Doctoral Tracks in the Department of Religious Studies
Ross S. Kraemer, Graduate Advisor
Gail L. Tetreault, Graduate Coordinator
Overview
The graduate program in religious studies at Brown is one of the finest in the nation. From among a large pool of highly qualified applicants, the department admits four to six doctoral students a year. Our students receive minimally five years of full funding. The department’s graduates have an excellent placement record, teaching in such institutions as Harvard, Stanford, Indiana University, University of California, Reed College, Haverford, and University of Washington. Current graduate students have distinguished themselves by presenting papers at international conferences and earning recognition and support from prestigious external funding organizations.
We offer Ph.D. studies in five areas: Ancient Judaism; Early Christianity; Religion and Critical Thought; Religion, Comparison and Culture; and Religion in the Ancient Mediterranean. For information about these tracks, please click on the appropriate links. In all programs, our goal is to combine specialized, rigorous training with a common and more general disciplinary approach to the study of religion. We do not offer a general Masters program, although under exceptional circumstances we will consider applications for a specialized MA program in one of the five designated areas.
Graduate students are normally expected to complete two years of coursework beyond their Masters degree (or three years post-baccalaureate). These courses are primarily drawn from seminars offered by departmental faculty, but also include individual readings as well as courses in other departments, such as Classics, Philosophy, History, Comparative Literature, Anthropology, Political Science, and the Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World. The third year is spent preparing for and taking Preliminary Exams, and the remaining years are devoted to developing the dissertation prospectus and researching and writing the dissertation.
MASTER OF ARTS
Students are admitted for terminal master’s study only under exceptional circumstances. Eight graduate level courses are required, including RELS 2000, “Theory of Religion.” Must demonstrate competency in French or German, as well as in whatever other languages relevant to research interests. A thesis is required.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Each of the five Ph.D. programs has the same general course of study. All students will go through the phases of subject coursework; foreign language exams (or equivalent coursework); preliminary exam; preparation of a dissertation prospectus and its approval by the faculty; and the research, writing and defense of the dissertation. All Ph.D. students are also required to gain teaching experience in undergraduate courses as Teaching Assistants or Teaching Fellows.
COURSEWORK
All students are required to complete the equivalent of three years (six semesters) of full-time study beyond the baccalaureate degree (i.e., twenty-four tuition units). Up to one full year of graduate work done in residence at other institutions and not used in fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. elsewhere may, on the recommendation of the department faculty and with the approval of the registrar, be counted in fulfillment of this requirement.
Students will normally develop their course of study in consultation with the faculty in their area and as necessary with the Director of Graduate Study. All students are required to take RS 2000, a seminar on “Theory of Religion.” We encourage students to work and develop professional relationships with faculty outside of the Department who focus in cognate areas. A student in Ancient Judaism, for example, might take courses in the archaeology of the Near East or literary theory. Students in Religion and Critical Thought often take courses in the Philosophy Department.
Please consult the web page for the doctoral track in which you are interested.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
All students are required to demonstrate competency in two modern foreign languages, typically French and German. This requirement can be fulfilled through either appropriate coursework or examination. Depending on the student's program and interests, other modern languages (e.g., Modern Hebrew for students in Ancient Judaism; Italian for some Early Christianity students) may also be required.
The programs in Ancient Judaism, Early Christianity, and Religion in the Ancient Mediterranean also require competency in ancient languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin for Ancient Judaism; generally Greek and Latin for Early Christianity). In the Religion in the Ancient Mediterranean program, students choose a major and minor field at the end of their first year. Their language requirements are determined according to this choice. Students in the Religion and Critical Thought, and the Religion, Culture, and Comparison programs determine additional language requirements in consultation with the faculty.
Students must complete all language requirements prior to taking their Preliminary Examinations.
Preliminary Examinations
Presently the different programs vary widely in the format and expectations of their exams. This is due, in part, to the differing professional expectations in each of these areas. Generally, however, each program has designed its exams to help its students acquire specialized expertise as well as disciplinary breadth. For specific requirements of a track, please consult the corresponding web page.
Applying
Applications are welcomed from students with a baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree. Though most candidates admitted to the program have some M.A. level experience, exceptionally promising candidates may be admitted directly from the B.A.
Prior to applying, students are encouraged to contact faculty with whom they are interested in working and, if possible, to visit during the academic year. Such prior contact allows students to gain a better sense of our programs than any literature can convey. For logistical help in arranging such a visit (unfortunately we cannot provide any financial assistance), please contact the Office Manager. All applications are given the same consideration regardless of whether the applicant has contacted us in advance and/or visited Brown.
The Ancient Judaism, Early Christianity, and Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean programs expect some prior preparation in ancient languages. In no case will admission be offered to an Ancient Judaism applicant with less than two years of college level biblical Hebrew or its equivalent. Candidates for admission should try to acquire as much language background as possible before entering the program, particularly a working knowledge of biblical and rabbinic Hebrew and introductory ancient Greek. Successful applicants to the Early Christianity program have normally received college level training in at least one of the principal ancient languages for the program, Greek or Latin. Preference will be given to students who have substantial Greek and a reading knowledge of French or German, as well as prior work in the history, literature and religions of the ancient Mediterranean.
Please note that there is no minimum GRE score or GPA. While applicants are expected to have demonstrated excellent preparation, aptitude, and potential to be successful scholars and teachers, we carefully consider the complete application. We pay particularly close attention to the personal statement, so applicants should take care in articulating why they think that our department is an appropriate place for them to study.
A writing sample is not required as part of the application. Should you wish to submit one, please send one of no more than 25 pages with a note clearly identifying it as part of your application to the Department’s Academic Office Coordinator.
The application deadline for the next academic year is January 1. Applicants should apply online through the university Graduate School. Read these pages (particularly the “General Information” section) carefully before applying.
Brown University admits students without regard to national or ethnic origin, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, creed, or handicap.