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) American Religion (with a focus on African American Religion, Native 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 and Teaching Seminar GRSC 7001 GradFIRST Seminar, an introduction to graduate study at UGA RELI 7771 Teaching Seminar (or GRSC 7770 or an equivalent pedagogy seminar) Theories Seminar RELI 8770 Theory and Methods in the Study of Religion Seminar in Global or American Religion One of the following track 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): RELI 8000 Religion in Global Society, 3 hrs. (max. 6 hrs.) RELI 8005 Canons and Their Discontents, 3 hrs. RELI 8100 Religion and Globalization, 3 hrs. (max. 6 hrs.) RELI 8200 Religion in the Americas, 3 hrs. (max. 6 hrs.) RELI 8450 Seminar in Biblical Research, 3 hrs. (max. 9 hrs.) RELI 8610 Seminar in Religion, Theory, and the Arts, 3 hrs. RELI 8700 Problems and Topics (Writing Seminar), 3 hrs. (max. 18 hrs.) ANTH 8200 Seminar in Archeology, 3 hrs. COMM 8300 Seminar in Rhetorical Criticism, 3 hrs. HIST (AFAM) 8005 Colloquium in African American History, 3 hrs. QUAL 8400 Qualitative Research Traditions, 3 hrs. Electives Min. 4 hours, any course(s) offered at UGA that the student can take to broaden their expertise in their area 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 Our department's default policy is reading knowledge of two modern secondary research languages plus any other primary languages deemed necessary and appropriate and approved by the student’s major professor. 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.
