Dr. Jon Keune

Associate Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Jon Keune. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

Jon Keune is a scholar specializing in religion and social history, with a focus on transregionalism in Western India, Taiwan, and Japan. His current research traces the legacies of B.R. Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism in 1956 and explores how this affects the Ambedkarite community and their professionals who migrate and settle internationally. Keune's work emphasizes the changing nature of religion and spirituality, as well as cultural identification. He has received support through various fellowships and grants, including the Fulbright fellowships and support from the American Institute of Indian Studies. He served as a visiting research fellow at prestigious institutions, including the Max-Weber-Kolleg at the University of Erfurt and Oxford University. In 2013, he co-founded the Regional Bhakti Scholars Network to promote scholarly collaboration across regions and languages focused on bhakti traditions. His educational background includes a Ph.D. from Columbia University and degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and St. Olaf College. His scholarly interests encompass Ambedkarite Buddhists, transnational Buddhism, and social history, among others.

Research Interests

Courses

REL 101 Exploring Religion REL 301 Theories Methods REL 340 Hinduism REL 350 Buddhism South Asia REL 441 Devotional Hinduism REL 480 Comparative Studies in Religion IAH 231A Diversity, Religion, Society Contemporary Japan REL 819 Religious Organizations Civil Society Asia REL 820 Secularisms, Publics, Religions Asia

Requirements for Michigan State University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Listening
Required:17
Reading
Required:17
Writing
Required:17
Speaking
Required:17
Total
Required:80
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:6.5
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field At least 15 credits in psychology courses
Application Checklist
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose
  • CV/Resume
Specialization Notes

Department of Psychology