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Program Description
The Master's in Religious Studies is perfect for students looking for a "bridge" M.A. program to doctoral studies; current and prospective teachers; and students preparing for professional careers in law, social work, journalism, counseling, medicine, civil service, and politics.
Admissions
All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit the general application requirements, which include:
See Religious Studies for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.
Program Requirements
The program requires the completion of 32 credits, and either a thesis project or exam.
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| RELST-GA 1001 | Theories & Methods in The Study of Religion | 4 |
| 28 |
| Total Credits | 32 |
Additional Program Requirements
Thesis/Capstone/Written Comprehensive Exam
students may elect to complete a thesis paper as their capstone project. Typically before their final semester, students will secure a thesis adviser from among either the Religious Studies faculty or faculty from another department at NYU. Together with this adviser, the student will produce a thesis paper to be reviewed by two faculty members, one of whom must be in the Religious Studies program. Although the thesis paper is not graded, students may elect to enroll in RELST-GA 2901 M.A. Thesis Research or RELST-GA 2902 M.a. Thesis Research, (with departmental permission) for a grade as they work toward completion of the paper. As an alternative to the thesis, students may instead choose to take a written comprehensive exam as their capstone project. This requires securing an examination adviser with whom the student will design a set of questions around their particular field of study. The exam will be administered in the student’s final semester, and will receive either a grade of “P” (pass) or “F” (fail). Students will not receive credits for completion of the exam; they must have completed, or be in the process of completing, the required 32 credits at the time of examination.
Journalism and Religion Concentration
The program offers a concentration in Journalism and Religion in conjunction with the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute providing education and training for students seeking careers as professional newspaper, magazine, or broadcast journalists with a special expertise on religion life.
Concentration Requirements
Additional Program Requirements
Final Project
This concentration requires a final project in long-form journalism, an article aimed at a sophisticated general readership in expository, explanatory, or investigative form on a subject related to religious life.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:
- Be proficient in the use of methods of inquiry of the discipline, theories, concepts and critical issues in the field of Religious Studies. Students study the theories and methods by which religion is analyzed today, including psychological, sociological, anthropological, hermeneutic, philosophical, historical, legal and literary work. They also approach the study of “religion” as a concept, which has itself been an intellectual object of inquiry, and has played a key role in the development of the social and human sciences.
- Be proficient in oral and written communication appropriate to the discipline.
- B prepared to enter further post-MA work in the field: for example, an excellent PhD program in religious studies, history, anthropology etc. OR high school teaching OR work as a journalist in print and electronic media, specializing in writing on religion in society.
Policies
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
Graduate School of Arts and Science Policies
Academic Policies for the Graduate School of Arts and Science can be found on the Academic Policies page.