Religious Studies, Ph.D.

The doctoral program in the Department of Religious Studies trains students to become advanced practitioners of the study of religion—researchers, scholars, teachers, and facilitators of informed public discourse. It can prepare a person to become a college professor or to bring a nuanced, critical understanding of religion and its influences to such careers as health care, law, diplomacy, ministry, social advocacy, journalism, counseling, and informatics.

Doctoral students analyze the ways in which diverse religious traditions originate, develop, and interact over time. Students learn to identify and use multiple methods for the study of religion, including historical, philosophical, ethical, literary, linguistic, psychological, ethnographic, and digital approaches. Students can draw on the expertise of the religious studies faculty and also are encouraged to work with faculty members in other UI departments who specialize in their areas of interest. Many Ph.D. students work, for example, with scholars in the Departments of Anthropology, English, History, and Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures, as well as Classics and Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies.

Graduate study in religious studies is flexible; it can accommodate individual students’ interests within the limits of existing faculty expertise.

Concentration Areas

These are some of the potential general areas of concentration.

Religions of Southwest Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean

Religion, law, and politics in the Islamic world; the history of interpretation of the texts and traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; Greco-Roman and Egyptian religion and culture; digital humanities.

Religions of East Asia

Religious traditions of China and the political, social, and economic factors that have shaped them; modern religion and culture in Korea, most notably Christianity; religion and gender in transnational perspective; religion and empire.

Religions of the United States and the Atlantic World

History and ethnography of religion in the United States; African American religious traditions (Christianity, Islam, and African diaspora religions); West African religions; religion, media, and the negotiation of technological change; Latina/o/x Christianity.

Religion, Ethics, and Society

Religion and morality; religion, emotion, and affect; human rights; religion's relationship to gender, race, and ethnicity; ethics of medicine and biotechnology; religion and health.

Themes

Graduate study also is developed by theme. Popular themes include religions’ relationships to public life, gender, race, media, technology, and human health and well-being.

Additional Information

Students who want to apply to the graduate programs are advised to review the faculty profiles on the Department of Religious Studies website to ascertain whether their area of interest is well-supported by faculty expertise.

It is the expectation that Ph.D. students will complete their studies in six years; five for those who are accepted into the program with an M.A. and transfer credit.

For more detailed information on graduate programs in religious studies, contact the Department of Religious Studies or visit Graduate Program on the department's website.

Learning Outcomes

• Teaching success: students understand how to teach religious studies at public universities, and if they serve as teaching assistants (TA’s) during their graduate program, they show effectiveness in reaching a diverse audience of students.
• Critical knowledge of the field: graduate students are familiar with foundational texts in their field, as well as influential scholarship that critically engages these texts and seeks to move the field in new directions; students identify ways in which they can contribute to the corpus of texts that compose their field.
• Academic skills: graduate students read carefully and think critically, and they write in clear and compelling ways about topics related to the study of religion.
• Religion and social equity: graduate students have a critical understanding of the historical entanglement of global religions with racism and misogyny; they can articulate religions’ relationships to unjust power structures, as well as religions’ contributions to greater social justice.
• Professional engagement: graduate students demonstrate successful participation in the life of the department, their subfield, and the broader field of religious studies; they communicate about their learning with students from other fields.

The doctoral program in the Department of Religious Studies requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit. A maximum of 24 s.h. of relevant graduate work may be transferred from another accredited graduate school or professional program, as approved by the director of graduate studies. A maximum of 12 s.h. of thesis writing credit may count toward the 72 s.h. requirement. Students must maintain a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 3.40.

All Ph.D. students are required to demonstrate competency in English and at least one other language that is relevant to their advanced research; more specific language requirements are set in consultation with an advisory committee.

Students are supervised initially by a three-person committee consisting of an advisor and two additional faculty members; often these members serve also on the student's five-person comprehensive exam and dissertation committees.

All Ph.D. students must complete the following eight courses.

Students select remaining coursework depending on their interests and in consultation with their advisory committee. Ph.D. students must submit and have their departmental program of study approved in the fourth semester of their study to be permitted to proceed in the Ph.D. program. Those who are approved are expected to write and orally defend comprehensive exams (by the eighth semester), a dissertation prospectus (by the ninth semester), and a doctoral dissertation (by the twelfth semester).

Students working toward a Ph.D. may receive an M.A. upon completing at least 30 s.h. of coursework and passing their comprehensive examination.

It is the expectation that Ph.D. students complete their studies in six years; five for those who are accepted into the program with an M.A. and transfer credit.

For more detailed information on graduate programs in religious studies, contact the Department of Religious Studies or visit Graduate Program on the department's website.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website.

Application materials must include an application form; a transcript of all undergraduate and graduate work (one copy must be sent to the University's Office of Admissions, and a second copy must be sent to the Department of Religious Studies); an application or waiver of consideration form for graduate assistantships; three confidential letters of recommendation; and a writing sample that demonstrates the applicant's ability to engage in critical analysis. Applicants also must submit a statement of purpose that explains their objectives for graduate study and states which area of graduate study in religion best suits their objectives. Students may indicate one of the department’s traditional areas of concentration or an area that is defined more by theme.

Students are advised to view the Department of Religious Studies website, most notably the faculty pages, to ascertain whether their area of interest is well-supported by faculty expertise. Moreover, students are encouraged to contact relevant faculty members prior to applying for graduate study in order to explore areas of mutual interest. It is helpful to include information about such contacts in their statement of purpose. The strongest applications show how students would benefit from working with multiple members of the faculty. For details, see Graduate Admission, Financial Aid, and Additional Funding on the department's website.

All application materials must be received by January 15 to receive full consideration for fall admission.

All Ph.D. students in religious studies receive funding for at least four years. The department offers financial support for graduate students primarily in the form of teaching assistantships.

Every few years the department awards the Gilmore Scholarship for doctoral students who study the intersection of religion, the visual arts, and humanistic values.

The department also has a number of annual scholarships that it awards to graduate students for excellence in teaching and scholarship. In addition, Ph.D. students can apply for funds from the department for research and conference travel expenses.

The department also assists Ph.D. students in applying for funding that provides them time off from teaching to focus on exams and dissertation writing.

Graduate students in religious studies acquire a wide range of competencies that are useful for almost any career they pursue. Students gain research skills; they master the craft of writing; they learn to plan, manage, and complete large projects; they gain teaching skills that are useful both inside and outside the academy; they learn to argue persuasively; they gain the ability to communicate with others about controversial issues; they learn how to understand and mediate differences in religious perspectives and values; they acquire rare language skills; and they gain expertise in the use of digital technologies for research and teaching.

Students who earn a Ph.D. in religious studies often go on to become scholars and teachers in university or college settings. Other degree recipients have become professional ethicists, leaders of nongovernmental organizations, school or church administrators, nonacademic educators, digital media specialists, and government employees in the area of international affairs.

Sample Plan of Study

Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.

Religious Studies, Ph.D.

a

Students must complete RELS:5100; RELS:5200; RELS:5300, RELS:5400, GRAD:6217, three graduate seminars, and a dissertation. Courses may be offered at different times, so students should work with faculty advisor and the department to determine appropriate courses and sequence.

b

Students must complete specific requirements in the University of Iowa Graduate College after program admission. Refer to the Graduate College website and the Manual of Rules and Regulations for more information.

c

Traditional areas of concentration may include religions in the Middle East, Ancient Near East, or Mediterranean, religions in Asia, religions of Europe and the Americas, or topics related to religion, ethics, and society. Popular themes include religions' relationships to public life, gender, race, media and technology, and human health and well-being. Students work with a faculty advisor to determine an area of concentration that best suits their interests.

d

Three graduate seminars must be taken prior to completion of the degree, including at least two in Religious Studies (prefix RELS); consult with faculty advisor regarding the appropriate courses and sequence.

e

Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate level elective coursework and sequence.

f

During the fourth semester, in consultation with faculty advisor and core committee, submit a comprehensive plan that includes work already completed and work yet to be completed, along with a paper written in the first three semesters at the University of Iowa.

g

Typically completed during fourth year spring semester.

h

During the semester after the comprehensive exam, students must submit a draft of their dissertation prospectus to their dissertation committee, followed by a two-hour oral defense. A prospectus must be approved by a majority vote before students are permitted to proceed with writing the dissertation.

i

Maximum of 12 s.h. of dissertation credit may be counted towards the degree.

j

Dissertation defense.