The University of Iowa Department of Religious Studies

Graduate Study at The University of Iowa

The Department of Religious Studies at The University of Iowa has an active and dynamic graduate program, that includes both M.A. and Ph.D. tracks.

OVERVIEW:
A graduate degree in Religious Studies often leads to an academic career, teaching at the college or university level, or to a career within a religious, nonprofit, or governmental organization. Of the 48 graduate students who received doctorates from the Department of Religious Studies from 1998 through 2009, 36 now work as college and university professors, 4 are church professionals, 4 work in counseling or as ethicists, and 3 hold other academic appointments.

Graduate study in the Department of Religious Studies is very flexible, and both Ph.D. and M.A. students can to a large extend put their own programs together, in consultation with their academic advisor and in accordance with faculty expertise as outlined below. We urge applicants to get in touch with appropriate faculty before applying to the program (click here for faculty profiles).

The department has no predefined study tracks and graduate students develop a Program Plan in consultation with their Religious Studies faculty advisor and core advisory group during their first year of study. In addition to working with faculty in Religious Studies, students will also work with faculty in other academic units. Therefore, students must be prepared to pursue their interests within a multidisciplinary environment. Faculty expertise in Religious Studies, supported by faculty in other departments, is clustered in four general areas as listed below, although most students will work on a topic that involves several of the areas. For more information, follow the links to a description of each of the cluster areas:

The Ph.D. Program in Religious Studies

The Department of Religious Studies' doctoral program prepares a select number of students to become specialists in the study and teaching of religion. The Department’s program emphasizes the study of religion in its broader cultural and historical contexts, and encourages student engagement with other disciplines.

The Ph.D. program is interdisciplinary in nature and may involve historical, anthropological, philosophical, literary, art-historical, or other methods of study, depending on individual goals. Students work closely with their advisor and other Religious Studies faculty members. They are also strongly encouraged to work with faculty members in other UI departments, who specialize in related areas and can serve on Ph.D. committees. Many of our students have worked with faculty in departments such as Anthropology, English, History, and Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures, as well as Philosophy, Classics, and other departments.

Training in methodology and a range of approaches to the study of religion are provided in the course Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion, in courses taught by faculty from different areas, and in courses offered in other departments. Research skills are developed through the writing of seminar papers and the dissertation prospectus.

It is the expectation that Ph.D. students will complete their studies in six years (five for those who come in with an M.A. and are able to transfer credit).

Ph.D. Coursework
Ph.D. students must complete at least 72 semester hours (s.h.) of course work at the 3000-level (formerly 100-level) and above, with the following requirements:

The following four graduate courses are required of all Ph.D. students and are offered in successive semesters:

This sequence is designed to provide all graduate students, regardless of area of study, with sufficient knowledge and background in the field of Religious Studies to teach introductory college courses on a variety of topics. The courses also provide students with a common intellectual experience spanning their first two years in the Department of Religious Studies.

In addition, Ph.D. students must complete four graduate seminars, at least two of which must be in Religious Studies.

Ph.D. students must take at least one course or graduate seminar in one or more departments other than Religious Studies.

Furthermore, each student will have individualized requirements as determined by their core advisory committee.

A cumulative GPA of 3.4 or above must be maintained (not including language courses other than those approved for content by the student’s core advisory committee).

A maximum of 24 semester hours of relevant graduate work may be transferred from another accredited graduate or professional school. The hours must be approved by the student’s core advisory committee and included on the student’s Departmental Program of Study on the recommendation of the Director of Graduate Studies and approval of the Department of Religious Studies faculty.

A maximum of 12 s.h. of dissertation research credit may count toward the 72 s.h. requirement.

Ph.D. Language Requirements
Ph.D. students must acquire competency in at least one foreign language. All areas of study require competence in the languages needed to read original sources as well as major secondary scholarship. With attention to each student’s area of specialization the core advisory committee makes the determination for language requirements, including language exams as appropriate. Language courses do not count toward the required 72 s.h., except for advanced language courses with significant intellectual content.

The M.A. Program in Religious Studies
The M.A.is designed for students who wish to advance and deepen their understanding of religion. The degree may be taken with or without thesis. The Master’s Program is highly flexible; students work with a faculty committee of three members and may design the program to suit their interests.

M.A. Coursework
30 semester hours (s.h.) of course work in religion at the 3000-level (formerly 100-level) are required to complete the M.A. degree, 24 of which must be taken at Iowa. Of the 30 s.h. required of M.A. students, they may receive up to 6 s.h. for thesis work. A maximum of 6 s.h. of graduate work in religion may be transferred from another accredited graduate or professional school.

Students must choose between the thesis and the non-thesis tracks. M.A. students in the thesis track will write a thesis which demonstrates a degree of competence in the tools and techniques of scholarly work in their chosen field. Final approval of the thesis will take place at an oral defense. M.A. students in the non-thesis track are required to take a 4-hour written M.A. examination that seeks to gauge and extend the learning that the student accomplished during his or her MA studies. An oral defense of the exam will take place within two weeks of the written examination.

The following three graduate courses are required of all M.A. students and are offered in successive semesters:

These courses are designed to provide all graduate students, regardless of area of study, with a common intellectual and broad training during their first two years in the Department. In addition, M.A. students may choose to take Teaching Religious Studies (RELS:5100/32:201), a fourth course that is required for Ph.D. students.

M.A. students must further take at least one graduate seminar in the department.

M.A. students must maintain a GPA of 3.2.

M.A. students must pass an M.A. examination that tests their competence in course work completed.

M.A. Language Requirements
There are no specific language requirements for M.A. students, although some areas of study may require language training as determined by student’s committee. Requirements for languages and other research tools vary according to the focus of study.


For specific inquiries about graduate study, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies: Professor Morten Schlütter.

For general inquiries about the Department of Religious Studies, please email (religion@uiowa.edu), call (319-335-2164) or fax (319-335-3716).

Additional Information:
• Courses taught in the Department of Religious Studies on ISIS (click on the "Courses" tab, choose "Religious Studies" from the department list, and then select a term)
• Religious Studies Admission and Financial Aid
• Religion Graduate Student Organization
• Graduate College
• Office of Admissions online application
• Office of Student Financial Aid