Our PhD 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 PhD degree typically takes five years, though students construct an individualized timeline. All PhD students take graduate-level coursework that helps them dive more deeply into their chosen research area. They complete written and oral comprehensive exams and submit and defend a proposal (or prospectus) for a PhD dissertation before being admitted to candidacy. They write and defend a dissertation 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 Seminar in Global or American Religion One of the following courses is required; the other may be taken as an elective: RELI 8100 Religion and Globalization (or RELI 8000 Religion in Global Society) RELI 8200 Religion in the Americas 8000-level Electives PhD students select at least 12 hours of 8000-level elective courses that are relevant to their research and approved by their major professor. Some examples may include, but are not limited to, those listed below (note that these may not all be offered regularly): AFAM 8500 Graduate Introduction to African American Studies ANTH 8200 Seminar in Archeology COMM 8300 Seminar in Rhetorical Criticism HIST 8860 Seminar in History QUAL 8400 Qualitative Research Traditions RELI 8450 Seminar in Biblical Research RELI 8500 Seminar in Problems and Topics in Christianity RELI 8610 Seminar in Religion, Theory, and the Arts RELI 8700 Problems and Topics (Writing Seminar) (can be repeated) WMST 8020 Feminist Theories Any Electives Students choose at least 4 hours of any course(s) at 6000-level or above offered at UGA to broaden their expertise, with the approval of their 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 Reading knowledge of two non-English languages or an approved exception; please see the PhD Handbook for details. Research and Writing Hours for the Doctoral Dissertation In consultation with their major professor and other relevant faculty, PhD students will research, write, and defend an in-depth scholarly doctoral dissertation on a research topic that is of particular interest to them. RELI 9000, Doctoral Research, min. 3 hrs. RELI 9300, Doctoral Dissertation, min.10 hrs.
