Why study Religious Studies?
Religions have been and remain among the most powerful forces shaping human history. Their discourses and practices inform the way we perceive ourselves, those around us, and existence at large, even when we are not actively religious. They are central to understanding both what divides us and what unites us. The academic study of religion is a trans-disciplinary endeavor to understand from an objective perspective how religious traditions shape the lives of their adherents, without seeking to promote or disprove any specific belief system. Religious Studies acquaints students with the diversity of religious cultures and introduces them to key methods and theories employed in their examination as "religion."
Admission to Graduate Studies
An applicant seeking to pursue graduate study in the College may be admitted as either a degree-seeking or non-degree seeking student. Policies and procedures of Graduate Studies govern the process of Graduate admission. These may be found in the Graduate Studies section of the online catalog.
Please consult the Departments & Programs section of the online catalog for information regarding program-specific admissions criteria and requirements. Special admissions requirements pertain to Interdisciplinary Studies degrees, which may be found in the Graduate Studies section of the online catalog.
Graduate Admission
A B.A. in Religious Studies is not required for admission, but the department expects applicants to show on their transcripts significant exposure to the humanities and social sciences.
The department requires Graduate Record Examination scores for admission. Submit your graduate application online. Send all other requested application materials to
The University of Kansas
Department of Religious Studies
Smith Hall, Room 109A
1300 Oread Ave.
Lawrence, KS 66045-7603
M.A. Degree Requirements
The department offers thesis and non-thesis M.A. options. The requirements for these are:
1. 30 (thesis) or 33 (non-thesis) graduate credit hours, chosen in consultation with the student's advisor or the Graduate Director. Coursework must include the following:
(a) REL 601 Approaches to the Study of Religion (3 hrs)
(b) Three graduate seminars (courses numbered 700 or above, excluding REL 800 Readings and REL 899 Thesis), of which two must be chosen from the following set of theory and method-oriented seminars (9 hrs):
| REL 727 | Seminar in Religion, Text and Textuality | 3 |
| REL 737 | Seminar in Religion, Media and Performance | 3 |
| REL 747 | Seminar in Religion, Society and Social Change | 3 |
| REL 757 | Seminar in Religious Subjectivity, Experience, and Narrative | 3 |
| REL 767 | Seminar in Theory, Method, and History in Religious Studies | 3 |
(c) One course focusing on Western Religious Traditions and one course focusing on Non-Western Religious Traditions (see Table below). (6 hrs)
(d) At least 12 hours (4 courses) in an articulated concentration of the student’s own design. These courses may overlap with those in (b) and (c) above.
(e) For thesis students, 1-3 credit hours of REL 899 Thesis.
(f) A total of at least 18 (thesis) or 21 (non-thesis) graduate credit hours in Religious Studies, including (a)–(e) above, plus electives if applicable. Remaining hours may be taken outside of the department.
2. A final examination:
(a) For the thesis option, the student must write and orally defend a thesis that meets minimum department and University requirements.
(b) For the non-thesis option, the student must produce and orally defend a research portfolio.
Graduate Handbook: Further information on fulfillment of degree requirements and other department and University policies and procedures can be found in the Department of Religious Studies Graduate Handbook, available on the department webpage.
Approved Courses for Requirement 1(c):
| A. Western Religious Traditions (0) | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Studies in Early Christian Literature and History | ||
| Jews and Christians | ||
| Christian Origins: from the Beginnings to Augustine | ||
| Studies in Christianity | ||
| Studies in Islam | ||
| Modern Islamic Reform Movements | ||
| Modern Jewish Thought | ||
| Studies in Judaism | ||
| Seminar in Western Religious Texts: _____ | ||
| Seminar in Western Religious Thought: _____ | ||
| Seminar in Religion and Society in the West: _____ | ||
| B. Non-Western Religious Traditions (0) | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Religion in India | ||
| Religion in China | ||
| Religion in Japan | ||
| Religion in Korea | ||
| Gods and Goddesses of South Asia | ||
| Hindu Epics, Past and Present | ||
| Yoga in Theory, Practice, and History | ||
| Buddhists and Buddhism in China | ||
| Seminar in Eastern Religious Texts: _____ | ||
| Seminar in Eastern Religious Thought: _____ | ||
| Seminar in Religion and Society in Asia: _____ | ||