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University Partnerships

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Expanding Access to Engaged Jain Studies through Remote Learning

Arihanta Institute faculty offer accredited graduate-level seminars at our collaborating University, Claremont School of Theology (CST). Arihanta Institute also offers non-accredited collections of self-paced courses in Engaged Jainism, Yoga Studies, Vegan Studies, and related fields. Our world-class faculty teach these courses, providing rigorous academic training in ethical and philosophical traditions.

For universities seeking to expand their religious and South Asian studies curriculum, our courses offer high-quality options without the need for additional faculty. Our courses meet university-level academic standards, integrate seamlessly into existing programs, and provide students unique opportunities for specialized study.

For inquiries about how our courses might fit within your institution’s offerings, contact study@arihantainstitute.org.

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Current University Collaborations

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Arihanta Institute faculty offer Graduate Seminars at CST and Self-Paced Course Series designed for students in theology, religious studies, South Asian studies, and related graduate programs. These flexible, academically rigorous offerings support deep engagement with nonviolence, ethics, and engaged Jain studies.

Graduate Seminars

Graduate Seminars are synchronous courses taught by leading scholars in their fields. They take place at our accredited collaborating university, Claremont School of Theology. They offer interactive discussions, faculty mentorship, and research-based assignments.

  • Structured as 3-credit, semester-long courses.
  • Eligible for credit transfer at most universities (typically up to two external courses).
  • Graded and accredited through Claremont School of Theology.
  • Tuition matches the cost of a standard graduate course at the student’s home institution.
  • Exceptional undergraduates may participate with faculty approval.

Self-Paced Course Series

Self-Paced Course Series are curated collections of shorter courses designed to supplement formal graduate coursework and support independent study.

  • Primarily asynchronous and flexible in structure.
  • No grades issued, but students may request a certificate upon successful completion.
  • Faculty may incorporate these into their syllabi or assign additional assessments for credit consideration.
  • Some universities may award credit for certain courses (e.g. Graduate Sanskrit) or when paired with additional evaluation.
  • Tuition is paid directly to Arihanta Institute; financial aid does not automatically transfer, but some universities offer grants that can be applied toward Self-Paced course tuition.

Explore Graduate Options

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Arihanta Institute’s Self-Paced Course Series and Graduate Seminars provide undergraduates with opportunities to explore advanced topics in ethics, nonviolence, vegan studies, South Asian traditions, and related fields. These offerings can supplement existing courses, and, in many cases, can be adapted for independent study credit through faculty or departmental approval.

Self-Paced Course Series

Self-Paced Course Series can be used as primary course material or for enrichment.

  • Offered as predefined collections of shorter, academically rigorous courses.
  • Primarily asynchronous and self-paced.
  • No grades issued, but students may request a certificate upon successful completion.
  • Faculty or departments may structure these into credit-bearing independent studies.
  • Tuition is paid directly to Arihanta Institute; some schools may offer applicable grants.

Graduate Seminars

With faculty approval, exceptional undergraduate students may enroll in Arihanta Institute faculty's Graduate Seminars at Claremont School of Theology.

  • Students must meet the same expectations as graduate-level participants.
  • Credit transfer is subject to home institution policies.

Explore Undergraduate Options

Faculty and Academic Standards

Arihanta Institute’s faculty members hold advanced degrees and bring extensive teaching and research experience to their classrooms. Our courses match the rigor and academic depth of offerings at top-tier institutions.

Our Faculty

Christopher Miller, PhD Vice President of Academic Affairs, Professor of Jain & Yoga Studies
Christopher Jain Miller, the co-founder and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Arihanta Institute, completed his PhD in the Study of Religion at the University of California, Davis. He is Professor of Jain and Yoga Studies at Arihanta Institute, Visiting Researcher at the University of Zürich's Asien-Orient-Institut, and Visiting Professor at Claremont School of Theology. Christopher's primary fields of research interest are Yoga Studies and Engaged Jain Studies, and he currently serves as the co-chair of the Yoga in Theory and Practice Unit at the American Academy of Religion as well as on the steering committees for the Dharma Academy of North America (DANAM) and the Yoga Darśana Yoga Sādhana conference. Christopher is the author of Embodying Transnational Yoga: Eating, Singing, and Breathing in Transformation (Routledge 2024) and the co-editor of Engaged Jainism: Critical and Constructive Studies of Jain Social Engagement (SUNY 2025) as well as Beacons of Dharma: Spiritual Exemplars for the Modern Age (Lexington 2020).
Cogen Bohanec, MA, PhD Assistant Professor in Sanskrit & Jain Studies, Arihanta Institute
Cogen Bohanec currently holds the position of Assistant Professor in Sanskrit and Jain Studies at Arihanta Institute where he teaches various courses on Jain philosophy and its applications. In addition, he is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Claremont School of Theology (CST) where he teaches Sanskrit and Gujarati, and he has taught numerous classes on South Asian Culture & Religions and Sanskrit language at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in Berkeley. Dr. Bohanec specializes in the Jain and Hindu traditions, comparative dharma traditions, philosophy of religion, theo-ethics (virtue ethics, and environmental and animal ethics in particular), and Sanskrit language and literature, and has numerous publications in those areas, particularly in the fields of Jain and Hindu Studies amongst other disciplines. He has a PhD in “Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion” with an emphasis in Hindu Studies from GTU, where his research emphasized ancient Indian languages, literature, and philosophical systems. He also holds an MA in Buddhist Studies from the Institute of Buddhist Studies at GTU where his research primarily involved translations of Pāli Buddhist scriptures in conversation with the philology of the Hindu Upaniṣads. He is the author of “Bhakti Ethics, Emotions and Love in Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Metaethics” (Lexington, 2024), an interdisciplinary study that frames traditional Hindu themes of ecotheology, ecofeminist theology, feminist care ethics, within a framework of virtue ethics in conversation with a bhakti-based psychology of emotions. Currently he is largely engaged in publication and research on various aspects of the Jain tradition, emphasizing translations and analyses of Jain Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Gujarati texts, but is also publishing academic works on various topics within the Hindu tradition.
Jonathan Dickstein, PhD Tirthankara Shreyansanath Endowed Assistant Professor of Jain and Vegan Studies, Arihanta Institute
Jonathan Dickstein, PhD, the Tirthankara Shreyansanath Endowed Assistant Professor of Jain and Vegan Studies at Arihanta Institute, specializes in South Asian Religions, Religion and Ecology, and Comparative Religious Ethics. He received his doctoral degree in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he wrote his dissertation on ancient Indian animal taxonomies and their relevance for religious ritual and dietary practice. Jonathan’s current work focuses on Jainism and contemporary ecological issues, and accordingly extends into Critical Animal Studies, Food Studies, and Diaspora Studies.

Jonathan has published in a wide array of interdisciplinary journals on topics such as veganism and politics, yoga and diet, Jain veganism, and the ethic of nonviolence (ahiṃsa). Jonathan considers himself a scholar-practitioner, having spent many years not only in libraries but also in public advocating for justice for both humans and nonhumans alike.

For a full list of our faculty and their research specializations, visit our faculty page.

Visit Our Faculty Page

How to Work with Us

Arihanta Institute provides our university partners flexible enrollment options that align with their academic policies. Each institution determines how courses fit into their credit system and graduation requirements. The process for integrating Arihanta courses into an institution’s curriculum typically follows these steps:

1. Institutional Approval – Faculty or administrators determine which courses align with their program offerings.
2. Enrollment Coordination – Students register directly through Claremont School of Theology for Graduate Seminars or Arihanta Institute for Self-Paced Course Series.
3. Student Learning – Students attend synchronous classes over Zoom or asynchronous classes through the Arihanta Institute platform.
4. Course Completion – Students receive transcripts from Claremont School of the Theology for Graduate Seminars or may request completion certificates for Self-Paced Course Series.

Many universities allow students to take up to two courses as credit for prior learning or as transfer credits. If your institution is interested in offering our courses for credit, contact us to discuss options that align with your academic policies.

For more information, contact study@arihantainstitute.org.

Let's Work Together

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these courses count for credit at my college or university?
All Graduate Seminars are accredited through Claremont School of Theology. Self-Paced Course Series are not accredited, but many universities grant credit through independent study arrangements or additional assessments. Students should consult with their academic advisor to determine how these courses fit into their degree requirements.
Are Graduate Seminars accredited?
Professors provide grades for graduate seminars, and students receive a transcript through Claremont School of Theology. Self-Paced Course Series do not grant grades.
How do students pay for these courses? Can they use financial aid?
For Graduate Seminars, students pay tuition directly to CST. Financial aid may be applied via arrangements with the home university, and some universities provide funding for external coursework that can apply to Graduate Seminar tuition.

For Self-Paced Course Series, students pay tuition directly to Arihanta Institute at the time of enrollment. Financial aid from a student’s home institution does not automatically transfer, but some universities provide funding for external coursework that can apply to Arihanta Institute tuition.
How does credit transfer work?
Each university determines how external courses apply to degree requirements. Arihanta Institute works closely with institutions to ensure a smooth credit transfer process for both students and administrators.
What if I want my university to offer these courses for credit?
If your school is not yet a partner, contact study@arihantainstitute.org to learn more about how to get started. For additional FAQs, visit our Academic Partnerships FAQs page.

Next Steps

Arihanta Institute is committed to supporting faculty, administrators, and students in expanding access to values-driven coursework.

For more information about enrollment, credit transfer, or partnership opportunities, contact study@arihantainstitute.org.

Let's Work Together

Arihanta Institute, an IRC 501(c)(3) nonprofit California Corporation, formerly known as Arihanta Academy, is a world-class online institution for learning all about the Jain tradition and how it applies to daily life.
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