Religious & Theological Studies
Post-Bachelor’s PhD (MA/PhD)
Admission is to PhD candidacy, but the MA may be awarded to a candidate upon his or her petition when all MA requirements have been fulfilled.
Course Requirements
In addition to any prerequisites required upon admission, 64 semester hours (normally sixteen 4-hour semester courses) are required as a minimum for the post-bachelor’s PhD degree. The required two courses in Approaches to Religion count toward this minimum course requirement. Additional courses may be required at the discretion of the Advisor or Track Coordinator. All other requirements are the same as for the post-master’s PhD and are outlined below.
Post-Master’s PhD
Course Requirements
A minimum of 32 semester hours (normally eight 4-hour semester courses) are required for the post-master’s PhD degree. In addition, students who have not already done so as part of a DRTS MA degree must successfully complete two 4-credit courses in Approaches to Religious Studies. These courses will in most cases be selected from the following: Humanities Approaches to Religion (RN 795); Social Science Approaches to Religion (RN 796); Philosophical and Theological Approaches to Religion (RN 797). Students with a particularly strong background in one of these areas will not normally be exempted from this requirement, but may be encouraged to take the other two courses.
Additional courses may be required at the discretion of the Advisor or Track Coordinator. Some additional course requirements are determined by the student’s track:
Students in the Texts and Traditions track are required to take Humanities Approaches to Religion (RN 795). Students may be required to take further coursework in cognate disciplinary methods or approaches (e.g., History or Classical Studies).
Students in the Religion and Society track are required to take Social Scientific Approaches to Religion (RN 796).
Students in the Religious Thought track are required to take Philosophical and Theological Approaches to Religion (RN 797).
Students in the Religious Thought track and the Religion and Science track are required to take Core Texts and Motifs of World Religions (RN 723–724) or suitable alternatives in order to demonstrate broad religious literacy.
Students in the Religion and Science track are required to take a science literacy requirement (e.g., STH TT 871 Science Literacy and Scientific Boundary Questions) and are encouraged to take the following, depending on their backgrounds and in consultation with the Advisor, as preparation for comprehensive examinations: (i) a philosophy of science course (e.g., CAS PH 643 Philosophy of Mind, CAS PH 665 Philosophy of Cognitive Science, CAS PH 670 Philosophy of Physics, CAS PH 677 Philosophy of the Social Sciences); (ii) a history of science course (e.g., GRS HI 868 Science and American Culture, GRS HI 869 Science and Christianity in Europe and North America Since 1500); and (iii) a philosophy or history of religion or theology course (e.g., GRS RN 750 Philosophy of Religion, STH TT 923 Philosophical Cosmology, STH TT 909 Modern Western Theology I, STH TT 930 Modern Western Theology II).
Language and Research Competence Requirements
During the first two years of graduate study, PhD candidates are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of two modern foreign languages, one of which will usually be French or German. The second language, if not French or German, should be a modern foreign language clearly related to the dissertation research. Fulfillment of this requirement will be demonstrated by reading examinations administered by faculty in the Division or the relevant GRS department (e.g., Modern Languages & Comparative Literature, Romance Studies). The Department of Modern Languages & Comparative Literature offers a free noncredit course in German reading for graduate students. The Department of Romance Studies offers a free noncredit course in French reading for graduate students. The first language examination must be passed by the end of the first year of study. The second language requirement must be met by the end of the second year. Passed language exams must be reported to the Division office at 145 Bay State Road, Room 302. Fulfillment of each language requirement is noted on the transcript.
Students in the Religion and Society track may be permitted, with the approval of their advisor, to substitute for the second modern foreign language an exam in a relevant research methodology (such as statistics, ethnographic fieldwork methods, or other forms of qualitative or quantitative research skills).
Students in the Religion and Science track will be required to substitute, for the second modern foreign language, an exam in a science skill (such as cognitive and neural modeling, ecological modeling, mathematics, computer programming, or statistics for empirical research), depending on the direction of research. Students in the Religion and Science track will also complete a 200-hour practicum in a relevant physical, biological, or psychological science setting to gain experience as (i) contributors to research, aiming at a publication, and (ii) interpreters and evaluators of research procedures in light of knowledge gained about philosophy and history of science.
Beyond two modern foreign languages, students in the Texts and Traditions track or the Religious Thought track who are working with primary written sources in foreign language(s) will need to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary in these language(s), at a level of expertise appropriate to the particular area of specialization. Normally, this expertise will be evaluated directly by Division faculty, during the stage of Qualifying Examinations.
Qualifying Examinations
Before proceeding to the dissertation, students are required to pass three or four separate qualifying examinations. The precise number and nature of the exams is determined by the student’s track and particular research focus, but will generally follow the guidelines indicated below for each track. At least one of these examinations should have an oral component. At least two of these examinations must have a written component. Questions for all comprehensive examinations will be shared among faculty in the appropriate track. PhD candidates may schedule qualifying examinations after successful completion of all coursework and language requirements. One retake may be allowed for each examination. Qualifying examinations may not be extended longer than one year, unless an extension of time is approved by the Director. At least two faculty members in the student’s area of research must be closely involved in the preparation and evaluation of each examination. Completed written examinations should also be reviewed by the Track Coordinator. Passage of each qualifying exam must be reported to the Division office located at 145 Bay State Road, Room 301. Completion of all qualifying examinations is noted on the transcript. Copies of completed written examinations will be placed in the student’s file.
Prospectus (Dissertation Outline)
After passing all qualifying examinations, the student must present a formal proposal for the dissertation, which, after approval by the Committee on Academic Programs, is filed in the Graduate School Records Office.
Dissertation and Final Oral Examination
See General Requirements for the PhD in this bulletin.
For fuller descriptions of DRTS degree guidelines and procedures, please consult the DRTS Student Handbook.
Academic Affiliations
Under descriptions of each specialization is listed a representative sampling of appropriate courses offered at Boston University. Course descriptions are listed for CAS/GRS RN courses only; for descriptions of other courses, please see individual department listings in this bulletin and in bulletins for the School of Theology (STH), the School of Education (SED), and the College of Fine Arts (CFA). Please note that students also have access to courses taught through the Boston Theological Institute.
In addition, Boston University Graduate School students may cross-register for graduate courses at Boston College, Brandeis University, and Tufts University.
Courses in Religion
Please visit us online at www.bu.edu/drts for the most up-to-date course offerings per semester.
Other appropriate courses are listed in the bulletins of the School of Theology and School of Education, and in the bulletin of the Boston Theological Institute. Consult these bulletins under the relevant disciplinary listings.
The following courses are offered through the Department of Religion in the College of Arts & Sciences.
- CAS RN 555 Dante’s Hell
- CAS RN 556 Dante: The Divine Comedy II: Purgatorio and Paradiso
- CAS RN 561 Religion and International Relations
- CAS RN 577 Literature of Memory III: Faith and Tragedy
- CAS RN 578 Literature of Memory IV: Hope and Despair in Chasidism
- GRS RN 601 Varieties of Early Christianity
- GRS RN 607 Medieval Christian Spirituality
- GRS RN 622 History of Judaism
- GRS RN 626 Jewish Mystical Movements and Modernization, 1492–2000
- GRS RN 628 Modern Judaism
- GRS RN 630 American Jewish Experiences
- GRS RN 631 Zionism and the State of Israel
- GRS RN 634 Dead Sea Scrolls
- GRS RN 636 Medieval Jewish Philosophy
- GRS RN 637 Gender and Judaism
- GRS RN 639 The Modern Jew
- GRS RN 640 The Quran
- GRS RN 641 Islamic Mysticism: Sufism
- GRS RN 664 Buddhist Literature
- GRS RN 675 Culture, Society, and Religion in South Asia
- GRS RN 684 The Holocaust
- GRS RN 687 Anthropology of Religion
- GRS RN 697 Topics in Philosophy and Religion
- GRS RN 724 Core Texts and Motifs of World Religions: East
- GRS RN 725 Topics in South Asian Religion
- GRS RN 727 Topics in American Religion
- GRS RN 730 Topics in Asian Religion
- GRS RN 739 Jewish Bioethics
- GRS RN 750 Philosophy of Religion
- GRS RN 753 Topics in Religion and Sexuality
- GRS RN 766 Religion and the Problem of Tolerance
- GRS RN 770 Topics in Medieval Religious Culture
- GRS RN 795 Humanities Approaches to Religion
- GRS RN 796 Social Science Approaches to Religion
- GRS RN 798 Topics in Ancient Christianity
- GRS RN 799 Topics in Judaic Studies
