A&S—Religious Studies
The Department of Religious Studies offers the doctoral degree in cooperation with the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and faculty from Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University. The department also offers the master’s degree.
Contact Information
- Department Chair: Steven Anthony (Tony) Edwards
- Main Office: 2604 Cathedral of Learning
- 412-624-5990
- Fax: 412-624-5994
- E-mail: relgst@pitt.edu
- www.pitt.edu/~relgst
A bachelor’s degree is required. Applicants to the doctoral program who have already received a master’s degree may petition to have up to 24 credits counted toward the PhD.
All applicants must submit the following:
- A statement of professional goals and reasons for applying
- A sample of written work
- Official transcripts of previous academic work
- Three (academic) letters of recommendation
- Aptitude scores on the Graduate Record Examinations
- An online application form
Financial aid is distributed chiefly on the basis of merit. Three kinds of aid are available: (1) University-wide grants, including Mellon Predoctoral Fellowships and FLAS Fellowships; (2) a small number of teaching assistantships; and, for students nearing the end of the program, (3) tuition scholarships. In addition, some financial aid is available to minority students through the Office of the Provost.
The purpose of the master’s program is to provide students with a broad background in theory and method, train them in basic research skills, and extend their understanding of their principal field of interest.
Course Requirements: Each student completes 27 credits of course work, distributed as follows:
- Two courses in theory and method, one of which must be Perspectives on Religion (REL 2710).
- Four courses from one of the subheadings under a. and b.:
- Religion in the Modern World
Judaism
Christianity
Religion in Asia
Religion in the Americas
- Religion in Historical Settings
Religion in Antiquity
Religion in Medieval and Renaissance Europe
Religion in Medieval and Early Modern Asia
- Two courses from a second subheading (for example, Religion in Medieval and Renaissance Europe).
- A course in which the student concentrates on the research and writing of the MA thesis.
Comprehensive Examination: Each student takes a written exam designed to synthesize the work already done in the program.
Languages: There are no language requirements for the MA, but students who plan to do doctoral work are encouraged to study the languages that will be relevant to their specializations. Students in the MA program will not be recommended for the PhD track in Religion in the Modern World unless they have competence in at least one relevant modern language other than English, and they will not be recommended for the track in Religion in Historical Settings unless they have competence in one language of primary research and one language of scholarship other than English.
Thesis: Students submit an original research essay in the relevant specialization. They work with their advisor to find a suitable question to pursue, form a committee of three faculty, and discuss the project with them while working on it. When the project is complete, students sit for a one-hour oral defense of the thesis. The oral exam completes the work for the degree. Students are then awarded the master’s degree by the University.
Requirements for the PhD
The primary purpose of the Cooperative Graduate Program in Religion is to train scholars for careers as researchers and college teachers. There are two tracks to the program: Religion in the Modern World and Religion in Historical Settings. Each of these tracks is divided into specializations under the master’s degree requirements.
Course Requirements: Students take a minimum of 72 credits of graduate work beyond the bachelor's degree. These credits are broadly distributed according to the five requirements described below.
- In their initial terms in the program, students take three courses in theory and method: (a) a required seminar, Perspectives on Religion (REL 2710); (b) an initial seminar on the principal methodology that they intend to use—for example, history for the historian of religion, philosophy for the philosopher of religion; and (c) a seminar on a second methodology, complementary to the first—for example, ethnography for the historian of religion, history for the philosopher of religion (9 credits).
- Students also take two courses in each of two traditions other than their tradition of specialization (12 credits).
- During the course of their studies, students take 12 elective credits.
- Students also write a master’s thesis (see below) on a question central to their work (up to 9 credits).
- Increasing their focus as they advance in the program, and working closely with their advisors to achieve the objectives set forth in their Program Statements (see below), students take at least 30 credits in their areas of specialization.
No more than two 1000-level undergraduate courses may be taken for graduate credit.
The Master’s Thesis and Other Examinations
- The master’s thesis is a substantial research paper on a question central to the student's research interests. It is typically written in a single term for the advisor and two other committee members, and is defended that same term in a one-hour oral examination before the committee. Upon passage of the thesis and oral examination, the student is awarded the master’s degree by the University of Pittsburgh.
- After completing the thesis, students work with their advisors to formulate a Program Statement to guide their work during the rest of their time in the program. This statement identifies intellectual and career goals, and specifies the means by which these goals will be attained at the University of Pittsburgh. It is co-signed by the advisor and is included in the student’s file.
- Before taking the comprehensive examinations, each student passes language examinations in both French and German. Other languages of scholarship may be substituted by petition.
- After completing all course work, students take their comprehensive examinations. Meeting with the advisor and other faculty, students develop the areas of examination that prepare them for the research and writing of the projected dissertation. After studying these materials, students then sit for the written examination.
The Dissertation: A doctoral dissertation is an independent, original, and significant contribution to knowledge. Typically each student forms the dissertation committee from the members of the comprehensive examination committee. When the student completes the manuscript, the student meets with the committee to take questions in a two-hour oral examination. Upon passing the oral examination, the student has completed the program and is then awarded the doctoral degree by the University.
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