Religious Studies

Program Description

Working closely with a world-class faculty who specialize in Hinduism, Islamic Studies, Judaic and Christian Studies, Buddhist Studies, Chinese religion, and Religions in America, students in the M.A. program undertake advanced study and research in those areas. In addition, students will develop a critical understanding of the primary interpretive models, theories, and methodologies in the academic study of religion.

1. M.A. in Religious Studies

The Religious Studies Master’s Degree at Rutgers provides an intensive immersion in the discipline. Working closely with a world-class faculty who specialize in Hinduism, Islamic Studies, Judaic and Christian Studies, Buddhist Studies, Chinese religion, and Religions in America, students in the M.A. program undertake advanced study and research in those areas. In addition, students will develop a critical understanding of the primary interpretive models, theories, and methodologies in the academic study of religion.
Students interested in the M.A. Program in Religious Studies are invited to review our faculty research and teaching interests,  folder graduate course offerings, and degree requirements.

2. Certificate Programs

The department also offers a Graduate Certificate in Religious Studies. Students interested in pursuing a Graduate Certificate are invited to review our and faculty research and teaching interests, graduate course offerings, certificate requirements.

3. Dual Degree (4 plus 1) Program

Qualified religion majors at Rutgers can apply to the 4+1 B.A./M.A. program in Religion in their junior year. This program makes it possible to complete the M.A., which is normally a two-year program, in only one year after the B.A.  Students considering applying as well as those who are already in the 4+1 program are strongly advised to consult with the Director of Graduate Studies about how to work out the details of their coursework. As a general rule, a course cannot be counted toward both the B.A. and M.A. degrees. This means that students in the 4+1 program must plan their coursework for the B.A. and  M.A. separately. During the senior year, students in the 4+1 program will begin taking graduate courses toward the M.A. degree, but they must make sure that they will have satisfied all their undergraduate requirements by the end of the senior year so that they can graduate with the B.A. degree.

Admission Requirements:

Applicants to the Master's Degree program in Religious Studies should normally have a GPA of at least 3.0.

Application materials should include:

A completed online application form
Official transcripts from previous colleges and universities the applicant has attended
Two letters of recommendation
A personal statement (1 to 2 pages)
A writing sample (optional)
The application fee
International Students for whom English is a foreign language will need TOEFL or IELTS scores demonstrating English proficiency.

Applications can be filed online by following this link:

M.A. program code:  16841
Certificate program code:  16841C
4+1 program code:  168413 

Apply

In recent years, our M.A. students have received offers of admission to Ph.D. and M.A. programs in Religion and related disciplines at the following universities:

Columbia University
Harvard University
Indiana University Bloomington
Syracuse University
Temple University
University of British Columbia
University of California at Los Angeles
University of California at Santa Barbara
University of Chicago
University of Florida
University of Pennsylvania
University of Texas at Austin
University of Oxford