Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies (code R/STBA01)
Minor in Religious Studies (code R/STUM01)
Certificate in Religious Studies (code R/STCT01)
Master of Arts in Religious Studies (code R/STMA01)
Students interested in this program should apply to the department chair.
Requirements
A minimum of 36 units is required as follows:
Core Courses:
Area Courses:
21 units from at least two of the following categories.
Electives: 6 units selected from religious studies courses, including language courses (Aramaic, Hebrew, or Sanskrit), or AIS 335, CWL 342, PHIL 306, 307, 330
The Minor in Religious Studies is available to any non-Religious Studies major.
A minimum of 21 units in religious studies courses or courses from other departments approved by the Religious Studies Department.
Lower Division:
Upper Division:
A minimum of 15 units including three units from each of the following categories:
Requirements
A bachelor’s degree with a major in a traditional discipline.
*A minimum of 30 units in religious studies or courses offered in other departments approved by the Religious Studies Department.
Lower Division:
A minimum of nine units selected from the following:
Upper Division:
A minimum of 21 units including one course from each of the following groups:
Admission
The primary criteria for admission are the same as those for University graduate admission. In addition, the applicant must have a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies, or its equivalent, and have achieved a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester units attempted. Two letters of recommendation from instructors in the undergraduate major should be included.
Program Requirements
1. Minimum total units: 30 units of upper division or graduate study, at least 24 of which must be in Religious Studies. The remaining six may be in Religious Studies or another field of study related to Religious Studies and/or the candidate’s educational interests. Each student’s program must include a minimum of 18 units of graduate courses, at least six of which must be in the 600 series (not including R/ST 697 and 698). All students must satisfactorily complete R/ST 501.
2. A thesis or comprehensive examination.
3. Proficiency in a modern research language (German or French) demonstrated by passing either the ETS examination with a score of 400 or better or two years of course work with an average grade of "B" or better. Proficiency in an appropriate ancient research language (Sanskrit, Biblical Aramaic, Hebrew, Chinese, etc.) replaces this requirement for students concentrating in Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Religions or in Buddhist Studies. Exceptions to this requirement are rare, but may be made at the discretion of the Graduate Studies Committee.
4. Advancement to Candidacy is a statement of how the student plans to complete all courses and requirements for the degree, including establishing a date and a committee for the thesis or comprehensive examination. It is best done as early as possible. Students taking a comprehensive examination must be advanced to candidacy no later than the semester preceding the examination. Students writing a thesis are advanced to candidacy at the time they begin their thesis work.
