About the Program

Our graduate program in Religious Studies offers an inviting, close-knit community dedicated to investigating how religion shapes global history, culture, and politics. Students pursue advanced degree options across diverse fields of study, including American Religious, Buddhist Studies, Islamic Studies, Jewish Texts and Traditions, Late Antiquity, Religion, Ethics and Philosophy, South Asian Religions or design an individualized program. The curriculum emphasizes intensive language study, varied methodological approaches, and interdisciplinary collaboration with departments like history and philosophy. Supported by close faculty mentorship, visiting scholars, and student-led conferences, our scholars develop the deep analytical expertise and critical communication skills to contribute to academia, spiritual traditions, and public life.

What You’ll Study

What you will study at the graduate level depends on your particular degree, academic interests, and professional goals. Key features of our program offerings include:

• Students are encouraged to design their own curriculum, including work outside the department. 

• Students take three years of coursework, followed by a qualifying examination in the subfield and area of specialization, and writing the dissertation. 

• Students are required to demonstrate reading knowledge of at least two modern foreign languages.