The Department of Religious Studies maintains exceptional strength in the study of religion in antiquity, modern religious thought, and the theoretical study of religion. Our small program allows students to develop customized programs and close working relationships with faculty members, and our placement rate is excellent. We currently offer five tracks of graduate study: Ancient Judaism; Early Christianity; Religion and Critical thought; Religion, Culture, and Comparison; and Religion in the Ancient Mediterranean.

Additional resources: The department maintains close working relationships with other Brown departments. Students typically supplement their work with courses in classics, philosophy, political science, sociology, Judaic studies, and comparative literature, and the Institute for Archeology and the Ancient World. Through the University exchange program students may also take courses at other local universities. A monthly seminar, Culture and Religion in the Ancient Mediterranean, brings together students and faculty from across the University.

Completion requirements: Ph.D.: All areas require three years (six semesters) of full-time study beyond the baccalaureate degree, including RS200; reading competence of at least two scholarly languages (typically French and German, depending on the track) and relevant other languages; preliminary examination; dissertation; oral defense; one year of teaching experience. Tracks also have additional specific requirements: for details, see the Religious Studies website and the Graduate Handbook.

ADMISSION INFORMATION

Admission requirements: Writing sample (of 25 pages or less) recommended. Some tracks also require previous language study.

GRE General: Required

GRE Subject: Not required

Application deadline: January 1

FACULTY