3370 Religious Studies

Program Offered:

1. Master of Arts in Religious Studies

Department of Religious Studies
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 4089
Atlanta, Georgia 30302-4089
404/413-6110
www.gsu.edu/religion

Kathryn McClymond, Chair
Molly Bassett, Director of Graduate Studies

Founded in the past century, the modern field of Religious Studies endeavors to better understand religion by means of modern academic approaches. The Department of Religious Studies offers a Masters of Arts in Religious Studies that trains students in a range of world religious traditions and theoretical perspectives. All students gain a general understanding of comparative approaches to the study of religion while having the opportunity to specialize in one or more specific religion(s). Graduates of the program have gone on to study at Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Cambridge, Chicago, Berkeley, and other top graduate programs and have entered successful careers in such fields as academia, international journalism, immigration law, public service, and the ministry.

Students who plan to seek a Ph.D. in the field are strongly encouraged to discuss their intentions with the Religious Studies faculty as soon as possible so that a course of study can be determined to prepare them for doctoral work.

Applicants may obtain additional information about the Department of Religious Studies by contacting the Director of Graduate Studies at the address above.

Additional Admissions Requirements

In addition to the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Religious Studies has the following requirements:

1. Three letters of recommendation addressing the ability of the student to undertake graduate study.
2. All applicants should submit a sample of their written work. See the electronic application for details.

Degree Requirements

The Masters of Religious Studies offers two tracks: a thesis track and a course work intensive track. Students declare which track they intend to pursue after they have completed 24 hours of course work, usually at the end of the first year of study. The requirements are as follows:

Track 1 (Thesis track):

In order to receive the Masters of Religious Studies, a student must complete 30 hours of course work. These courses must include:

1. Twenty-four hours of non-thesis course work. As part of these twenty-four hours, a student successfully must complete:
   1. One course in theory and methods in the study of religion (3):
      • RelS 8200 Pro-Seminar in Advanced Theory and Method (3)
   2. At least one course from each of the following areas (6):
      • History of Religions (Abrahamic Traditions): RelS 6040, RelS 6200, RelS 6210, RelS 6215, RelS 6250, RelS 6450, RelS 6460, RelS 6480, RelS 6490, RelS 6570, RelS 6580

      • History of Religions (non-Abrahamic Traditions):  RelS 6610, RelS 6612, RelS 6615, RelS 6620, RelS 6625, RelS 6628

   3. One course in comparative / thematic approaches to religions (3):
      • RelS 6240 Death and the Afterlife (3)
      • RelS 6060 Evil and God (3)
      • RelS 6080 Religious Dimensions in Human Experience (3)
      • RelS 6225 Psychology and Religion (3)
      • RelS 6270 Women and Religion (3)
      • RelS 6630 Comparative Study of Mysticism (3)
   4. One course in religion and ethics / politics (3):
      • RelS 6650 Religion and Ethics (3)
      • RelS 6670 Church and State (3)
      • RelS 6675 Christianity and Democracy (3)
      • RelS 6680 War, Peace and Religion (3)
      • RelS 6690 Secularism, Liberalism & Religion (3)
   5. Additional electives (9 graduate level hours) from either Religious Studies or affiliated courses (see below) to bring the total to twenty-four hours. Because the interests and goals of each student are distinct, students are highly encouraged to consult their academic adviser when selecting courses to complete the program of study.
2. Six hours of RelS 8999 Thesis Research
3. A thesis
4. An oral thesis defense

Track 2 (Course work Intensive track)

In order to receive the Masters of Religious Studies, a student must complete 36 hours of course work. These courses must include:

1. Thirty-six hours of intensive coursework. As part of these thirty-six hours, a student successfully must complete:
   1. One course in theory and methods in the study of religion (3):
      • RelS 8200 Pro-Seminar in Advanced Theory and Method (3)
   2. At least one course from each of the following areas (6):
      • History of Religions (Abrahamic Traditions): RelS 6040, RelS 6200, RelS 6210, RelS 6215, RelS 6250, RelS 6450, RelS 6460, RelS 6480, RelS 6490, RelS 6570, RelS 6580

      • History of Religions (non-Abrahamic Traditions):  RelS 6610, RelS 6612, RelS 6615, RelS 6620, RelS 6625, RelS 6628

   3. One course in comparative / thematic approaches to religions (3):
      • RelS 6240 Death and the Afterlife (3)
      • RelS 6060 Evil and God (3)
      • RelS 6080 Religious Dimensions in Human Experience (3)
      • RelS 6225 Psychology and Religion (3)
      • RelS 6270 Women and Religion (3)
      • RelS 6630 Comparative Study of Mysticism (3)
   4. One course in religion and ethics / politics (3):
      • RelS 6650 Religion and Ethics (3)
      • RelS 6670 Church and State (3)
      • RelS 6675 Christianity and Democracy (3)
      • RelS 6680 War, Peace and Religion (3)
      • RelS 6690 Secularism, Liberalism & Religion (3)
   5. Additional electives (21 graduate level hours) from either Religious Studies or affiliated courses (see below) to bring the total to twenty-four hours. Because the interests and goals of each student are distinct, students are highly encouraged to consult their academic adviser when selecting courses to complete the program of study.

Students who intend to pursue additional graduate work after the Masters of Religious Studies at Georgia State University are urged to pursue the thesis track option.

Affiliated Courses

Most students will concentrate their cours ework within the Religious Studies Department. (See course listings under Religious Studies later in this catalog.) Other departments and programs within Georgia State University also offer courses directly bearing on the academic study of religion. When Religious Studies Masters students satisfy the prerequisites for the courses, they may take and have applied toward their degree requirements no more than two of the following non-departmental courses:

• AH 6000 African Art (3)
• AH 6010 Art of Ancient Egypt and Nubia (3)
• AH 6011 Art and Architecture of Ancient Egypt I: 4000-1600 B.C. (3)
• AH 6012 Art and Architecture of Ancient Egypt II: 1600-31 B.C. (3)
• AH 6020 Art and Architecture of the Ancient Near East (3)
• AH 6200 Art and Architecture of the Middle Ages (3)
• AH 6310 Art of Northern Europe in the Renaissance Era (3)
• Engl 8290 Topics in Medieval Literature (3)
• Engl 8390 Milton (3)
• Folk 6110 Irish Folk Culture (3)
• Folk 8200 Folklore (3)
• Geog 6404 Geography of East Asia (4)
• Geog 6408 Geography of the Middle East and North Africa (4)
• Hist 6920 Oral History (4)
• Hist 8210 Seminar in Medieval History (4)
• Hist 8430 Seminar in South Asian History (4)
• Hist 8440 Seminar in East Asian History (4)
• Hist 8450 Seminar in Middle Eastern History (4)
• Phil 6300 Metaphysics (3)
• Phil 8090 Seminar in Continental Philosophy (3)
• PolS 8215 Politics of Peace (3)
• PolS 8260 Politics of the Middle East and North Africa (3)
• Soci 8122 Death, Dying and Loss (3)
• Soci 8156 Sexuality and Society (3)
• Soci 8212 Race and Ethnic Relations (3)
• Soci 8220 Social Movements (3)
• Soci 8360 Sociology of Religion (3)
• WSt 6210 Women in Cross-Cultural Perspective (3)
• WSt 6370 Women and Religion (3)
• WSt 8002 Globalization and Gender (3)

Note: While the above courses have particular pertinence to the Masters in Religious Studies, not all listed courses will be appropriate for the program of study of every student. Students should select courses in consultation with their advisers. Additionally, courses not included on the above list may be appropriate to the program of study of certain students within the Religious Studies M.A program. Upon approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, such courses may be counted toward the degree on a case-by-case basis.

Restrictions

1. Only six hours of credit transferred from another institution may be applied towards the Georgia State M.A.
2. Of the hours taken at Georgia State and applied toward the M.A, no more than six hours may be from outside the Department of Religious Studies.

Foreign Language Competencies

Depending upon their area(s) of concentration, students who wish to go on to pursue a Ph.D. in Religious Studies may need to initiate or complete studies in a particular language or languages before beginning doctoral studies. Students are urged to consult with their advisers for advice and direction concerning language competencies.

The M.A. with Distinction

Students who meet all of the following requirements shall be awarded the M.A. with distinction:

1. A graduate Georgia State GPA of 3.50 or higher in courses applicable to the Religious Studies M.A.
2. A thesis that, upon vote of the committee grading the thesis, is judged to merit distinction.
3. A determination by the Director of Graduate Studies that the student's graduate record at Georgia State University is one of distinction.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the additional information about the Department of Religious Studies which is on its website at www.gsu.edu/religion.