Religion, M.A.
About the Program
The Department of Religion at Temple University offers a 30-credit master's program. For those seeking to qualify for the Ph.D. program at Temple University or other leading universities, it offers intensive training in research methods and in special fields of concentration in religion studies. (Note: Admission to the Temple Ph.D. program requires a separate application and the completion of qualifying examinations not required for the M.A. degree.) For those who plan to teach religious studies in community colleges or high schools, it provides advanced training in methods of research and in-depth study of the world's major religious traditions. For those in various forms of religious ministry, it offers post-graduate training and exposure to the newest research methods and developments for use in understanding their own or other religious and cultural traditions. For those who wish to bring cultural and cross-cultural analytical tools to professions such as business, government, journalism, medicine, and social work, it provides additional training in research methods and graduate-level study in the major world religious and cultural traditions. For qualified persons in the general public, it allows the opportunity to acquire competence in the study of religions, values, and cultures broadly defined, and in areas of special interest to the student.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 3 years
Campus Location: Main
Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The degree program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis.
Areas of Specialization: The M.A. program offers two concentrations, each of which allows students to choose between the Thesis Option and the Portfolio Option:
- Religion, Values and Global Cultures, which is built around our Foundations seminars in the world's religious traditions and advanced seminars that permit further study in various Western and Asian religious and values traditions. Courses in the other track may be taken if they draw on materials from one of these religious traditions.
- Religion, Values and Public Life, which is built around our Foundations seminars in the historical, philosophical, and social-science methods of study in the field of Religion, together with advanced seminars in various areas of the interaction of religion and values in public life, such as interfaith dialogue, race/gender/sexuality and religion, religion and ethics, and religion and the political process. Students taking courses in this concentration may also take courses on related topics in world religions.
Upon entering the program, students choose their area of concentration. While admission requirements and procedures are identical, requirements for the degree vary.
Job Prospects: The master's degree at Temple University is viewed as enhancement of knowledge about religion for those already employed in various professional capacities or as the foundation for pursuit of a Ph.D. degree.
Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Non-matriculated students may complete three graduate courses before being admitted into the degree program. Credit toward a subsequent degree program at Temple University is limited to 9 credits.
Financing Opportunities: University Fellowships, Graduate Assistantships, and Academic Internships are ordinarily reserved for Ph.D. students.
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: January 15
Applications are evaluated together after the deadline.
APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program to begin the application process and receive your TUid number.
Next, visit http://cla.temple.edu/interfolio/religion-ma to create or log in to your Interfolio account. Complete the supplemental program application and upload scanned copies of all supporting documents to your account, with these exceptions:
- Scores for the GRE and TOEFL, if applicable, must be reported directly by ETS to institution code 2906.
- Official electronic transcripts must be sent to relgrad@temple.edu or the originals mailed to:
Jemina Quarles, Graduate Coordinator
Temple University College of Liberal Arts
Dept. of Religion
1114 W. Polett Walk, 614 Anderson Hall (022-28)
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6090
Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 3
From Whom: Recommendations should be obtained from former instructors or academic persons who know the applicant best.
Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: Applicants are invited to consult with the Graduate Director regarding specific academic preparation.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A baccalaureate degree is required; a degree earned in a Liberal Arts discipline is preferred. Applicants with no Liberal Arts background should consult with the Graduate Director.
Statement of Goals: In 2 to 3 pages, describe your background and specific interests and reasons for pursuing an M.A. in Religion, demonstrating knowledge of the scope and limits of the Department of Religion's offerings and outlook.
Standardized Test Scores:
GRE: Required. Combined scores in the range of 308-340 (new test) or 1,200-1,600 (old test) on the verbal and quantitative sections are expected. The verbal score is weighed more heavily than the quantitative.
TOEFL: 100 iBT or 600 PBT minimum
Resume: Current resume required.
Writing Sample: The writing sample should demonstrate your ability to research and write a scholarly paper. The paper should be no more than 10 pages in length and fully referenced according to a professional, scholarly style manual. It should be in the field of Religious Studies or a closely related area.
Transfer Credit: Courses taken at an accredited institution that are compatible with the offerings at Temple's Department of Religion and graded "B" or better are eligible for transfer credit. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.
Test Waivers: The GRE is waived for international students whose native language is not English, but the minimum TOEFL must be achieved and reported.
Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30
Required Courses:
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Foundations Courses | 12 | |
Advanced Seminars and/or Independent Study | 12 | |
Additional Courses 1 | 6 | |
Total Credit Hours | 30 |
1 | Students can take 3 to 6 credits of coursework outside the Department of Religion in a cognate field at Temple University. |
Language Examination: Reading knowledge of a language relevant to the area of focus is required. However, at the discretion of the student's supervisory committee, this requirement can be waived for those who are planning to do graduate work that does not require foreign language proficiency.
Culminating Events: No later than upon completion of her/his first 18 credits of coursework in either the Religion, Values and Global Cultures concentration or the Religion, Values and Public Life concentration, the student must choose either the thesis or portfolio option:
- The Thesis Option is recommended for, but not limited to, students intending to apply to a doctoral program or planning to teach at the college level. Six credits must be taken in a 3-credit Independent Study that prepares the student to register the following term for a 3-credit M.A. thesis project under the direction of a thesis advisor. Reading knowledge of a language relevant to the thesis topic and oral defense of the thesis are required.
- The Portfolio Option is recommended for students to augment their primary area of experience and professional training in fields other than Religion.
Upon choosing an option, the student then selects an advisor for the final project who has primary responsibility for supervising the student's work for the remainder of the program and is the primary reader of the thesis or portfolio. This choice must be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.
Thesis:
For the Thesis Option, a thesis is required.
Note that for the Portfolio Option, successful completion of coursework is required to earn the degree.
Courses
REL 5000. Special Topics. 1 to 3 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
REL 5001. Foundations in Philosophy of Religion. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 5002. Foundations in Religion and the Social Sciences. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 5003. Foundations in Textual and Historical Studies in Religion. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 5004. Foundations in Religion and Psychology. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 5006. Foundations in Religion, Race, and Ethnicity. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 5009. Foundations for the Critical Study of the Hebrew Bible. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 5101. Foundations in Hinduism. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 5102. Foundations in Indian Buddhism. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 5201. Foundations in Chinese Religions. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 5202. Foundations in Chinese Buddhism. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 5301. Foundations in Japanese Buddhism. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 5401. Foundations in Judaism. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 5501. Foundations in Christianity. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 5601. Foundations in Islam. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 5701. Foundations in African Religions. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 5801. Foundations in Digital Humanities for the Study of Religion. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8001. Religious History of the United States in the 20th Century. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8002. American Religious History. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8003. American Religious History II. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8004. The History of Ethics. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8005. Interreligious Dialogue. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8006. Methodological Options in the Study of Religion. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8007. The Body: East and West. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8008. Jung and the East. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8009. Religious Experience: Body and Meditation. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8010. Rel Exper-East & West. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
REL 8011. Religion and Public Life. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8012. Religion and Sexuality. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8100. Topics in Buddhist Thought. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
REL 8201. Chinese Philosophy and Religion. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8300. Topics in Japanese Buddhism. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
REL 8301. Kyoto School of Philosophy. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8400. Topics in Biblical Studies. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
REL 8401. Race, Gender, Class and Ethnicity in Ancient Near East. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8402. Violence in Ancient Religion: Pagan, Christian, and Jewish, 50 CE-500 CE. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8403. Holocaust and Representation. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8405. Women in Ancient Christianity. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8406. Feminist and Womanist Biblical Interpretation. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8501. Modern Catholicism. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8502. Women in Ancient Christianity. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8503. Issues in Theology. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8504. Christology in the Ancient Church. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8600. Topics in Islamic History. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
REL 8601. Islamic Jurisprudence. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8602. Islamic Mysticism. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8603. Islam in Global Perspective. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8604. African American Islam. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8700. Topics in African Religions. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
REL 8701. African Ideas of God. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8702. Religions of the African Diaspora. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8703. Africana Philosophical Thought. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8704. Foucault in Africana Thought. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
REL 8800. Special Topics in Religion. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
REL 8810. Special Topics in Religion. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
REL 9087. Teaching Practicum in Religion Studies. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
REL 9182. Individual Study. 1 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
REL 9282. Individual Study. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
REL 9382. Individual Study. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
REL 9994. Preliminary Examination Preparation. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
REL 9996. Master's Thesis Research. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
REL 9998. Pre-Dissertation Research. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
REL 9999. Dissertation Research. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Student Attribute Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Student Attributes: Dissertation Writing Student.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
Contacts
Program Web Address:
http://www.cla.temple.edu/religion/graduate
Department Information:
Dept. of Religion
614 Anderson Hall
1114 W. Polett Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6090
religiongradstudies@temple.edu
215-204-7973
Submission Address for Application Materials:
http://cla.temple.edu/interfolio/religion-ma
Submission Address for Official Electronic Transcripts:
Submission Address for Official Paper Transcripts:
Jemina Quarles, Graduate Coordinator
Temple University Dept. of Religion
1114 W. Polett Walk, 614 Anderson Hall (022-28)
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6090