Studies Advanced Certificate Program. It is the culmination of a concentrated period of study (typically 2-3 years) delving into the latest and most cutting-edge research in Yoga Studies, with leading scholars from around the world. Through a robust curriculum of online courses, students have engaged in university-level coursework in the history of yoga, traditional Indian philosophy, textual study and analysis, as well as foundational training in classical Sanskrit language. Students have received an in-depth overview of the development of yoga, in theory and practice, from its earliest origins in South Asia, to the contemporary world of global postural yoga.
The YSACP Graduate Seminar is designed to solidify and integrate this vast learning, as an opportunity to develop and carry out a personalized research project, to prepare graduates for future academic studies or teaching and to share their yogic knowledge with the world.
To be eligible for YS 501, students must have first completed 63 credits of coursework for the YSACP.
Course Structure
The seminar will take place online in a live format for a period of three months. The seminar will meet on Zoom for a total of 7 sessions. Readings will be provided which students should complete in advance of each session and be prepared to participate in discussion.
Note: Live attendance is required for the Seminar. Students can miss up to 2 live sessions if they have personal exemptions.
Seminar Sessions (2.5 hours)
- Thursdays @ 10am - 12:30pm Pacific (California)
- August 29, September 12, 26, October 10, 24, November 7, 21*
*The final session will be reserved for the Graduate Symposium.
In addition to the scheduled Seminars, Seth will also be holding private Office Hours to support students individually with their research projects.
Final Exam
A final exam will be issued midway through the Seminar as an opportunity for students to review and solidify their knowledge of the YS Core Curriculum. This will be a cumulative exam covering material from the following courses: YS 101, YS 105, YS 201, YS 202, and YS 203.
Research Project + Graduate Symposium
The capstone of the Seminar is a self-directed research project carried out in consultation with Seth. At the end of the Seminar, students will have the opportunity to participate in a live Graduate Symposium where they will have the opportunity to present their work to their peers and the broader Yogic Studies community.
More details about the Final Exam and Final Project will be discussed within the Seminar.
Dr. Seth Powell
PhD, Harvard University
Founder & Director, Yogic Studies
Seth Powell is a scholar of Indian religions, Sanskrit, and yoga traditions, who earned his PhD in South Asian Religions at Harvard University. His dissertation comprised a critical edition, translation, and detailed study of a 15th-century Sanskrit yoga text from south India known as the Śivayogapradīpikā—which uniquely combines yoga, ritual, and devotion. He also works extensively on the visual and material culture of yoga in premodern India, uncovering yoga's past through temple sculptures.
As an educator, Seth is passionate about sharing the latest academic research on yoga's vast history and philosophies and is gifted in his ability to present the ancient teachings of yoga clearly in an accessible, light-hearted, and inspiring manner—while maintaining a rigor and sensitivity to traditional Indian knowledge systems.
Seth founded Yogic Studies in 2018 and serves as the Director and Head Faculty. He is also the host of The Yogic Studies Podcast.
Seminar begins soon!
Our first live session will be on Thursday August 29, 2024.
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