phd religion requirements

Graduate Department of Religion

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Religion

Areas of study.

Degree programs are offered in:

• Critical Studies in Asian, Islamic, and Jewish Traditions
• Ethics and Society
• Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel
• Historical Studies  
• Homiletics and Liturgics
• Jewish Studies (M.A.)
• New Testament and Early Christianity 
• Religion, Psychology, and Culture
• Theological Studies

Interdisciplinary studies, both within religion and in other areas of knowledge, are encouraged. The study of religion can be pursued at Vanderbilt both as a critical, humanistic discipline, employing a variety of methodological perspectives, and as a theological discipline, interpreting the biblical religions and their historical, theological, and ethical heritage.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must demonstrate a reading knowledge of two modern languages: A. a modern language of research (normally French, German, Spanish, or Modern Hebrew); and B. one of the following:

• another modern language relevant to the field of study;
• a biblical or other relevant ancient language;
• the student's native language, if not English;
• a research method such as statistics when appropriate.

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The program in religion is one of the leading religion programs in the US with 14 areas of study, 10 methodological approaches, and many research areas. This wide variety enables you to fine-tune your research with the aid of a relevant faculty member. You will have access to a vast array of resources including the Harvard library system and several centers and programs, such as the Center for the Study of World Religions, the Pluralism Project, and the Women’s Studies in Religion Program.

Examples of student theses and dissertations include “Gospel of the 'Orient': Koreans, Race and the Transpacific Rise of American Evangelicalism in the Cold War Era,” “Persisting in the Good: Thomas Aquinas in Conversation with Early Chinese Ethics,” and “Protestants, Politics, and Power: Race, Gender, and Religion in the Post-Emancipation Mississippi River Valley, 1863-1900.”

Graduates have gone on to secure tenure track positions at prestigious institutions in the United States and abroad, such as Emory University, Stanford University, Vassar College, Lahore University in Pakistan, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Boston College, and the University of Virginia. Others have chosen alternate careers in clinical ethics, ministry, publishing, and management and research in various NGOs and nonprofit organizations.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Committee on the Study of Religion and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies .

I. Areas of Study

African American Religions | Buddhist Studies | Christianity | Comparative Studies | Hebrew Bible | Hindu Studies | Islamic Studies | Jewish Studies | New Testament and Early Christianity

Geographical Complexes

African Religions | East Asian Religions | Europe (Medieval and Modern) | Latin American & Caribbean Religions | North American Religions | Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean | South Asian Religions

II. Methodologies or Approaches

Archaeology | Critical Theory | Ethics | Gender and Sexuality Studies | History | Literary Studies and the Arts | Religious Thought (Philosophy and Theology) | Social Sciences (Anthropology, Ethnography, and Political Science

Admissions Requirements

Please review the admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Committee on the Study of Religion .

Academic Background

While not required, applicants will typically already have a master’s degree and previous preparation in the field of religion and related subjects.

Writing Sample

A writing sample is required as part of the application and should be no longer than 20 pages.

Statement of Purpose

The statement of purpose must outline the applicant’s proposed project.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Not Accepted

Contacting Faculty

Applicants should review the current areas of study and methodologies. The Committee on the Study of Religion admits students who have clearly defined intellectual interests evidenced in the statement of purpose and completed application. As part of the application, prospective students are asked to indicate the main faculty of interest; applicants are encouraged to contact their faculty of interest prior to submitting their application. (Please note that Emeritus faculty and lecturers are not eligible under Harvard Griffin GSAS policies to serve as primary doctoral advisors.)

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Religion

See list of Religion faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

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PhD Program

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The PhD program is a rigorous, interdisciplinary course of advanced study that prepares students for careers in research, teaching, and publicly-engaged leadership.

Doctoral students conduct original and advanced research in pursuit of expert knowledge about the human phenomenon of religion. Students study the world's religions using a variety of methods including constructive, historical, social scientific, and modes of literary and visual analysis. Students may focus their work in one of the School's Areas of Study or through a multidisciplinary course of study. Students develop a sophisticated grasp of methods and theories in a chosen Area of Study, gain a broad understanding of religion as a phenomenon, and join others in the creation of new knowledge. 

Program Overview

The program consists of coursework, languages, pedagogical training with teaching, comprehensive exams, and a dissertation. All doctoral students work with a faculty advisor and area faculty to progress through the program. 

OUR CURRENT PHD STUDENTS

PHD HANDBOOK

Admission Information We offer admission to the doctoral program annually.  Applicants to the PhD program must have a Master’s degree in religion or closely related field. 

Application Deadline      

January 4, 2024

Beginning in the 2020 PhD admissions cycle, there  will not  be an internal doctoral admission petition process for current Divinity School MA or MDiv students and recent alumni. Current and former students are required to submit the same documentation as external candidates, using the same deadline. 

Admission & Funding Information

Students admitted to the PhD program in 2016 and beyond receive a fellowship package that includes full tuition coverage, health insurance coverage for the student through the University Health Insurance Plan (U-SHIP), and a $37,000 living stipend. The doctoral student fellowship is renewed annually for the maximum registration period. 

Required Application Materials

Applicants to the PhD program must have a Master’s degree in a program of study related to the proposed area of doctoral study.

• Divinity School Application for Graduate Admission
• Candidate Statement 
• Academic Transcripts 
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Current Resume or CV
• Writing sample, should not exceed 25 pages
• Application fee: $75 (waiver available)
• International students:  TOEFL or IELTS score

Director of Doctoral Studies, Dr. Richard A. Rosengarten is Associate Professor of Religion and Literature; also in the College.

Graduate Programs

Religious studies.

The Department of Religious Studies maintains exceptional strength in the study of religion in antiquity, Asian religions, modern religious thought and the theoretical study of religion.

The graduate program in Religious Studies at Brown is one of the finest in the nation. From among a large pool of highly qualified applicants, the department admits four to six doctoral students a year. Current graduate students have distinguished themselves by publishing, presenting papers at international conferences, and earning recognition and support from prestigious external funding organizations. Department's graduates have an excellent placement record, teaching in such institutions as Harvard, Stanford, Indiana University, University of California, Brooklyn College, Reed College, Haverford, Rice University, University of Washington - St. Louis, and University of Wisconsin (Madison).

We offer Ph.D. studies in four areas:

• Asian Religious Traditions (ART) Islam
• Society and Culture (ISC)
• Religion and Critical Thought (RCT)
• Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean (RAM) (including Ancient Judaism, early Christianity, early Islam, and numerous others)

Additional Resources

The department maintains close working relationships with other Brown departments. Students often supplement their work with courses in history, anthropology, classics, philosophy, political science, sociology, Judaic studies, East Asian studies, art history, comparative literature, and the Institute for Archeology and the Ancient World. Through the University exchange program students may also take courses at other local universities. A monthly seminar, Culture and Religion in the Ancient Mediterranean, brings together students and faculty from across the University.

Application Information

Brief Zoom or phone interviews may be required as part of the application review process.

Application Requirements

Gre subject:.

Not required

GRE General:

Writing sample:.

Required (of 25 pages or less). Some tracks also require previous language study.

Dates/Deadlines

Application deadline, completion requirements.

All areas require three years (six semesters) of full–time study beyond the baccalaureate degree, including RS200; reading competence of at least two scholarly languages (typically French and German, depending on the track) and relevant other languages; preliminary examination; dissertation; oral defense; one year of teaching experience. Tracks also have additional specific requirements: for details, see the Religious Studies website and the Graduate Handbook.

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PhD Program & Timeline

Click here for a text version of the graphic .

*Students in the Ph.D. program register for courses through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Courses pertinent to their different areas of study may be found across departments and schools in the Harvard University Catalog. Courses not designated with an FAS course number may be available for cross-registration. For tuition requirements, see the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Handbook or the GSAS Guide to Admission and Financial Aid .

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Study of Religion as a Secondary Field

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Degree Programs

Harvard divinity school offers four masters-level divinity degree programs and a joint hds/gsas phd program..

Read more about the PhD program on the  Committee on the Study of Religion  website.

Master of Divinity (MDiv)

Master of Theological Studies (MTS)

Master of Theology (ThM)

Master of Religion and Public Life (MRPL)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Learn About HDS

The divinity degree admissions process, the Harvard Divinity community, and how to apply for financial aid.

Visit HDS Admissions & Aid

Whether your interest in a divinity degree focuses on academic study, field work, ordained ministry, or other callings, the study of theology and religion can be a lifelong asset as you consider and reflect on some of the world's oldest and deepest questions in a supportive, empathetic community.

Note: the application deadline for fall 2022 has passed. Visit Apply to HDS for more on the application process. Detailed information about the master’s programs requirements can be found in the HDS Handbook for Students . Applicants interested in the PhD program in religion should contact Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences directly, or visit the Committee on the Study of Religion website .

Department of Religious Studies

About the phd program, about the ph.d. program.

Our Ph.D. program is designed to prepare the very best candidates for successful careers in research and teaching at the university level. We have been ranked among the top 5 doctoral programs in Religious Studies in the country, and admissions is highly selective to produce incoming classes of 4 to 8 students. All doctoral students are admitted into one of the Department’s fields of specialization and must fulfill the specific requirements of that field:

Ancient Mediterranean Religions

• Ancient Near East
• Hebrew Bible
• Early Judaism
• Archaeology
• Greco-Roman Religions
• Early Christianity (including New Testament)
• Religions of Late Antiquity

For more on this field of specialization, click here .

Core Faculty:

Bart D. Ehrman ; Joseph Lam ; David Lambert ; Jodi Magness ; Hugo Méndez ; Zlatko Plese

Associated Faculty:

Evyatar Marienberg

Islamic Studies

Additional resources for the comparative study of Islam in the area include the following:

Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies programs at UNC and in the Triangle are coordinated by the  UNC Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies , housed in the  Global Education Center .  The Middle East Center collaborates with the Duke University Middle East Center to form the Consortium for Middle East Studies  at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a federally funded Title VI National Resource Center. Another affiliated resource is the  Duke Islamic Studies Center .

University of North Carolina Press  has launched a  book series  on Islamic Civilization and Muslim Networks edited by Bruce Lawrence and Carl Ernst.

For more detailed information on the Islamic studies field, see the remarks of Carl Ernst on “ Graduate Admission Information for Islamic Studies at UNC .”

Youssef Carter ; Carl W. Ernst ; Juliane Hammer ; Waleed Ziad

Jodi Magness

Affiliated Faculty:

Charles Kurzman , Sociology (UNC); Omid Safi , Asian & ME Studies (Duke)

Medieval and Early Modern Studies

Jessica A. Boon ; Evyatar Marienberg

Barbara R. Ambros ; Carl W. Ernst ; Brandon Bayne

Religion and Culture

Andrea Dara Cooper ; Randall G. Styers

Jessica A. Boon ; Lauren G. Leve ; Todd Ramón Ochoa ; Brendan Jamal Thornton

Jason Bivins , Philosophy and Religion (NSCU); Christian Lundberg , Communication Studies (UNC); Barry Saunders , Social Medicine (UNC)

Religion in the Americas

Scholars in other Departments or programs at UNC such as Afro-American Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, English, Folklore, History, Latin American Studies, Political Science, and Sociology, regularly offer courses and participate in graduate examinations in the field.

There is a large and well-developed program in American religious history at nearby Duke University. Students at both institutions routinely enroll in each other’s graduate courses and participate in a series of jointly sponsored colloquia each semester.

The Southern Historical Collection, the North Carolina Historical Collection, and the folklore and ethnomusicology collections at UNC attract researchers from all parts of the nation. Specialized resources such as the Wesleyan collection at Duke, the Primitive Baptist collection at Elon College, the Friends collection at Guilford College, and the Southern Baptist collections at Wake Forest and at Southeastern Baptist Seminary, are easily accessible.

Yaakov S. Ariel ; Brandon Bayne ; Todd Ramón Ochoa ; Brendan Jamal Thornton

Juliane Hammer

Jason Bivins , Philosophy and Religion (NCSU)

Religions of Asia

Barbara Rossetti Ambros ; Lauren G. Leve

Carl W. Ernst

Across these specific fields we have a range of strengths in regions, traditions, methodologies, and themes. Graduate students regularly develop expertise in these areas by taking thematically-focused courses within and beyond the graduate fields in which they were admitted. We encourage applicants to consider how faculty strengths across concentrations provide resources for projects situated in a particular concentration:

In addition to pursuing your interests in your concentration through coursework in our department, other UNC departments, and at Duke, students will also receive a broad grounding in Religious Studies as an interdisciplinary field. All incoming students enroll in RELI 700 (“Theory and Method in the Study of Religion”), and all take “gateway” courses that introduce important themes and methodologies relevant to a particular concentration. For more information about coursework, please see the graduate program’s Policies and Procedures .

For more information about language requirements and doctoral exams, please click on the specific concentration above. For more information about the dissertation process and time to degree, please see the graduate program’s Policies and Procedures .

All students must have earned a bachelor’s degree prior to registration. In addition, note that:

• We admit students for Fall semester only (not for the Spring).
• We can accept only full-time students who will be in residence.
• Students admitted to the program who have not already earned an M.A. in the study of religion must earn an M.A. in the Department before advancing to the Ph.D. phase of the program. (We offer the M.A. only as the beginning of work for the Ph.D.; we do not offer a terminal M.A. degree.)
• Students enrolled in the Department’s M.A. program can petition to enter the Ph.D. program after successful completion of all M.A. requirements, or they may be admitted into the Ph.D. program after successfully petitioning to bypass the M.A. degree. Information about our M.A. requirements, including the process for bypassing the M.A., can be found here .

Because our department is committed to bringing a broad range of perspectives into the study of religion, we particularly encourage applicants from minority perspectives.

• Religious Studies

Students must enroll in one of the following fields of study: American Religious History, Asian Religions, Early Mediterranean and West Asian Religions, Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, Islamic Studies, Medieval and Modern Judaism, Philosophy of Religion, Religion and Modernity, Religious Ethics, and Theology.

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Linn Tonstad

Director of Graduate Studies

• [email protected]

Heather Roberts

Departmental Registrar

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• 203-432-0830

Admission Requirements

Standardized testing requirements.

GRE is not accepted.

Program-Specific Application Requirements

A writing sample is required by this program. 

English Language Requirement

TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic is required of most applicants whose native language is not English.

You may be exempt from this requirement if you have received (or will receive) an undergraduate degree from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction, and if you have studied in residence at that institution for at least three years.

Combined Degree Program Application Deadline

*The deadline to submit an application to a combined program is always the earlier deadline of the two individual programs, or December 15, whichever comes first.

Academic Information

Combined phd information.

Religious Studies offers a combined PhD in conjunction with African American Studies .

Program Advising Guidelines

GSAS Advising Guidelines

Academic Resources

Academic calendar.

The Graduate School's academic calendar lists important dates and deadlines related to coursework, registration, financial processes, and milestone events such as graduation.

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Registration Information and Dates

https://registration.yale.edu/

Students must register every term in which they are enrolled in the Graduate School. Registration for a given term takes place the semester prior, and so it's important to stay on top of your academic plan. The University Registrar's Office oversees the systems that students use to register. Instructions about how to use those systems and the dates during which registration occurs can be found on their registration website.

Financial Information

Phd stipend & funding.

PhD students at Yale are normally full-funded for a minimum of five years. During that time, our students receive a twelve-month stipend to cover living expenses and a fellowship that covers the full cost of tuition and student healthcare.

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Alumni Insights

Below you will find alumni placement data for our departments and programs.

Religious Studies, PHD

On this page:, at a glance: program details.

• Location: Tempe campus
• Second Language Requirement: No

Program Description

Degree Awarded: PHD Religious Studies

The academic study of religion is a central component of the humanities and has become increasingly recognized as a critical tool in understanding society and politics in a globalized world.

The PhD program in religious studies helps graduate students develop greater expertise regarding the nature and role of religion around the world. The program provides supplementary training that includes history, anthropology, political science, journalism, secondary education and justice studies.

Doctoral focus areas in the study of religion approach the study in a variety of contexts. Specifically offered are areas in:

• anthropology of religion
• global Christianity
• Islam in global contexts
• religion in Asia
• religion in the Americas

Degree Requirements

84 credit hours, foreign language exams, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (6 credit hours) REL 501 The Study of Religion I: Genealogies, Disciplines and Power (3) REL 502 The Study of Religion II: Epistemology, Practice and Mediation (3)

Other Requirement (3 credit hours) REL 700 Research Methods (3)

Electives (51 credit hours)

Research (12 credit hours) REL 792 Research (12)

Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) REL 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information Students must choose one of the five focus areas that are listed in the program description, and they select courses for the focus area as part of their electives in consultation with their supervisory committee.

As part of electives, students may include up to three credit hours of REL 690 Reading and Conference. Additionally, students may select up to six credit hours of graduate-level courses from a related discipline that support the student's research.

Other requirement course REL 700 may be substituted with approval of the academic unit.

When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program may allow up to 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this program. If students do not have a previously awarded master's degree, the remaining coursework will be made up of electives and research.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Transcripts must show evidence of having completed the equivalent of 15 credit hours of undergraduate work in the study of religions, including advanced courses in both western and Asian or other nonwestern religions. Applicants who have not met this requirement may be required to take additional coursework beyond program requirements to remedy this deficiency.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. The most competitive applicants have a GPA of 3.50 or higher.

All applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• statement of purpose
• curriculum vitae
• writing sample
• contact information for three references
• proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

The statement of purpose should be approximately 1,000 words describing the applicant's academic background, the reasons for wishing to pursue a doctorate in religious studies, the proposed area of specialization, and specific research topics the student plans to engage in at Arizona State University.

The writing sample should be a work of original scholarly writing, approximately 15 to 30 pages in length. It should represent the student's best academic writing.

Students are required to submit contact information for three academic references who are qualified to provide detailed, accurate evaluations of the applicant's potential as a graduate student in religious studies. Professors, particularly faculty advisors, are preferred. Recommenders are contacted by the Graduate College with a request to complete a reference questionnaire. Letters of recommendation can be submitted in addition to answering these questions online.

Next Steps to attend ASU

Learn about our programs, apply to a program, visit our campus, application deadlines, learning outcomes.

• Students will analyze and present theories and methods in the study of religion through in-class discussion, oral presentation and submission of an original written seminar paper.
• Students will critically analyze religions by formulating research questions, examining various kinds of qualitative data, and drawing connections to relevant secondary literatures.
• Students will conduct original research through a doctoral study drawing connections to relevant secondary literature, collect and analyze primary data, communicate, and defend responses to research questions.

Career Opportunities

Graduates possess training and knowledge relevant to careers in a variety of different roles and in a range of employment sectors. Some typical employers include government agencies, especially the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; nongovernmental organizations; schools, colleges and universities; charities and nonprofit organizations; social services; and churches and other religious organizations.

Career examples include:

• book editor
• case management director
• church administrator
• foreign service employee
• global affairs writer
• nongovernmental organization professional
• nonprofit manager
• professional researcher and writer
• university instructor

Global Experience

With over 250 programs in more than 65 countries (ranging from one week to one year), study abroad is possible for all ASU students wishing to gain global skills and knowledge in preparation for a 21st-century career. Students earn ASU credit for completed courses, while staying on track for graduation, and may apply financial aid and scholarships toward program costs. https://mystudyabroad.asu.edu

Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.

• [email protected]
• 480/965-5778

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• Ph.D. Program in Religion

For students seeking their Ph.D. in Religion, the Graduate Program in Religion —part of the Duke Graduate School—offers a Ph.D. program. Although this program is not housed with the Department of Religious Studies, it is a collaboration between the Department and Duke Divinity School. The program includes the following 9 fields of study, also called tracks, in which students can concentrate their studies:

• American Religion
• Asian Religions
• Christian Theological Studies
• Early Christianity
• Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
• Islamic Studies
• New Testament
• Religion, Aesthetics, and Society
• World Christianity

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Truly Unconventional Wisdom

In 1968, our department was established to critically study religion at a time when it was standard to think about religion only as the study of theology and ethics in philosophy departments.

Application Process

Thank you for your interest Rice University's PhD program in Religion program.

Applications for fall 2024 are now closed. Applications will open in early September 2024 for fall 2025 admission.

For more information about graduate program qualifications, visit Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies .

Please pay particular attention to the application instructions, answers to frequent inquiries, and program eligibility and application requirements below.

Candidates will be notified of admissions decisions in early February; communications will be sent to the email address provided by the candidate on the application form.

Application Instructions:

• Applicants will upload unofficial transcripts and supporting documents to the online application system. Hard copies of official transcripts are not required to apply.
• If admitted, applicants will be required to send official transcripts to complete the admissions process.
• Once a completed application is submitted, the applicant will be able to pay the application fee and monitor the status of their application on the Application Status page.
• Application information and supporting documents cannot be edited after final submission. However, applicants are able to upload updated version of their CV and unofficial transcripts via the Application Status page.
• All application materials, including three letters of recommendation, must be received by the deadline to be considered for admission.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered for admission.

Frequent Inquiries:

• The PhD program in Religion is a full-time, funded program and does not offer online or distance courses.
• Applications are accepted annually for Fall matriculation only; there is no Spring matriculation.
• In general, applicants should have a minimum 3.0 (B) grade point average, or the equivalent, in their undergraduate work.
• The Department of Religion does NOT require a GRE score for applicants.

Program Eligibility

Candidates who hold a Bachelor's degree, or who will complete a Bachelor's degree by the start of the admission term, are eligible to apply. Applicants of all academic backgrounds are considered for the PhD program.

Application Requirements

The following materials must be submitted by the application deadline to be considered for admission:

APPLICATION FORM & FEE

The fall 2025 application form will open in early September 2024.

UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS Unofficial transcripts from previous colleges and universities. The department will review unofficial transcripts during the admissions process; official transcripts will be required after acceptance into the graduate program.

OFFICIAL TEST SCORES The Department of Religion does NOT require a GRE score to apply. ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY (International applicants only) TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores should be directly from ETS to Rice (School Code: 6609). Please see the following webpage for additional information regarding IELTS and waiver options: https://graduate.rice.edu/qualifications.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE A statement describing the applicant’s educational objectives and intended area of study. Additionally, the statement should discuss any scholarly research, writing, or similar research currently being pursued. Statements should be no longer than two or three pages, double-spaced.

WRITING SAMPLE A sample of the applicant's academic writing, preferably one that uses primary sources. The writing sample may be a paper you have submitted for class or an original essay written for the application. Writing samples should be seven to ten pages, double spaced.

RECOMMENDATION LETTERS Three letters of recommendation by individuals best qualified to testify to the applicant’s capacity for graduate work in religious studies are required. Academic references representing the applicant’s major field are preferred. If this is not possible, individuals who can comment on qualities relevant to the applicant’s academic goals and research will be accepted. Recommenders named in the application form will be sent an automated email requesting that they complete an online evaluation and upload the letter of recommendation. We advise applicants to make sure recommenders know to expect this email and to give them sufficient time to complete this task ahead of the application deadline.

Inquiries regarding the application process should be directed to Humanities Graduate Admissions: [email protected] .

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• PhD in Religious Studies

New applications for the PhD in Religious Studies are not being accepted at this time. Students interested in graduate study in this field may wish to consider the PhD program in Religion described here . Requirements for students currently enrolled in the PhD program are listed below.

The purpose of the PhD in Religious Studies program is to train scholars of religion who will distinguish themselves through research, teaching, and service to universities, colleges, seminaries, and the world at large. All students will choose an area of specialization within one of the program’s four tracks:

Track 1: Texts and Traditions Track 2: Religious Thought Track 3: Religion and Society Track 4: Religion and Science

The guidelines for each track are meant to ensure that students are well-prepared to produce high-quality academic work in their chosen areas of specialization while also remaining fully engaged in the broader trends in the study of religion most relevant to their work. Each track is guided by a group of faculty that includes, among others, members of the Religion Department, the School of Theology, and faculty from other schools and departments related to the focus of the track. For more information on each of these tracks and the requirements for the PhD in Religious Studies, see the Graduate Division of Religious Studies (GDRS) page .

Students entering the PhD program will have majored in religious studies (or a related discipline) or otherwise show transcript evidence of advanced coursework in a single religious tradition and introductory coursework in multiple religious traditions.

Learning Outcomes

• Produce an original and substantial contribution to knowledge in the field of religious studies, utilizing appropriate skills of research.
• Demonstrate a rich, generalized mastery of the field’s subject matter and the variety of methods employed by its practitioners.
• Obtain the necessary knowledge for future research and to teach broad introductory undergraduate courses in religious studies.
• Comport oneself according to the highest ethical standards of the academy, exhibiting collegiality and fairness in treatment of teachers, peers, students, and subjects of study.

Course Requirements

In addition to any prerequisites required upon admission, sixteen 4-credit courses (64 credits) are required as a minimum for the PhD. This includes at least two 4-credit courses in Approaches to Religious Studies:

• GRS RN 795 Humanities Approaches to Religion
• GRS RN 796 Social Science Approaches to Religion
• GRS RN 797 Philosophical and Theological Approaches to Religion
• GRS RN 798 Scientific Approaches to Religion

Course requirements by track:

Track 1: Texts and Traditions

Track 2: Religious Thought

• GRS RN 723 Core Texts and Motifs of World Religions: West
• GRS RN 724 Core Texts and Motifs of World Religions: East

Track 3: Religion and Society

• GRS RN 796 Social Scientific Approaches to Religion

Track 4: Religion and Science

• Two semesters of science literacy and scientific boundary questions

Additional courses may be required at the discretion of the advisor or track coordinator.

Language Requirements

All students pursuing a PhD degree in Religious Studies are required to demonstrate graduate-level reading proficiency in two modern foreign languages during the first two years of graduate study, one of which will usually be French or German. The second language, if not French or German, should be a modern foreign language clearly related to the dissertation research. Additional language competencies may be required, depending on a student’s research and track specialization. Language proficiency can be demonstrated either through a language examination or successful completion of a noncredit graduate-level foreign language reading course offered by Boston University.

Students in the Religion and Society track may be permitted, with the approval of their advisor, to substitute for the second modern foreign language demonstrated competence in a relevant research methodology (such as statistics, ethnographic fieldwork methods, or other forms of qualitative or quantitative research skills).

Students in the Religion and Science track will be required to substitute, for the second modern foreign language, an exam in a science skill (such as cognitive and neural modeling, ecological modeling, mathematics, computer programming, or statistics for empirical research), depending on the direction of research. For additional lab requirements pertaining to this track see the GDRS Track 4 page .

Qualifying Examinations

PhD candidates, after successful completion of all coursework and language requirements but before proceeding to the dissertation, are required to pass three to five separate qualifying examinations. At least one of these examinations should have an oral component. At least two of these examinations must have a written component. Exams should be completed within the third year of study (normally within one year after completing coursework).

Dissertation and Final Oral Examination

Candidates shall demonstrate their abilities for independent study in a dissertation representing original research or creative scholarship. A prospectus for the dissertation must be completed and approved by the readers, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Department Chair/Program Director. Candidates must undergo a final oral examination in which they defend their dissertation as a valuable contribution to knowledge in their fields and demonstrate a mastery of their fields of specialization in relation to their dissertation. All portions of the dissertation and final oral examination must be completed as outlined in the GRS General Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree , and the GDRS student handbook for program-specific advice and procedures.

If a student chooses not to continue in the PhD program and has otherwise fulfilled the course and language requirements for the MA degree , they may apply for the master’s degree. The required thesis or comprehensive examination for the degree will be determined by the student’s advisor, in consultation with related faculty, and with the approval of the Director of the GDRS.

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Ph.D. Requirements

American Religious History History and Ethnography of Religions Religion, Ethics, and Philosophy Religions of Western Antiquity

American Religious History

Coursework .

Hour Requirements:  at least 33 hours beyond the MA level (27 with MA thesis in Religion) and at least 24 hours of dissertation credit.

Students pursuing the Ph.D. degree are required to take 30 hours (10 courses) of graded course work beyond the Master's level and 24 dissertation hours for a total of 54 credit hours. As students focus their interests, they might be required to engage in further study beyond the 30 hours if their specialties require it. The completion of a Master's Thesis in Religion qualifies a student for a 3-hour reduction in the Ph.D. coursework requirement. The 30 hours of graded coursework should be distributed as follows:

• Required Courses:  RLG 5035 (Introduction to the Study of Religion); RLG 5030 (Religion in the Classroom)
• Seminars:  At least 15 hours of graduate seminar courses in American religious history; including a 6000-level course in the historiography of North American religions
• Secondary Area:  6 hours of additional courses in religion
• Exam preparation:  6 hours of reading preparation for comprehensive exams

Prior to sitting for the doctoral exams, a student must demonstrate reading competency in two research languages beyond English, ordinarily French and German. A student may substitute Spanish for one of those languages in cases where projected research requires it. Likewise, depending on the focus of the dissertation, a student may be required to acquire competency in additional languages, such as Creole and Native American languages, Latin and Greek, or Asian languages.

An intensive period of examination takes place at the completion of coursework for the Ph.D. and prior to writing a dissertation prospectus. Students write essays in response to questions in four areas and take an oral exam based on their essays. At least six months prior to sitting for exams, students must establish their comprehensive exam committee. The committee normally will consist of an ARH faculty advisor; two other ARH faculty members; and a fourth member from the department of religion or another FSU department to advise (as necessary) the secondary area. Students construct reading lists for each of their exams in consultation with their advisor and their three-member exam committee. Exams periods are at the end of fall semester and at the end of spring semester. The four exam areas are:

American Religious History:  This exam focuses primarily on the historiography of American religion. The exam covers the history of comprehensive scholarly narratives about American religious history as well as historical analyses of major topics and trends.

• Methods in American Religious History:  This exam involves explanation and analysis of several different methods useful in historical studies of American religion. Methods discussed in this exam might include, for example, ethnography, gender theory, spatial analysis,  and one more or more types of textual, sociological, or psychological analysis. This exam will also test critical use of historical sources.
• Secondary Area:  Ph.D. candidates are expected to show mastery of an area of study in religion  outside American religious history . This exam tests that mastery and is designed to help qualify students to teach at least one course in an area outside their specialization in American religious history. 
• Dissertation Area:  This exam focuses on the subfield within American religious history in which the student will write a dissertation.

Prospectus 

Upon satisfactory performance in the doctoral exams, a student will prepare, in consultation with an advisor, a dissertation prospectus. The prospectus must be delivered to the Graduate Studies Committee in the semester immediately following the doctoral examinations. The prospectus should include a thesis statement, an explanation of how the thesis will be developed and argued from one chapter to the next, and a discussion of the originality of the dissertation thesis with respect to existing scholarly literature. The prospectus should also include a working bibliography. The Committee may require that a candidate revise and resubmit the prospectus. Acceptance of the prospectus signifies the advancement of the student to "Ph.D. candidate" status.

Dissertation and Defense 

The dissertation is to be written under the guidance of the student's doctoral advisor. A committee of at least four faculty members, including three from the Religion Department and one from another department, will read the dissertation and set a time for the oral defense. The student will formally defend the dissertation before the committee and peers.

Continuation of Funding 

Departmental funding for a doctoral student will expire 24 months after the completion of the doctoral exams.

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History and Ethnography of Religions

Hour Requirements: at least 24 hours beyond the M.A. in Religion or relevant discipline and at least 24 hours of dissertation credit. 

In consultation with HER faculty, doctoral students will develop a program of course work and advanced research allowing both breadth and depth in the historical and anthropological study of religion, specializing in one of three individual areas of specialization: 

• Religions of Africa & the Caribbean (African Indigenous Religions; African Initiated Churches; Afro-Caribbean religions; Christianity, Islam, and Judaism; New religious movements)
• Religions of Asia ( Buddhism ; Hinduism; Shinto; Religious traditions of India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam) 
• Religions of Western Europe & the Mediterranean (medieval or early modern Christianity and Judaism; Islam)

Students pursuing the Ph.D. degree in one of these areas of specialization are required to take 24 credit hours (8 courses) of graded course work beyond the M.A. level (M.A. level is the equivalent of 33 credit hours of graduate course work) and 24 dissertation hours for a total of at least 48 credit hours. The 24 credit hours of graded course work should be distributed as follows:

• Primary area of specialization:  Four courses (12 credit hours)
• Secondary area of specialization:  Two courses (6 credit hours), which may be inside or outside the HER concentration 
• Theory and method:  Two courses (6 credit hours), which may be taken in another department, with prior approval. One must be RLG 5035 (Introduction to the Study of Religion)
• Dissertation research  (24 credit hours)

*For students beginning their Ph.D. program as of Fall 2022, RLG 5030 (Religion in the Classroom) is also required.

Doctoral candidates must meet the following minimum language requirements. Languages chosen must be relevant to the field of specialization and approved by the student's faculty committee.

• First research language, up through 4th year level or equivalent
• Second research language, if required for the area of specialization
• Reading knowledge of French, German, Italian, or Spanish, demonstrated by passing the reading knowledge exam (Another language may be substituted with approval).  

The languages necessary for advanced research in each field of specialization include the following:

• African & Caribbean Religions:  To be determined in consultation with advisor*
• Buddhism :  Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese
• Chinese Religions:  Chinese, Japanese
• Christianity  (medieval or early modern): Latin  
• Hinduism:  Sanskrit, Hindi
• Islam:  Arabic
• Tibetan Religions:  Tibetan, Chinese and/or Sanskrit

*Students specializing in Religions of Africa and the Caribbean will determine relevant languages for their research in close consultation with faculty. Language requirements for Africa will likely include a historically non-indigenous African language (like Afrikaans, Arabic, French, Portuguese, or Spanish) and an indigenous African language, and, for the Caribbean, a creole or Amerindian language and a European colonial or South Asian language. Students will want to learn where such languages are taught in the United States and Africa and whether or not FLAS grants would fund such study.

By the end of the semester preceding the completion of course work, a proposal for the content and schedule of the comprehensive exams is worked out between the student and the faculty committee. Comprehensive exams usually begin after all course requirements (including languages) are completed. Exams may be administered in a number of ways; determination of scheduling and format is a matter for student proposals, which then may be modified or approved by the faculty. It is required that all comprehensive exams be completed within one semester. Successful completion of comprehensive exams signifies the advancement of the student to "Ph.D. candidate" status. 

Exams will be completed in the following four areas:

• Primary religious tradition  (African and/or Afro-Caribbean religions; Buddhism; Hinduism; Islam; medieval or early modern Christianity; Shinto; Religious traditions of India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, or Vietnam)
• Secondary religious tradition  (African and/or Afro-Caribbean religions; Buddhism; Hinduism; Islam; medieval or early modern Christianity; Shinto; Religious traditions of India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, or Vietnam)
• Theory and methodology in the study of religion , including theory and method specific to student's dissertation research
• Comparative   theme, phenomenon, or issue in religious studies  (e.g., asceticism, pilgrimage, sacrifice, nationalism, gender, iconography, a philosophical concept, etc. to be chosen in consultation with the committee) 

Upon satisfactory performance in the doctoral exams, a student will prepare, in consultation with an advisor, a detailed dissertation prospectus. The prospectus must be delivered to the Graduate Studies Committee in the semester immediately following the completion of doctoral examinations. In the case of students applying for dissertation fellowships with early deadlines, it may be submitted earlier. The prospectus should include a thesis statement, an explanation of how the thesis will be developed and argued from one chapter to the next, and a discussion of the originality of the dissertation thesis with respect to existing scholarly literature. The prospectus should also include a working bibliography. The Committee may require that a candidate revise and resubmit the prospectus. 

Dissertation and Defense

Dissertation in area of primary tradition. Extended ethnographic and archival study abroad in a country relevant to the candidate's dissertation research is required as a part of the dissertation preparation.

Continuation of Funding

Religion, ethics, and philosophy.

Hour Requirements:  at least 24 hours beyond the MA in Religion and at least 24 hours of dissertation credit.

Students who obtain the Ph.D. in Religion with concentration in religion, ethics, and philosophy will normally complete 24 hours (8 courses) beyond the M.A. The goal of competence is primary, however, and individual students may be advised to take additional hours to ensure adequate preparation. The precise program of courses will be determined in consultation with area faculty. Doctoral students must take, either at the MA or PhD level, RLG 5035 (Introduction to the Study of Religion) and, for students beginning their programs as of Fall 2022, RLG 5030 (Religion in the Classroom).

Students will also satisfy language requirements, as follows: reading competence in two languages of research (usually French and German), as shown either by successful completion on a test administered by the FSU Department of Modern Languages, or by prior work (with cases to be determined by area faculty); competence as necessary for the student's area of research (for example, students engaged in comparative analyses of Islamic, Buddhist, or Hindu materials will be expected to show an acceptable level of competence in primary source languages.) Please note: It is expected that students entering the Ph.D. program will show competence in at least one language of research prior to beginning coursework.

Following completion of coursework and language requirements, students may be approved for a set of comprehensive exams. These examinations are for the purpose of demonstrating competence for teaching and research in areas related to the goals of the religion, ethics, and philosophy program. In consultation with area faculty, individual students design a proposal for these exams, which typically will include an exam focused on theory and method in the study of religion; an exam focused on modern and historic expressions of religious thought in Christianity or Judaism; and two special areas of particular relevance to a student's interests. We strongly urge students to take up a second religious tradition as one of the special areas. Exams may be administered in a number of ways; determination of scheduling and format is a matter for student proposals, which then may be modified or approved by the faculty.

Following successful completion of examinations, students work with faculty on a dissertation, understood to be an original contribution to scholarship.

Religions of Western Antiquity

Hour Requirements:   at least 24 hours beyond the MA level and at least 24 hours of dissertation credit.

Prerequisites

Reading knowledge of two of the following languages: Greek, Hebrew, Latin, French, or German. One of these must be Greek or Hebrew at the intermediate level.

M.A. with a significant concentration in Western Antiquity.

Concentrations

Upon entering the program, students must choose one of three concentrations: (I) Ancient Judaism (Exile through Late Antiquity); (2) Ancient Christianity (First through Fifth Centuries); (3) Ancient Judaism and Christianity. Changing the student's concentration will require the approval of the RWA faculty.

Requirements that must be met during the PhD program

At least eight graduate courses must be taken during the doctoral program (not including beginning language work, professional development, supervised teaching, etc.). Four of these must be seminars in Ancient Judaism or Christianity, with at least one seminar in each tradition. In addition to these seminars, students will take two additional courses in the area of their concentration. Area 3 concentrators will take at least two seminars in each tradition.

Requirements that may be met during an MA Program.

• RLG 5035: Introduction to the Study of Religion
• RLG 5030: Religion in the Classroom
• Hebrew Bible Proseminar
• New Testament Proseminar
• Christianity in Antiquity I and II (or equivalent at another institution)
• Two advanced surveys dealing with Judaism in the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
• Graeco-Roman World: Two graduate-level courses dealing with the Graeco-Roman World that do not focus on Judaism or Christianity. 
• Outside Field: Two graduate level courses in religion (or a field related to religion) that do not deal primarily with the ancient world.
• French and German (third-semester course or university exams)
• Classical Greek and Hebrew (third-semester course level of one and fourth-semester course level of the other). 
• Aramaic/Syriac (one semester)
• Concentrators in Ancient Judaism must have an additional semester of Aramaic/Syriac. Concentrators in Ancient Christianity must have two-semesters of Latin. Concentrators in area 3 (Judaism and Christianity) must have either an additional semester of Aramaic/Syriac or two semesters of Latin.
• Ancient language and at least one of the modern language requirements must be met before students can begin exams. All requirements must be met before student is admitted to candidacy (ABD).

Normally exams will be taken during the 3rd year of the PhD program within six months of the completion of course work. 

Students will sit for the following four exams, which may be taken in any order:

• Greek or Hebrew Language : The exam will be based on a text the student has prepared in advance and must be approved by the RWA faculty. It should not be a text that has been read as part of a Greek or Hebrew course. The Hebrew Exam will be based on approximately 30 BHS pages of a prose text or 20 BHS pages of a poetic text. The Greek Exam will be based on a text of approximately 25 pages (c. 5000 words) from Philo, Josephus, Lucian, Plutarch, Justin, or Eusebius.
• Graeco-Roman World : Based on a reading list of primary and secondary texts dealing with the history, philosophy, literature and religion of the Graeco-Roman world. 
• Christianity in Late Antiquity (through the mid fifth century): Based on a Reading List of primary and secondary texts. More extensive knowledge of the ancient evidence and modern scholarship will be expected for three special areas.
• Judaism from the Babylonian Exile through Late Antiquity : Based on a Reading List of primary and secondary texts. 

The language exam will consist of a written translation exam. The Graeco-Roman World, Christianity, and Judaism Exams will each consist of a written and oral component, the latter to be scheduled within two weeks of the corresponding written exam. For each of these three exams, in addition to gaining familiarity with the general content and key issues of all the primary and secondary literature on the reading lists, students will choose: (1) two themes or issues that will require analysis of a broad range of material from the reading list and (2) a special area that will require more extensive knowledge of the ancient evidence and modern scholarship for the subject.

Soon after a Ph.D. student passes their comprehensive exams, they will, with input from their advisor, form their dissertation committee. The committee will have at least four members and will include at least three RWA faculty members as well as the required University Representative. This person must be a faculty member with tenure at FSU in a department other than Religion. As far as possible, the outside committee member should be familiar with the area and/or methods relating to the dissertation.

Upon satisfactory performance in the doctoral exams, a student will prepare, in consultation with an advisor, a dissertation prospectus. The prospectus should include the following items:

• A description of the subject of the dissertation.
• Research questions driving the project
• The proposed project's original contribution to scholarship.
• A breakdown and description of each chapter of the dissertation
• A bibliography

The prospectus should be 15-20 pages, plus bibliography. Once the student, in consultation with their advisor, has worked out an acceptable prospectus, they will send it to their entire committee for review. The committee may require that a candidate revise and resubmit the prospectus. Once the committee accepts the prospectus, the student advances to "Ph.D. candidate" status. It is not required but the student and/or their advisor may want to have the prospectus workshopped in a RWA Colloquium meeting.

Upon entering the program, each student will be assigned an advisor from the RWA faculty. At the beginning of each semester, students will discuss possible courses with their advisor and will then submit a list of proposed courses to the RWA faculty for approval. Although students will have one advisor for administrative purposes, they are encouraged to discuss their interests and plans with all members of the RWA faculty.

Progress Review 

There will be a meeting of the RWA faculty and each student toward the end of the Spring Semester, during which the student's progress toward his/her degree will be reviewed. 

Departmental funding for a doctoral student will expire 24 months after the completion of the doctoral exams. 

Department of Religion 641 University Way / P.O. Box 3061520 The Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 32306-1520 TEL: (850) 644-1020 l FAX: (850) 644-7225 For webpage updates and changes: [email protected]

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PhD in Religion

Students must complete a minimum of three full years of residential study beyond the bachelor’s degree (or two years beyond the M.A., or its equivalent, if earned elsewhere than UGA), exceptions to this rule being permitted only with the approval of the Department and Graduate School. This can be gained either by

• 60 hours of graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree (in the case where one has not previously earned a master’s degree at UGA), which can be completed either in two 30 hour blocks of consecutive work or 60 hours of consecutive work; or by
• 30 hours of consecutive graduate-level coursework beyond the master’s degree (in the case where a master’s degree has previously been earned at UGA)

Also required for the PhD are Research Skills:

Two modern secondary research languages plus any other primary languages deemed necessary and appropriate and approved by the student’s major professor. The modern, secondary research languages must be other than English, languages in which contemporary scholars present and publish their research and discuss and critique other scholars’ research. Primary languages are those in which the principal texts of one’s research are written or spoken. 

This assessment shall be taken prior to the Ph.D. comprehensive examinations; no dissertation proposal will receive final approval until all language requirements have been met.

Our programs allow students latitude in pursuing their interests, but are designed to emphasize the Department’s areas of concentration:

• American Studies (American Religion, African American Religion, Native American Religion, Southern Religion)
• Asian Studies (Literature, History, Thought in Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Jainism, Sikhism, and/or Shinto)
• African and African Diaspora Studies
• Biblical Studies (Hebrew Bible, New Testament, Biblical World)
• Christian Studies (Bible & Christian Literature, History, Thought)
• Islamic Studies (Quran & Islamic Literature, History, Thought and Sufism)
• Jewish Studies (Hebrew Bible & Jewish Literature, History, Thought)

Why Study Religion at UGA?

• A diverse department that covers a wide range of traditions
• Significant flexibility with respect to research specializations
• Excellent mentorship in research and professional development
• Interdisciplinary opportunities
• Robust intellectual life in a vibrant graduate community
• Athens is affordable and one of the best college towns in the US

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Ph.D. Degree Requirements

Graduate programs.

• Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
• New Testament
• History of the Christian Tradition
• Religion and Culture
• Religious Ethics
• Systematic Theology

Requirements :

Satisfactory completion of 48 credit hours of approved coursework, including the four courses of the core seminar in Religious Studies: RELI 6301 The Philosophical Study of Religion; RELI 6302 Approaches to Asian Religion; RELI 6303 History, Theory and Method in Religious Studies; and RELI 6304 Contemporary Approaches to the Study of Religion.

Demonstrating, by examination, a reading competence in two approved languages, other than English, relevant to the field of study. For students in the two fields of biblical studies, four languages are required. Examinations must be passed in both Hebrew and Greek as well as in two additional languages.

Passing four comprehensive field examinations on the subjects designated for examination in the student's field, each consisting of a six-hour written examination based on the bibliography agreed upon with the examiner and the second reader.

Securing the steering committee's approval of a dissertation proposal endorsed by the student's adviser, two other members of the Graduate Program in Religious Studies faculty and one reader from outside the Graduate Program in Religious Studies faculty.

• Satisfactorily meeting the practice teaching requirement.
• Satisfactorily completing the doctoral dissertation.
• Passing an oral examination covering the student's entire course of study as well as the dissertation.

Degree Timeline - GPRS - Ph.D.

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PhD in Christian Leadership – Educational Ministries Educate and Lead Fellow Christians

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100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Pursue a Program Designed to Empower and Inspire Tomorrow’s Christian Educators

Do you wish to lead educational programs in local churches or parachurch ministries? Are you interested in furthering your understanding of the theological foundations for Christian educational ministries? If so, this program may be right for you!

Liberty University’s online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Christian Leadership with a concentration in educational ministries is designed to equip leaders with advanced academic training, focusing on both leadership and the specific challenges and opportunities in educational ministries. This rigorous program is tailored for professionals who aim to influence Christian education through enhanced leadership and teaching capabilities.

The PhD program stresses the importance of leadership and education from a theoretical standpoint and encourages practical application. It aims to equip you with knowledge and help you become a practitioner who can apply what you’ve learned in real-world settings. The integration of leadership theories with the practice of educational ministries allows you to develop innovative solutions to contemporary challenges in Christian education.

Liberty University’s program is also deeply committed to fostering a research-oriented approach in its students. As part of your PhD studies, you will engage in original research that contributes to the body of knowledge in Christian leadership and educational ministries. This research component is designed to refine your analytical and critical thinking skills, preparing you to contribute scholarly work that can influence educational practices and policies within Christian organizations.

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• Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
• Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Why Choose Liberty’s Doctorate in Christian Leadership Degree?

Liberty University stands out as a premier institution for those seeking to merge their faith with their educational and professional aspirations. The online PhD in Christian Leadership with a concentration in educational ministries allows you to engage with a community of like-minded professionals and scholars in a flexible online format. Liberty’s commitment to providing a high-quality, accessible education rooted in Christian values ensures that you can pursue your academic and spiritual growth simultaneously, regardless of your geographical location.

Liberty University supports its online students extensively, ensuring you have access to the same high-quality resources as on-campus students. This includes access to digital library resources, online journals, and professional networking opportunities through Liberty’s extensive alumni network. Additionally, you can interact with faculty who are leaders in their fields, bringing firsthand experience and cutting-edge knowledge directly into the classroom.

Another compelling reason to choose Liberty is its global perspective. The university attracts students from around the world, providing a diverse online learning environment that enriches discussion and broadens perspectives on Christian leadership. This global network not only enhances learning but also provides invaluable connections that span continents, aiding graduates in their future endeavors, whether in academia, church leadership, or beyond.

What Will You Study in Our Educational Ministries Doctoral Degree?

The coursework for the PhD in Christian Leadership – Educational Ministries at Liberty University covers a broad range of topics essential for Christian leadership and educational roles. The program begins with a deep dive into biblical and theological foundations of leadership, establishing a solid scriptural base for all subsequent learning and practice. You will also explore biblical and theological foundations of education, which are crucial for anyone involved in Christian educational settings.

Further into the program, you will engage with complex concepts in theological anthropology in leadership and education, providing insights into the human condition from a Christian perspective and its implications for education and leadership. Our course on character and ethics in leadership and education emphasizes the moral and ethical responsibilities of leaders.

On the practical side of leadership, the program offers courses in Leadership and Management Theory, Organizational Theory and Development, and Group and Team Dynamics. These courses are designed to enhance your skills in managing and motivating teams, as well as organizing and leading effective educational institutions.

Additionally, courses like Teaching and Learning: Theory and Practice in Leadership, Theological Foundations for Christian Educational Ministries, History and Philosophy of Christian Education, and Teaching Across the Lifespan offer specialized knowledge and skills tailored for educators in Christian contexts. These courses are designed to help prepare you to design, implement, and evaluate educational programs that are both academically sound and spiritually enriching.

Potential Career Opportunities

• Academic teaching and leadership
• Faith-based organizational leadership
• Ministry or missions leadership

Featured Courses

• CLED 700 – Biblical and Theological Foundations of Leadership
• CLED 720 – Biblical and Theological Foundations of Education
• EDMN 525 – Theological Foundations for Christian Educational Ministries*
• EDMN 530 – History and Philosophy of Christian Education

*Course guide coming soon

Degree Information

• This PhD degree program falls under the  John W. Rawlings School of Divinity .
• View the  Graduate Divinity Course Guides   (login required) .
• Contribute to the body of knowledge in your field through this program’s integrated dissertation process. 

Degree Completion Plan (DCP) ( coming soon )

Not sure what to choose?

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

• Tuition & Aid

Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.

Electronic textbooks are provided for many divinity courses* all for one convenient fee. To continue our mission of providing affordable education, this fee is waived for students who enroll by Summer 2024 D-term.

*Electronic textbooks are not provided for courses that fall under departments outside the School of Divinity.

* Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $300/credit hour ( l earn more ) .

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Admission Information for the PhD in Christian Leadership

Admission requirements.

• A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required) .
• Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Previous education should show at least 15 hours of graduate-level Bible, Theology, or Leadership courses.
• Submit the School of Divinity Questionnaire ( login required ).
• Writing Sample – Submit 10 pages from prior academic coursework.
• Departmental approval is required.
• Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy .

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

• Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
• Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
• Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
• Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.

Transcript Policies

Official college transcript policy.

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to [email protected] .

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U.S. Colleges With Religious Affiliations: What Students Should Know

Religiously affiliated colleges welcome students of all faiths and beliefs.

Colleges With Religious Affiliations

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Some colleges are religious only in their origins, but others have integrated their faith into all parts of campus life.

Key Takeaways

• A significant number of U.S. colleges have a religious affiliation.
• You don't have to be religious to attend a religiously affiliated college.
• Some schools have religious course or event attendance requirements.

When researching colleges and universities , students often have religiously affiliated schools on their list. Knowing what to expect or how a particular school may affect a student’s academic and college life is important to understand early in the selection process.

There were 3,893 degree-granting institutions of higher education in the U.S. in fall 2021, and 849 were religiously affiliated, according to the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Some of these institutions include the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, which is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross; Baylor University in Texas, a Baptist university; Emory University in Georgia, founded by Methodists; Yeshiva University in New York, a Jewish university; and Wilberforce University in Ohio, which is affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Colleges founded by religious groups "have opened their doors to diversity,” says Mary Banks, director of admissions consulting at Quad Education Group.

Attending a religiously affiliated college can be an attractive option. While some students may be drawn because a school matches with their faith, others may be seeking a supportive atmosphere or opportunities for spiritual growth and exploration that can make this type of college a natural choice, experts say.

“When students seek to maintain and replicate their family values, a religious university provides a safe space,” Banks says.

Some colleges are religious only in their origins, but others have integrated their faith into all parts of campus life . Here are some things students should know about religiously affiliated colleges and universities.

Everyone Is Welcomed

Most religiously affiliated universities do not require students to be of the same faith or any faith at all to attend.

“While these schools may ask and consider a student's faith in the admissions process , they still value the same diverse student body, academic freedom and supportive campus community that all top schools do,” says Jayson Weingarten, senior admissions consultant for Ivy Coach.

One of the biggest misconceptions about a university with a religious affiliation is that “everyone there shares that faith and those who do not will quickly be inculcated in that faith. That's simply not the case,” Weingarten says.

Among religiously affiliated colleges and universities across the U.S., there are about 230 Catholic colleges and universities, says Donna M. Carroll, executive director of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities. She says a common misperception of Catholic institutions is that they enroll only Catholic students, but the reality is “only about half of all students attending Catholic colleges and universities self-identify as Catholic.”

Carroll says students of other faith traditions are often drawn to Catholic schools “because they feel that the Catholic campus culture will be more respective and supportive of their faith life than a secular institution.”

Religious Involvement Varies by Campus

Religiously affiliated colleges are not all the same and have different levels of religious involvement on campus.

“An ill-informed applicant might think a Jesuit school would require him or her to attend religious instruction or perhaps mass on Sunday. This is no longer part of the Catholic university experience, nor is it required at most religiously affiliated programs,” Banks says.

At religiously affiliated institutions like Boston University in Massachusetts and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., the student experience is largely unaffected.

“Many of these schools do have a theology requirement, but these schools offer many nonreligious general philosophy or ethics courses to fulfill that expectation,” Weingarten says.

However, at some colleges, students may be required to take a religion class or attend some sort of regular convocation or event during their studies.

For example, Brigham Young University in Utah is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and requires students to follow a strict code of conduct and, for degree-seekers, to take religion courses as part of the general curriculum. Baylor requires all undergraduate students to take two separate semesters of chapel to graduate.

Diversity of Opinion Is Celebrated 

Religiously affiliated universities often feature smaller class sizes and campuses and lower student-to-faculty ratios, which aid in nurturing diversity of thought, experts say.

“Living in a pluralistic society means appreciating and respecting other ideas with room for respectful disagreement,” says Amanda Staggenborg, chief communications officer for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

For example, the University of San Diego in California, a Catholic university, offers courses such as Islamic Thought and Culture, LGBTQ+ and Christianity, The Hindu Tradition, The Prophetic Tradition of Israel, Indigenous Religions and Spiritualities, and The Problem of God.

“There is sometimes a misperception that Catholic colleges and universities take a narrow view when, at most institutions, the reverse is true. The search for truth requires input from diverse experiences and perspectives,” Carroll says.

Some religiously affiliated universities also have chaplains and related staff representing multiple faiths. Tufts University in Massachusetts, for instance, lists eight chaplains on its website from numerous faith traditions.

“Many of the larger Catholic institutions do, in fact, have religiously diverse ministry teams, and large and small have active interfaith efforts,” Carroll says.

Whether a university is religiously affiliated or not, Weingarten says, students “will always be drawn to our nation’s most highly selective universities,” mainly for their academic programs, campus culture and community, and sports teams . That includes many religiously affiliated universities.

Banks encourages prospective students to talk to administrators and current students on the campuses they are considering.

“The welcome mat is out,” Banks says. “Do your research and include these universities in your school lists whether you’re seeking to remain in your comfort zone or are seeking a challenging environment that is culturally different.”

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Program Description

The Global Religions and Cultures major empowers students to analyze diverse worldviews, traditions and value systems. In a world that is increasingly pluralistic, ideologically driven and globally connected, skills in cross-cultural understanding and the interpretation of complex data are more important than ever. Students of many different religious identities, and none, thrive in our courses.

Our students apply the Global Religions and Cultures major to a wide variety of career fields, including business, law, education, health, intelligence analysis, non-profit leadership and more. Employers highly value the practical skills that our students cultivate in analytical writing, articulating nuanced and evidence-based arguments, and engaging with perspectives that are different from their own. The capstone seminar rigorously trains students in research methods, critical thinking, presentation and communication skills, digital information literacy, and ethics. Our students excel in graduate school.

The Global Religions and Cultures major requires 33 credit hours, including three core courses and one capstone seminar. Students majoring in Global Religions and Cultures have the opportunity to create their own custom concentrations, if they choose, by completing four or more courses in a focused area of study. For example, students might choose to concentrate in Christian Studies, Indian Religions, Religion in Africa, Religion and Society, Spirituality and Health, Pre-professional Studies, or another concentration they create with support from their faculty advisor.

Because the academic study of religion is interdisciplinary, students may apply up to six credit hours of coursework from other departments toward the major if the courses include a substantial focus on religion, with approval from the faculty advisor. Our students often double major in Global Religions and Cultures as well as another field such as  communication studies   , health sciences   , intelligence analysis    or public policy   . Students may add the major in Global Religions and Cultures at any time during their undergraduate career.

Degree and Major Requirements

1  The  General Education    program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. Some requirements may be fulfilled by courses within the major, such as PHIL 101 Introduction to Philosophy    and REL 101 Religions of the World   . 2  The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student’s chosen language (typically 232) or by placing out of that language through the  Department of Foreign Language’s placement test .

3   PHIL 101 Introduction to Philosophy    may fulfill this requirement, if not being used for General Education    credit.

Core Requirements: 6 Credit Hours

• PHIL 101. Introduction to Philosophy [C2HQC] Credits: 3.00
• REL 101. Religions of the World [C2HQC] Credits: 3.00

Major Core Requirements: 3 Credit Hours

In addition to the degree core requirements of PHIL 101    and REL 101   , students majoring in Global Religions and Cultures must also complete:

• REL 200. Exploring Religion Credits: 3.00

Capstone Requirement: 3 Credit Hours

Students majoring in Global Religions and Cultures must complete one of the following capstone courses. Typically, one capstone is offered per semester. Most students take their capstone course in their junior or senior years.

Choose one of the following capstone courses:

• REL 410. Dharma/Adharma: Hindu Ethical Reasoning Credits: 3.00
• REL 440. Topics in Religion in America Credits: 3.00
• REL 450. Religion and Society Credits: 3.00
• REL 460. Topics in Ancient Jewish and Early Christian Literature Credits: 3.00
• REL 488. Buddhism in the Modern World Credits: 3.00

Elective Requirements: 21 Credit Hours

Students choose additional Religion (REL-prefix) courses in order to reach 33 total credit hours for the Global Religions and Cultures major. Up to six credit hours of elective requirements may be fulfilled by courses from other disciplines (non-REL-prefix courses) if the courses include a substantial focus on religion, with approval from the faculty advisor.

Major Requirements Total: 33 Credit Hours

Custom concentrations.

Students majoring in Global Religions and Cultures have the opportunity to create their own custom concentrations, if they choose, by completing four or more courses (12 credit hours minimum) in a focused area of study. For example, students might choose to concentrate in Christian Studies, Indian Religions, Religion in Africa, Religion and Society, Spirituality and Health, Pre-professional Studies, or others that they create. Students may create any concentration name they choose. Faculty advisors support students in designing custom concentrations based on their interests.

We encourage every student, whether or not they declare a concentration, to develop breadth of expertise by studying at least two different religious traditions or cultural regions over the course of their Global Religions and Cultures major.

Recommended Schedule for Majors

The following outline is a sample four-year program. The actual courses and sequence a student takes may vary. Students may declare a major in Global Religions and Cultures at any point in their careers.

One additional Religion course  Credits:   3.00

• General Education    courses 1   Credits:   12.00-15.00

B.A. requirements/university electives  Credits :  9.00-12.00

First Year Total: 30 Credit Hours

Second year.

• Two additional Religion courses  Credits:   6.00
• General Education    courses  Credits:   12.00-15.00

B.A. degree requirements / university electives  Credits: 6.00-9.00

Second Year Total: 30 Credit Hours

• B.A. degree requirements / university electives  Credits:   6.00-9.00

Third Year Total: 30 Credit Hours

Fourth year.

• Religion capstone course  Credits:   3.00
• B.A. degree requirements / university electives  Credits:   21.00

Fourth Year Total: 30 Credit Hours

Program total: 120 credit hours.

Affiliation: School of Arts and Humanities

Majors in philosophy and religion acquire an engaged knowledge of both classics in philosophy and religion and current works and problems. Students employ diverse methods and perspectives of religious studies and philosophy. They learn to write clearly and persuasively, to speak and listen in ways that promote understanding and discourse, and to read carefully and productively, balancing openness and critical reflection. The knowledge and skills that students develop enable a richer understanding and engagement with the surrounding world and foster clarification of the individual’s worldview. 

The goals of philosophy and religion courses include: 1) broad, foundational understanding of the history and practices of philosophies and religions, 2) engaged familiarity with methodological questions in philosophy and religious studies, 3) knowledgeable appreciation of other disciplines and of philosophical issues and questions of religion that relate to other disciplines, 4) critical and empathetic textual acuity, 5) critical thinking and argumentation skills, 6) effective written and oral communication, 7) intellectual independence, 8) the capacity for open-mindedness and ethical sensitivity. A major in philosophy and religion directly supports and expands the liberal arts experience.

The Philosophy and Religion major consists of five required courses and at least five approved electives in philosophy and religion. The first four required courses in history and problems of philosophy and religion establish a common domain of discourse. These courses provide a foundation in the diversity of religious thought and experience and in the history, development, and major problems of philosophical thought. The fifth required course, the senior seminar, provides integration. In the senior seminar, each student prepares and defends a substantial thesis, supported by the collaborative efforts of faculty and other students in the seminar.

PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION COMMUNICATION

All Philosophy and Religion majors will also develop their communication skills as speakers and as writers. Many Philosophy and Religion major elective and required courses are writing-enhanced, with some emphasis on speaking experiences. Students will produce assignments or term/research papers, participate in class discussion, and make oral presentations in various courses. The Senior Capstone Seminar is the culmination of the “writing about research” experience in which students are required to produce independent research work and make a public oral presentation and defense aimed at specialist and non-specialist audiences.

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS IN PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION

Primary consideration is given to:

• Performance in courses within the major.
• The quality of the senior thesis.
• Evidence of the student’s commitment to scholarly values.

Consideration is also given to:

• Performance in courses outside the major.
• Contributions to the intellectual life of the campus.
• Public scholarly activity.
• Other independent scholarship.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:

Dialogues requirements: 42-61 credits, missouri statute: 0-4 credits, bachelor of science requirements: 6 credits.

• Computer Science (CS 100 and 495 excluded)
• Mathematics (Math 101 and 240 excluded)
• Chemistry (CHEM 129, 145, 245, 345, 445 and 201 excluded)
• Physics (PHYS 345 excluded)
• Statistics (STAT 101 excluded)
• Economics (ECON 210, 471, 472, 486, 520 and 554 excluded)
• Political Science: POL 300, 315, or 373
• Psychology: PSYC courses numbered 266:466 (PSYC 429 excluded)
• Sociology/Anthropology: SOAN 200 level courses, SOAN 380, 381, 450, 451, or 452
• Environmental Studies (ENVS 331 and 332 excluded)
• NASC 501 - Philosophy of Science   ​ 
• If  PHRE 187 - Logic    or  PHRE 342 - Symbolic Logic    are not taken to satisfy other Philosophy and Religion major requirements, three out of the six required credit hours for the BS requirement must be from Computer Science, Mathematics, or Statistics.
• Courses used to satisfy the Bachelor of Science requirement may not be used to satisfy the Dialogues requirements.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS:

The Philosophy and Religion major consists of two (2) parts: Required Support and Major Requirements: Each student must complete both parts.

Part I: Required Support: 15 Credits

Fifteen credits from one other area as approved by advisor (3 credits of internship may be applied toward required support, with up to 12 more credits applied to free electives): 15

Part II: Major Requirements: 30 Credits

• PHRE 475 - Senior Capstone Seminar in Philosophy and Religion Credit(s): 3
• Electives in philosophy and religion to include at most one 100-level PHRE course: 9 credits

Choose one of the following 100/200-level philosophy courses:

• PHRE 186 - Introduction to Philosophy Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 187 - Logic Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 188 - Ethics Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 189 - Philosophy and Literature Credit(s): 3

Choose one of the following 100/200-level religious studies courses:

• PHRE 185 - Exploring Religions Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 210 - Introduction to the Bible Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 274 - Faith and Reason in Christian Thought Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 285 - Cults and Sects Credit(s): 3

Choose two of the following 300-level philosophy courses:

• PHRE 333 - Feminist Ethics Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 336 - Classical Greek Philosophy Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 337 - Early Modern Philosophy Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 342 - Symbolic Logic Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 355 - Truth and Dialog Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 356 - Philosophy of Action Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 370 - Epistemology Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 385 - Philosophy and Public Affairs Credit(s): 3

Choose two of the following 300-level religious studies courses:

• PHRE 301 - Christianity Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 303 - Judaism Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 304 - Religion and American Culture Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 305 - Shamanism Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 316 - Religions of China and Japan Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 344 - Psychology and Religion Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 360 - African American Religions Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 361 - Gender and Religion in America Credit(s): 3
• PHRE 387 - Religion and Science Credit(s): 3

Electives to Total: 120 Credits

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Exchange Programs

• Opportunities for Non-U.S. Citizens
• Opportunities for U.S. Citizens