Requirements
Application for a Degree
The following requirements for graduate work are set by the Graduate School.
In order to receive the master’s degree, the student must also complete the Application for a Degree Form by the date specified in the Academic Calendar. To be eligible to receive the master’s degree, students must have at least a B average and no X or Y grades. No more than one-third of the total units presented for the master’s degree may be 499.
For other requirements, please see Master’s Degree Requirements.
In order to receive the PhD degree, the student must also complete the Application for a Degree Form by the date specified in the Academic Calendar. To be eligible to receive the doctoral degree, students must have at least a B average and no X or Y grades. No more than one-third of the total units presented for the master’s degree may be 499.
For other requirements, please see Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements.
In addition, the Department requires the following items:
Master’s degree: Successful completion of the 570 research project
Doctorate: Fulfillment of all language requirements; passage of all qualifying examinations; defense and submission of dissertation.
Summary of adequate progress
- Completion of graduate-level courses as outlined in the yearly plan, including required courses, within the first two years and with a GPA of at least 3.0
- Timely completion of language requirements set with advisers
- Satisfaction of any conditions set at the first year review
- Timely completion of a second year paper of publishable quality
- Approval at second year review, if needed
- Successful completion of qualifying exams, as specified by departmental requirements, by the end of the summer before the fourth year
- Satisfaction of all TGS requirements, including the deadline for the approval of the prospectus, eight consecutive quarters of residency, and timely completion of incompletes
- Successful performance as a teaching assistant
Please note that time to completion of any of these requirements may be extended if a leave of absence has been granted; conversely, time to completion may be abbreviated if credit is awarded for Ph.D. level study in another program .
For further information about Religious Studies requirements, see the Graduate Student Handbook 2024-2025