The graduate program in Religious Studies at UNC Charlotte is designed for students who want to pursue advanced studies in the academic study of religion while working closely with a distinguished faculty of scholars and teachers. A Master of Arts in Religious Studies serves the following constituencies: those preparing for further graduate work in Religious Studies or other humanities disciplines at the Ph.D. level; those preparing for teaching positions at community colleges or for adjunct instructor positions at colleges or universities; those preparing for professional careers in non-academic settings; or those seeking to enjoy the intellectual rewards of a liberal arts education at the graduate level.

Program of Study. The program approaches the academic study of religion and religions from a variety of critical and interdisciplinary perspectives, with an emphasis placed on the global and multicultural aspects of religion. The department offers courses in Asian, Middle Eastern, European, and American religious traditions which focus on aspects of both their historical and contemporary manifestations.

Admission Requirements

• An undergraduate baccalaureate degree in religious studies or a closely related program in the humanities or social sciences with a satisfactory GPA (at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale).
• An acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test. Exam scores more than five years old will not be accepted.
• Official transcripts of all previous academic work attempted beyond high school.
• An essay (statement of purpose) that addresses the applicant’s motivation for pursuing the M.A. in Religious Studies, with some discussion of the applicant’s research interests and career or professional goals.
• Three letters of reference from persons familiar with the applicant’s academic achievements and potential for scholastic success, normally instructors of record who can speak knowledgeably about a candidate's intellectual prowess. Letters from family members, employers, work colleagues, or social acquaintances do not satisfy this requirement. Reference letters written for other academic and/or professional programs are unacceptable, as are any letters of reference more than five years old.
• An applicant whose native language is not English must take one of the following English language proficiency tests and meet the minimum score. To be considered official, scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to UNC Charlotte and must not be older than two years: TOEFL, minimum score 220 computer-based or 557 paper-based or 83 internet-based; IELTS, minimum score an overall band score of 6.5; MELAB, minimum score 78.

Given the competitive nature of the admissions process and the limited number of spaces available each academic year, it should be understood that simply meeting the requirements for admission does not guarantee acceptance into the M.A. program.

The Graduate School application package is completely electronic. Their staff administers the application and all of its component parts. The Department of Religious Studies will view and assess complete applications once the Graduate School has received and processed all of its component parts.

Degree Requirements. The M.A. in Religious Studies requires the completion, with a GPA of 3.0 or better, of a minimum of 30 semester hours of approved graduate course work. At least 15 hours of this total must be in courses open only to graduate students (i.e., at the 6000 level or higher). Up to 6 semester hours of graduate credit may be earned outside the Department of Religious Studies. If any hours taken outside the department are to be applied to the degree program, the student must obtain formal approval from the director of graduate studies. All degree requirements, including the comprehensive examination, thesis or portfolio, and oral defense, must be completed within six calendar years of first enrollment in the program.

Core Course. All M.A. candidates must complete RELS 6101 (Approaches to the Study of Religion) with a grade of B (3.0) or better within the first three semesters of their initial admission to the program.

Other Courses. Students may not register for graduate-level courses in Religious Studies without the permission of the Department of Religious Studies. Consequently students must be advised by the director of graduate studies prior to registering for courses each semester, as well as prior to filing their admission to candidacy form and application for degree.

Language Requirement. Although students are not required to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language as a formal matriculation requirement of the program, they are expected to acquire competency in and use whatever languages they need to pursue their research interests.

Comprehensive Examination. Every graduate student must satisfactorily complete a comprehensive written examination upon the conclusion of their coursework. This examination is normally taken during the fourth or fifth semester (for full-time students). Students who elect to write a thesis become eligible for the comprehensive examination after completing 24 hours of course work; all others become eligible after completing 30 hours of course work.

Thesis/Writing Portfolio. Students have the option of writing a thesis (6 semester hours credit) or of compiling a portfolio of selected research papers written for courses in the program (no additional credit). In either case the candidates must complete an oral examination based on their thesis or writing portfolio.

Special Features of the Program

• Small classes, seminars, and directed studies guarantee personal attention and facilitate interaction with peers and faculty.
• The endowed Loy H. Witherspoon Lectures in Religious Studies and the Alice Tate Lectures in Judaic Studies introduce students annually to at least two internationally renowned scholars.
• The Carol Douglas Religious Studies Endowment provides funds to support special projects for the students, faculty, and community.
• Opportunities for involvement in the archaeological aspects of biblical studies through licensed excavations in Israel and adjacent regions are available via Dig Mount Zion.
• The departmental Cuneiform Studies Laboratory houses research tools and a small reference library of specialist resources for the use of students interested in Near Eastern religions, languages, and literatures.

Financial Support. A limited number of graduate assistantships are available. Assistantships are awarded on the basis of ability and experience.  The M.A. program in religious studies has recently won admittance to the Academic Common Market (ACM), a cooperative tuition-reduction agreement among sixteen states that participate in the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB): Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.  Under this agreement, qualified students from states outside North Carolina may apply through their home state's ACM coordinator for reduced tuition rates at UNC Charlotte while pursuing the M.A. program.  Qualified students are considered "in-state" residents during the time they are pursuing the degree, therefore making them eligible for lower tuition rates and other opportunities afforded residents who attend the school.

Faculty

Religious Studies

• Kent Brintnall, J.D., Northeastern; Ph.D., Emory. Religion and modern culture; sexuality and body; religion and film; queer theory.
• Sean McCloud, Ph.D., UNC Chapel Hill. Religion and modern culture.
• David Mozina, Th.D., Harvard. Religions of China and East Asia.
• John C. Reeves, Ph.D., Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Blumenthal Professor of Judaic Studies and director of graduate studies. Near Eastern languages and literatures; Hebrew Bible; early and medieval Jewish and Muslim literature.
• Joanne Maguire Robinson, Ph.D., Chicago. Christianity and western culture; medieval Christianity.
• Julia Robinson-Harmon, Ph.D., Michigan State. African American religion; religions of the African diaspora.
• Jeremy Schott, Ph.D., Duke. Christianity in late antiquity.
• James D. Tabor, Ph.D., Chicago. Department Chair. Christian origins; Greco-Roman religions.
• J. Daniel White, Ph.D., Pennsylvania. Hinduism; religions of South Asia.
• Joseph Winters, Ph.D., Princeton. Religion and modern culture.

Adjunct

• Joyce Dalsheim, Ph.D., New School for Social Research. (Department of Global, International & Area Studies).  Israel and Palestine; nationalism and identity.
• Gregory S. Starrett, Ph.D., Stanford. (Department of Anthropology). Islam; anthropology of religion; anthropological theory.

For More Information. For more information regarding admission requirements or other aspects of the program not addressed in the foregoing description or other parts of this website, contact:

Professor John C. Reeves
Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Religious Studies
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28223
Phone: 704.687.3070 or 704.687.4598
Fax: 704.687.3002
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