Why study this program?
The Religious Studies program is an interdisciplinary program within the Department of History, Classics, and Religion and offers programs leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy.
For the graduate degrees in Classics and History, see Graduate Programs in History and Classics.
Entrance Requirements
For the MA program, the minimum admission requirements are an undergraduate degree in Religious Studies or a related area with an admission GPA of at least 3.3 on the 4-point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last 60 units of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework.
Applicants whose degree is not in Religious Studies must have at least 30 units in Religious Studies courses at the senior level, or the equivalent. Applicants may be admitted as qualifying graduate students.
For the PhD program, the minimum admission requirements are an MA in Religious Studies or the equivalent with an admission GPA of at least 3.3 on the 4- point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last 60 units of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework.
Applicants may be admissible if they have completed an MA in a field other than Religious Studies if their thesis and/or course work had Religious Studies content relevant to their proposed thesis topic and if they have earned substantial Religious Studies credits at the BA level. Applicants may be admitted as qualifying graduate students.
Where applicable, applicants must provide proof of English Language Proficiency (refer to English Language Requirement). Any one of the following is acceptable:
- a minimum TOEFL score of 92 (Internet-based),
- the equivalent as defined by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies.
All applicants are required to submit a CV, statement of research intent, a writing sample, and three letters of reference. Applicants must also have designated a supervisor by the time of application.
Applicants to the PhD program must contact the Religious Studies Graduate Coordinator, or a potential doctoral supervisor, to determine if the applicant’s research goals appropriately match the Program’s profile and supervisory resources.
The deadline to apply for the Religious Studies PhD and MA programs is February 1.
Students are required to complete a minimum of 7 units and a thesis.
Required Courses (7 units)
- RELIG 575 (3 units) – Contemporary Theories of Religion
- One 3-unit graduate course in the student’s area of specialization as determined by the supervisory committee.
- RELIG 675 (1 units) Graduate Seminar. Each PhD student will present a research paper in this seminar one time prior to candidacy, usually during the second year in the program. All PhD students in residency are expected to attend it on an ongoing basis. The Seminar’s aim is to provide a regular opportunity for graduate students to submit their research to peer review and discussion.
- Additional courses (up to a maximum of 15 units in addition to the required courses above) will be determined by the supervisory committee in consultation with the student.
- Language courses may be required (see Language Requirement below). Language courses will not normally count as graduate credits for the program.
- Courses may include Religious Studies (RELIG) courses, courses offered by other departments and programs with Religious Studies content or courses offered by other departments and programs with a theoretical or intellectual bearing on the student’s particular area of research.
Thesis
- Registration in 900-level THES. All doctoral candidates must prepare and defend a thesis of high calibre on an approved topic.
Candidacy Examination
- Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the program, the path to candidacy may take different forms. It may include, for example, written examinations on different aspects of the discipline, a series of position papers, or a long thesis proposal.
- The candidacy examination will be scheduled once the qualifying requirements are complete, usually before or during the third year of registration in the degree program. The examination will be based on a thesis proposal of not more than thirty pages plus bibliography. The student must demonstrate appropriate mastery of the scholarly fields and research skills relevant to the preparation of the dissertation.
- A provisional path to the candidacy examination is to be determined by the supervisory committee in consultation with the student, and submitted to the Graduate Coordinator for review and approval before April 30 of the first year of registration.
Language Requirement
- Students must demonstrate reading competency in at least one language other than English, including any language(s) relevant to their specialized research, as determined by the supervisory committee in consultation with the student, and submitted for review and approval to the Graduate Coordinator. This competency may be demonstrated by completing an appropriate level of courses in a particular language with a grade of B+ or better, or by passing a suitable language examination, such as those administered by some Arts departments.
- The specific requirement for each language may differ depending on the language and its role in the student’s intended research. Students should discuss this matter with the supervisory committee early in their program. A written summary of the language requirements for each student and how they will be met must be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator for review and approval before April 30 of the first year of registration. Normally all language requirements are to be met prior to the candidacy examination.
Courses
Graduate courses can be found in Course Listings, under the subject heading Religious Studies (RELIG).
Religious Studies annually awards a number of scholarships or graduate research and teaching assistantships. Graduate students may apply for various University Fellowships and Bursaries depending on eligibility. For details see www.gradstudies.ualberta.ca.
For general information, please visit the Tuition and Fees page on the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research site.The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research administers over $29 million each year in scholarships, awards, and financial support for graduate students, as well as financial and loan advising. Additional scholarships are also available for specific faculties and programs.
Please refer to the detailed program information or email HCR@ualberta.ca.
General inquiriesPlease check out some of our most frequently asked questions (FAQS) to see if your question has been answered, or contact the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) during our office hours.
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR)
Killam Centre for Advanced Studies
2-29 Triffo Hall
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E1