Religion, MA
for the degree of Master of Arts in Religion
Admission
The Graduate College admission requirements apply. Applicants need not have an undergraduate major in the study of religion, but they must demonstrate a capacity to undertake advanced study in this area of inquiry. All applications for admission must be supported by three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to comment on the applicant’s aptitude for graduate study in religion. Applicants are required to submit a sample of their written work. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required. International applicants whose native language is not English must take the IELTS or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and have their scores submitted to Institution Code #1836, Dept. #00. A score of at least 600 on the paper-based test (PBT), or 250 on the computer-based test (CBT), or 100 on the internet-based test (iBT) is required for admission to this program.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program.
Facilities and Resources
The extraordinary University Library is the department’s main research facility; within it, the History, Philosophy & Newspaper Library, the Rare Book Room, and the International and Area Studies Library all serve faculty and students with expert bibliographers and focused collections. Among other special collections that are likely to be useful to our students are Afro-Americana and Women’s Studies; the library is also a major repository for government documents.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available to many students in the form of fellowships or assistantships. More information is available on the Graduate College website.
for the degree of Master of Arts in Religion
For additional details and requirements refer to the department’s graduate degree requirements and the Graduate College Handbook.
Religion, MA
Thesis Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| REL 510 | Graduate Intro to Religion | 4 |
| Two additional 500-level courses at least one of which must be in Religion | 8 | |
| Each student will establish a primary field of study in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and the student’s advisor. Two courses must be taken within that field. In most cases, the primary field of study will be a particular field such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Philosophy of Religion, or Religion in America, min. 8 | 8 | |
| Language Requirement: Students will demonstrate reading comprehension in one language other than English that is appropriate for research in the main field of the student’s interest. The student will demonstrate that competence by completing a fourth-semester (or more advanced) course in a foreign language or by passing a reading comprehension test administered by the department. Credit does not apply to requirements | 0 | |
| REL 599 | Thesis Research | 8 |
| Total Hours | 32 | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Other requirements may overlap | |
| Students may take up to two of the required eight courses in departments other than Religion. Courses must be relevant to the student’s curriculum in Religion. | |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: | 12 |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Within the Unit: | 8 |
| Student's must pass the MA examination | |
| Minimum GPA: | 2.75 |
Non-Thesis Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| REL 510 | Graduate Intro to Religion | 4 |
| Two additional 500-level courses at least one of which must be in Religion | 8 | |
| Each student will establish a primary field of study in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and the student’s advisor. Two courses must be taken within that field. In most cases, the primary field of study will be a particular field such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Philosophy of Religion, or Religion in America, min. 8 | 8 | |
| Language Requirement: Students will demonstrate reading comprehension in one language other than English that is appropriate for research in the main field of the student’s interest. The student will demonstrate that competence by completing a fourth-semester (or more advanced) course in a foreign language or by passing a reading comprehension test administered by the department. Credit does not apply to requirements. | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 32 | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Other requirements may overlap | |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: | 12 |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Within the Unit: | 8 |
| Students may take up to two of the required eight courses in departments other than Religion. Courses must be relevant to the student’s curriculum in Religion. | |
| Two Revised research papers in the student's primary field of study are required. | |
| Student's must pass the MA examination | |
| Minimum GPA: | 2.75 |
for the degree of Master of Arts in Religion
- Describe the central problems in the teaching of world religions courses and some strategies for addressing those problems.
- Describe the state of scholarship in the field of concentration and assess its strengths and weaknesses.
- Articulate academic growth by identifying key issues for future research in the field of concentration.
- Describe desired research contributions and connect research interests to current scholarship in the field
for the degree of Master of Arts in Religion
Department of Religion
Head of Department: Jonathan Ebel
Director of Graduate Studies: Bruce Rosenstock
Religion Department website
2090 Foreign Language Building, MC-166, 707 South Mathews, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-0473; fax: (217) 244-4019
Religion email
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences website
Admissions
Graduate College Admissions & Requirements