The following requirements pertain generally to all Ph.D. programs in the Department:Students admitted to the M.A./Ph.D. (i.e., students without prior graduate work in Religious Studies or related fields) must complete a minimum of 54 hours of credit in courses at the 500 level and above, plus 18 other hours (which may be fulfilled though non-topical research courses) for a total of 72 credits.
Students admitted directly to the Ph.D. Program (i.e., who already hold a graduate degree in Religious Studies, such as the M.A., M.Div., or some equivalent) may petition the Graduate Committee for advanced standing at the end of their first year of residence and be allowed to waive 24 hours of the course work requirement. Such students would then need 30 credits of course work plus 18 other credits (e.g., of non-topical research) for a total of 48 credits. Every Ph.D. student must spend at least one academic session in full-time study.
Students must demonstrate by examination a reading knowledge of both French and German, although other languages may be required in addition. Another language may be substituted for French or German, if this is appropriate to the field of specialization (see program student descriptions below). Language competencies must be certified before a student may proceed to comprehensive examinations.
Upon the completion of required courses and language examinations, students must successfully complete a series of comprehensive examinations in the field of specialization.
Within six months of the completion of examinations, students must submit and defend before the relevant faculty committee a dissertation proposal.
When the dissertation proposal is approved, the student will proceed to the writing of a dissertation, which demonstrates a high level of research skill, sophistication of method, originality of insight, and specialized knowledge. Dissertations must be defended in oral examination before the faculty.
The period of time required for the successful completion of Ph.D. studies will vary from field to field within the Department. Those programs, which require substantial language training and/or periods of fieldwork, will inevitably take longer to complete than others. Generally, students should anticipate a period of three to six years of study.
