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The Division of Religious and Theological Studies at Boston University enables graduate students to do interdisciplinary work in Religion and Literature, either at the Masters or Ph.D. level.
At present, most students are working in the modern period and within the cultural milieus of Judaism and Christianity (although there is also interest in Islam, Buddhism and new religions).
Students draw up their own course of study with their academic advisor's help. These programs are meant to be tailor-made: the competencies and academic goals of each student dictate the shape of each program. Courses and faculty mentors come from a variety of departments (e.g. not only Religion and Theology but English, Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures, History, Communications, and the University Professors). Literature Faculty who are currently working with R & L students include Bonnie Costello, Emily Dalgarno, Aaron Fogel, Abigail Gilman, Peter Hawkins, Geoffrey Hill, Christopher Martin, Thomas Matthews, Susan Mizruchi, Shakir Mustafa, Christopher Ricks, John-Paul Riquelme, Rosanna Warren, and Elie Wiesel. Students may also take courses at other institutions within the Boston Theological Institute, including Harvard Divinity School and Boston College. Relevant extra-curricular offerings are also extraordinarily rich both at BU and across greater Boston.
There are few external requirements placed on students in R & L. All must enroll in Theoretical Approaches to the Study of Religion in their first year. Also, everyone must take: 1) at least one course in an unfamiliar religious tradition, 2) a course on literary theory, and 3) Dante's Journey to God.
For the MA, 32 credit hours are needed in addition to the Theoretical Approaches to the Study of Religion class. The degree is completed upon passing a comprehensive examination or writing and defending a Master's essay. For the Ph.D., post-bachelors candidates must 64 credit hours in addition to Theoretical Approaches, whereas those who matriculate with a previous Masters degree need take only 32 credit hours, again in addition to Theoretical Approaches. All graduate students must demonstrate proficiency in French or German (or in another language deemed necessary for dissertation research). The department of Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures offers non-credit courses in French and German which students are urged to take early in their programs. Those wishing to demonstrate their competency outside these courses are given a reading exam drawn up by R & L advisor and evaluated by MFLL faculty.
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