Admissions to the PhD Program

 

Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year are now closed

Admissions Overview

Click here for a text version of the Admissions Overview image.

 

Applicants must submit: TOEFL scores if a non-native English speaker unless the applicant holds a B.A. degree (or equivalent degree) from an English-speaking university; note that for the Ph.D. in Religion, the minimum TOEFL scores are 620 for the paper-based test, or 105 for the Internet-based test. In addition, applicants must submit an academic history of courses, three letters of recommendation, a Statement of Purpose outlining their proposed project, and a writing sample of no more than 20 pages (5000 words).

 

Fields of Study

Applicants must clearly explain their interdisciplinary interests in their statement of purpose.

The Committee on the Study of Religion admits students to the doctoral program who have clearly defined intellectual interests. Applicants will be asked to choose the following*:

  • ONE Area of Study
    • religious traditions or geographic complex

AND

  • ONE methodology OR approach

 

* Please note that the research fields listed on our site are the current fields of study.

 

Language Requirements

All doctoral applicants are expected to have foundational language skills needed for primary research (textual or ethnographic) in the area of specialization (Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Sanskrit, Arabic, Chinese, etc.) at the time of application.

In addition, admitted students must, in consultation with their advisers, select two languages other than English relevant to their studies. Students will be required to demonstrate competency in these languages prior to sitting for their comprehensive exams. 

The chosen languages should equip the students to engage the most important commentarial discourses (oral or written) in their areas of scholarship. 

These two languages represent a minimum requirement; specific subfields or research projects may require others.

Degree Funding

All admitted students receive the same financial aid

  • five years of tuition and fee assistances
  • a stipend, including summer stipends
  • dissertation completion fellowship (DCF) for their final year.

The stipend in years three and four is primarily underwritten by Teaching Fellowships. The sixth year of funding is intended for a student's final year in order to complete the dissertation.