Graduate Program - Degree Requirements

The completion of thirty course credits is required of all students pursuing a Master's Degree in Religion.

M.A. Students are required to take ten courses that comprise these thirty credits:

• Every incoming student will take the "Theories of the Study of Religion" course in the fall semester of the first year of their study.
• All students will take courses in at least four of the following eight areas: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, religion and conflict, contemplative studies, religions in America, and relevant language study. Language study credits need the approval of graduate director in consultation with the student's thesis supervisor.
• A combined maximum of two courses may be taken at other Rutgers departments and other universities, subject to the approval of the Graduate Director.
• 400-level courses taught by full time department faculty may be counted toward graduate credit, provided that addional work is performed (additional readings and a 25-page term paper).
• Final assessment options are to write an M.A. thesis or complete a capstone project.

Language Requirements

Acquisition of a foreign language is not required for the M.A. degree. However, to encourage language learning which is especially important for those who want to pursue Ph.D. in a top graduate program, we count relevant language study as one of the eight areas for students to choose from. Students need to consult with their thesis supervisors to determine what language(s) to study and at what level.

Our faculty members work with texts written in Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Pali, Persian, and Sanskrit as well as other classical and vernacular languages, and can direct independent readings in these languages. Languages regularly taught at Rutgers include Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Persian, and Sanskrit.