Religious Studies (MA)

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  Degree Requirements - Master of Arts with a major in Religious Studies (30 credits)

  The Master of Arts with a major in Religious Studies requires successful completion of 30 credit hours of coursework at the 5000 level. Each student is required to take RELS 5000 Study of Religion usually within the first nine credit hours of the program coursework.

  Students may choose between a thesis option and a non-thesis option for degree candidacy.

  The foundational degree requirements are:

  • RELS 5000 Study of Religion (3 credits)
  • One course from each of the concentration areas:
    • Social justice (3 credits)
    • Intercultural studies (3 credits)
    • Comparative theology (3 credits)
  • An area of concentration (9 additional credits from one concentration area).
    Officially declare your concentration by completing a program change form with your advisor.

  Thesis option candidates must also complete:

  • One additional course in an area of concentration (3 credits)
  • RELS 5990 Master's Thesis (6 credits)

  Non-Thesis candidates must also complete:

  • Three additional courses in each concentration area (social justice, intercultural studies or comparative theology, 9 credits)
  • Three qualifying exams (one from each concentration area)

  Students must choose the thesis option or the non-thesis option by the end of their first 12 credit hours of coursework.

  Students must successfully complete three comprehensive exams with a grade of “pass” (one from each area listed above) after they have finished coursework.

  The Master of Arts with a major in Religious Studies program does not include a formal foreign language requirement. All degree requirements are to be completed within five years after the student begins coursework in the program. The dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Education may, for a sufficient reason, allow an exception to this rule.

  Required

  • RELS 5000 Study of Religion (3 credits)

  Concentration Areas

  Social Justice

  • RELS 5063 Gender in Asian Religions (3 credits)
  • RELS 5132 Religions and Global Wellbeing (3 credits)
  • RELS 5240 Feminist Biblical Interpretation (3 credits)
  • RELS 5400 Social Ethics (3 credits)
  • RELS 5401 Christian Ethics (3 credits)
  • RELS 5430 Ethics and Economic Theories (3 credits)
  • RELS 5440 Gender and Religion (3 credits)
  • RELS 5470 Christian Social Thought (3 credits)
  • RELS 5480 Justice: Contemporary Issues and Theories (3 credits)
  • RELS 5490 American Religious Social Thoughts (3 credits)

  Intercultural Studies

  • RELS 5050 Islam (3 credits)
  • RELS 5060 Buddhism (3 credits)
  • RELS 5061 Asian Religions (3 credits)
  • RELS 5063 Gender in Asian Traditions (3 credits)
  • RELS 5070 Judaism (3 credits)
  • RELS 5130 Interreligious Dialogue (3 credits)
  • RELS 5132 Religions and Global Wellbeing (3 credits)
  • RELS 5440 Gender and Religion (3 credits)

  Comparative Theology

  • RELS 5060 Buddhism (3 credits)
  • RELS 5063 Gender in Asian Traditions (3 credits)
  • RELS 5130 Interreligious Dialogue (3 credits)
  • RELS 5131 Christianity and World Religions (3 credits)
  • RELS 5132 Religions and Global Wellbeing (3 credits)
  • RELS 5205 The Torah (3 credits)
  • RELS 5235 The Four Gospels (3 credits)
  • RELS 5305 Introduction to Theology (3 credits)
  • RELS 5370 Black Liberation Theology (3 credits)
  • RELS 5440 Gender and Religion (3 credits)
  • RELS 5225 Prophets, Wisdom, and Apocalyptic (3 credits)
  • RELS 5319 Classical and Contemporary Catholicism (3 credits)
  • RELS 5320 Modern Christian Theologians (3 credits)
  • RELS 5340 Theology of Death and Resurrection (3 credits)
  • RELS 5500 Religion and Psychology (3 credits)
  • RELS 5550 Poets, Mystics, and God (3 credits)
  • RELS 5570 Spiritual Autobiographies (3 credits)
  • RELS 5580 Theology of the Imagination (3 credits)
  • RELS 5590 Violence Nonviolence and Religion (3 credits)
  • RELS 5610 Modern Roman Catholic Theology (3 credits)
  • RELS 5620 Religion and Film (3 credits)
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  Admission Requirements

  Applicants to the Master of Arts with a major in Religious Studies program usually must have completed 30 hours of undergraduate work in religious studies, philosophy or related humanities with a grade of B or above and meet the requirement of an overall 3.0 undergraduate grade point average. Also, each applicant must submit an admissions essay in which he/she discuss his/her individual background preparation for this program and goals in choosing to pursue the Master of Arts with a major in Religious Studies. Finally, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation, one that addresses academic abilities and one that addresses personal qualities.

  Applicants lacking in any of the background requirements may be (1) asked to take the GRE or MAT, (2) required to complete further specified undergraduate courses in religious studies and/or (3) granted probationary standing in the department after evaluation by members of the faculty and consultation with the departmental representative. Those admitted to probationary status will be admitted to degree candidacy after their satisfactory completion of 12 hours of coursework.