Program Requirements
Requirements for the Major in Religious Studies
The M.A. degree in Religious Studies provides opportunities for students with backgrounds
in the scholarly study of religion to expand their knowledge of the social, cultural,
and historical contexts of religion, to develop a greater in-depth knowledge of
particular religious traditions, and to acquire proficiency with a wide variety
of pertinent methodologies and theoretical perspectives. This degree serves the
needs of students interested in teaching or counseling. It will be of special value
to those interested in pursuing a doctorate in religious studies. For those interested
in pre-collegiate level teaching, a dual degree in the M.A. in Religious Studies
and M.A. in Education is available.
Accreditation: Accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the
Southern Association of College and Schools.
Major Research Areas: Hebrew Bible, New Testament, Formative Christianity,
Formative Judaism, Christian Apocrypha, Gnosticism, Biblical languages, History
of Judaism, Jewish Studies, the History of Christianity, Material Culture and Religion,
Biblical Archaeology, Greco-Roman Religions, Buddhism, Southeast Asian Religions,
Classical Islam, Islam in America, Afro-American Islam, Women in Islam, Hinduism,
Chinese Religion, Post Modern Philosophy in the study of Religion, Comparative Literature
and Cultural Studies in Religion, Religious Ethics, Religion, Ethics, and Society,
Comparative Religion, Goddess Religion, Religion and Medicine, Religion in America,
New Religions, Religion and Culture, Religion and Public Policy, Afro-American Religious
History; Women and Religion; Religious Mysticism; Contemporary Religious Thought;
African Religion; Liberation Theology and Religion, Religious Utopianism, post-Holocaust
Jewish and Christian Thought, Religion and Modernization, Religion and Law, Biomedical
Ethics, Religion and Genetic Engineering.
ADMISSION INFORMATION: Must meet University requirements (see Graduate
Admissions) as well as requirements listed below. Program Admission Requirements
Same as university plus:
1. Three (3) letters of recommendation, and
2. A writing sample
3. GRE required, but no minimum specified
DEGREE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: Students select a major professor
and develop a plan for completing a minimum of 36 credit hours, including a six
(6) credit thesis project. The plan of study is subject to approval of the Graduate
Committee. A majority of these courses will be in religious studies, although the
plan may include approved courses in other departments. No more than 6 credit hours
of 4000-level courses may be counted for graduate credit. There is no uniform language
requirement; however, language skills may be required for particular areas of study.
All students are required to demonstrate expertise in at least two religious traditions,
as well as satisfactorily complete a written, comprehensive examination wherein
they demonstrate competence in:
1) pertinent theoretical issues and research methodologies;
2) the analysis and interpretation of related texts, artifacts, and activities;
and
3) social and historical contexts of the religions studied.
The Department of Religious Studies “Graduate Student Handbook” should
be consulted for additional information about basic requirements and specific procedures.
COURSES See http://www.ugs.usf.edu/sab/sabs.cfm