History of Religions methodology course
These courses are generally listed at the five-hundred level, and are geared towards graduate students. The course description will specify that they fulfill the History of Religions methodology requirement. They are taught by History-of-Religions faculty. The courses may deal with specific issues such as gender, embodiment, etc., but do so with a focus on broader theoretical issues and approaches; alternatively, they may constitute surveys of various approaches in the history of religions without a thematic focus. Egs.: RELG 505: “History of Religions,” Kurtis Schaeffer; RELG: 730 “The Study Of Ritual,” Cynthia Hoehler-Fatton; RELG 517: “Methodology,” Benjamin Ray.

Approved methodology courses
If a student wishes to use a course not on this list, then they must petition the HR Committee through their adviser for permission prior to taking the course. The current list of approved courses is given below (this list will be expanded each year as we identify suitable alternatives):

RELG 507: “Interpretation Theory,” Larry Bouchard.

N.B. For approval of courses not on this list, students must petition the HR Committee prior to taking the course.

                       

Methodology comprehensive exam
The methodology comprehensive exam is administered by the departmental professors who taught the courses used by the student to fulfill the methodology requirement. The student’s Ph.D. adviser could choose to participate in that process if s/he chooses to do so. If one of the courses was taught by a faculty member from outside the department, the faculty member in question may not be involved in administering the comprehensive exam.