Degree Programs —

The M.A. Program

Total credits: Thirty credit hours are required. These include Method and Theory I & II, the core course(s) of their major field (or equivalent for those not in one of the three fields), and six hours of thesis research credits. The additional hours shall consist of further courses in the area of concentration, other graduate seminars, and six (or more) hours of advanced research language study.

Thesis: Each student, guided by a supervisory committee which he or she has designated by the end of their second semester, will prepare a Master of Arts thesis, acceptable to the Department of Religion and the Graduate School, and undergo an oral examination on the thesis.

Non-Thesis: Thirty credit hours are required. These include Method and Theory I and II, the core course(s) (9-12 credits) of the major field (or equivalent for those not in one of the three fields), 15+ hours of elective religion credit hours, and undergo a written and oral examination.

Language study: All M.A. students are encouraged to demonstrate competence in a scholarly language other than English relevant to their area of research and teaching prior to beginning the thesis. The chosen language and how the student’s competence will be judged must be approved by the student’s supervisory committee chair. Frequently language competence is met through (1) taking an appropriate course or courses in the language with a grade of “B’ or better or (2) passing a translation exam (usually administered by a department member or a language department at the University). Basic course work for scholarly languages will not count toward the required 30 credit hours. However, students studying a scholarly language connected to their research needs, above and beyond basic competence, can receive six or more credit hours for such advanced courses toward the required 30 total credit hours with approval of the students’ supervisory committee chair.

NOTE: The Graduate School requires that all work counted toward the master’s degree must be completed during the seven years immediately preceding the date on which the degree is awarded.

Promotion to doctoral status: Students who wish to pursue the Ph.D. must submit an application for admission by the 15 th of January of a given year, if they wish to begin the Ph.D. during the subsequent academic year. Decisions regarding admission will be made by the Graduate Admissions Committee according to their established procedures.

NOTE: Students admitted to the doctoral program prior to completion of the M.A. will be admitted provisionally and their application reviewed following successful completion of the M.A. degree.