Our MA program allows students latitude in pursuing their interests within the Department’s areas of concentration: Jewish Studies (Hebrew Bible & Jewish Literature, History, Thought, Culture) Christian Studies (Bible & Christian Literature, History, Thought, Culture) Islamic Studies (Quran & Islamic Literature, History, Thought, Culture) Asian Religions (Literature, History, Thought, Culture in Hinduism or Buddhism) Religion in America (Anthropology and American Religion, Southern Religion) Our MA degree typically takes two years, though students construct an individualized timeline. All MA students take graduate-level coursework that helps them dive more deeply into their chosen research area. They write and defend a Master's thesis on a topic of their choice. Program of Study GradFIRST Seminar GRSC 7001 GradFIRST Seminar, an introduction to graduate study at UGA Teaching Seminar RELI 7770 Teaching Seminar (or GRSC 7770 or an equivalent UGA pedagogy seminar), required for all UGA students on a Teaching Assistantship Theories Seminar RELI 8770 Theories and Methods in the Study of Religion Graduate Electives In addition to the 8000-level seminar above, MA students select at least 21 hours (typically 7 courses) of graduate-level electives, allowing them to build a solid foundation of knowledge in their selected research area. You will discuss which electives to choose in consultation with your major professor. Individualized Requirements Major professors and students may consider the option of adding coursework to gain more advanced proficiency in particular research topics, methods, languages, or similar. This depends on the student's individualized research area and approach. Research Skills Requirement MA students will discuss which research skills they need with their major professor and how to gain those skills. Our department's default policy is reading knowledge of one non-English language, though some MA students may need more than one language, while others may need a different type of research skill for their thesis research. Research and Writing Hours for the Master's Thesis In consultation with their major professor and other relevant faculty, MA students will research, write, and defend an in-depth scholarly Master's thesis on a research topic that is of particular interest to them. RELI 7000 Master's Research RELI 7300 Master's Thesis
