• MA Degree Requirements
• PhD Degree Requirements
• Curriculum

Northwestern offers several areas of concentration in Religious Studies:

• American Religion
• Buddhism
• Contemporary Religion
• Islam
• Judaism
• Medieval Christianity
• Religion, Ethic and Public Life
• Theology and Religious Reflections

Each area of study is interdisciplinary, involving work with Northwestern faculty specialists outside the Department as well as within it. This flexibility allows students and advisers to craft flexible programs of study deeply grounded in religious studies methods but also informed by methods in history, the social sciences, literary studies, art history, developmental psychology, or another discipline. All students take courses outside the department, most choose at least one dissertation adviser from another department, and many students take one qualifying examination in another discipline.

In addition, we encourage applicants to strengthen interdisciplinary connections thematically by exploring the programs, seminars, and additional fellowships available to Religious Studies PhD students through The Graduate School’s new Interdisciplinary Cluster Initiative.

Applicants should contact the program or see Web site www.religion.northwestern.edu/graduate/ to learn about the program and specific requirements for admission.

Faculty

The primary appointment for those faculty with joint or affiliate status in another program is noted in parentheses.