Theological and Religious Studies
About the program.
In light of the need for intercultural and interreligious understanding, and in light of the related challenges to religious studies and theology, the Department of Theology and Religious Studies offers a doctoral program which focuses on the phenomenon of religious pluralism as it impacts theological and religious studies. The department has faculty resources in both religious studies and theology, and the methods and discourses of each discipline will be represented in the program. To carry out the study of religious plurality adequately, the department believes that it is necessary for students to recognize the real diversity of religious traditions and to study in their integrity the beliefs and practices of more than one religious tradition. As a result, comparative work is an essential part of the program. Students will complete coursework and comprehensive exams in both a primary and secondary religious tradition. They will be expected to achieve a level of mastery in both traditions sufficient for conducting comparative research and teaching on the university level.
Connect with Us
Program Contact: Michael Slater – [email protected]
Begin your application today!
Degrees Offered
Admissions requirements.
For general graduate admissions requirements, visit the Office of Graduate Admission’s Application Information page. Review the program’s website for additional information on program application requirements. Application Materials required:
- Application Form
- Non-Refundable Application Fee
- Academic Statement of Purpose
- Optional: Statement on Diversity, Personal Background & Contributions
- Writing Sample
- Letters of Recommendation (3)
- Transcripts – Applicants are required to upload to the application system copies of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. Visit the Office of Graduate Admission’s Application Information page for additional details and FAQs.
- GRE Score (optional)
- TOEFL = 80 minimum
- IELTS = 7.0 minimum
Application Deadlines
- Fall: December 15
Degree Requirements
- 36 credit hours, excluding dissertation
- Two foreign languages
- The program will normally take five years of full-time study – two years of course work, six months to one year to prepare for the comprehensive examinations and two years for the dissertation
College of Arts & Sciences
Graduate Program
Georgetown offers a Ph.D. in Theological and Religious Studies, an interdisciplinary program that allows students to pursue the critical and comparative study of theology and religion. With over twenty full-time faculty members, the Theology and Religious Studies Department has specialists in Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. Our faculty have particular expertise in the following areas: religion and public life, comparative theology, philosophy of religion, religious ethics, scriptural interpretation, and religion and globalization. The Doctoral Program welcomes applications from students whose research interests grapple with questions of interreligious understanding and contemporary issues of religious pluralism in an increasingly globalized and multicultural world.
Students admitted to our program receive five years of full funding, which includes tuition, health coverage, and a generous stipend. Our program also allocates funding for conference travel, and our current students regularly present at national and international conferences. Current students have also received grants and awards from outside fellowships for summer language study and dissertation research.
Academic Resources
Our Ph.D. students join a vibrant scholarly community–both within the department and beyond. Our strengths as a department are augmented by a wealth of other resources at Georgetown, including the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding , the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies , the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs , the Program for Jewish Civilization , the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures , and the Department of Arab and Islamic Studies .
Thank you for your interest in Georgetown University’s Ph.D. in Theological & Religious Studies program.
To learn more please fill out the Theological & Religious Studies Inquiry Form here .
Application Deadline: December 15th
Administration
- Chair: Ariel Glucklich
- Department Administrator: Margit Silva
- Director of Graduate Studies and Director of Admissions & Recruitment, Graduate Program: Michael Slater
- Director of Intellectual Life, Graduate Program: Brandon Dotson
- Director of Undergraduate Studies: Stephen Wilson
IMAGES