M.A. in Religious Studies

 Frequently Asked Questions
  • What is religious studies?

    Religious studies is an academic inquiry into the fundamental stories, myths, symbols and practices by which human beings have attempted to make sense out of themselves and the worlds in which they live.  The field of religious studies is unquestionably the most exciting, the most demanding, and the most intellectually rewarding discipline of the traditional humanities.  It is arguably the peak of humanistic endeavor: it is avowedly interdisciplinary, blurring the boundaries of the conventional disciplines.  No other humanities discipline demands so much from its practitioners, for no other field subsumes within itself the sheer variety of methodologies, techniques, perspectives, and theoretical constructs that are requisite for religious studies: linguistics, historiography, anthropology, sociology, psychology, literary criticism, iconology, and philosophy all participate and contribute to the construction of the ‘science of religion’ (Religionswissenschaft), thus rendering it the crowning achievement of humanistic analysis and synthesis.
     
  • Must I have an undergraduate degree in religious studies in order to be considered for admission?

    No, an undergraduate major in religious studies is not required for admission to graduate work in religious studies, although some previous course work in religious studies will prove initially helpful.  Given the inherently interdisciplinary nature of the field of religious studies, those who majored in other humanities or social science disciplines like English, classics, comparative literature, history, philosophy, art history, anthropology, sociology, psychology, or modern languages should not hesitate to apply.
     
  • How does an M.A. in religious studies advance my career goals?

    Those who aspire to conduct original research and teach at the university level will find the M.A. program in religious studies to be a valuable stepping-stone toward the eventual acquisition of a Ph.D. degree.  The M.A. program’s requirements and expectations will acclimate students to the more rigorous standards of graduate culture and will prepare them for the demands experienced at the doctoral level of study.  The M.A. degree also functions as a basic credential for those seeking employment as an adjunct instructor at many colleges, universities, or community colleges.  An M.A. in religious studies can enhance or attractively focus certain professional programs, such as in journalism or in area studies.  Finally, the successful pursuit of an M.A. degree (regardless of discipline) can be intellectually rewarding in its own right.
     
  • What does the M.A. in religious studies require?

     The M.A. in religious studies requires the completion, with a GPA of 3.0 or better, of a minimum of 30 semester hours of approved graduate course work.  At least 15 hours of this total must be in courses open only to graduate students (i.e., at the 6000 level or higher).  Up to 6 semester hours of graduate credit may be earned outside the Department of Religious Studies.  If any hours taken outside the department are to be applied to the degree program, the student must obtain formal approval from the director of graduate studies.

         All M.A. candidates must complete RELS 6101 (Approaches to the Study of Religion) within the first three semesters of their initial enrollment with a grade of B (3.0) or better.

    Every graduate student must satisfactorily complete a comprehensive written examination upon the conclusion of their coursework.  This examination is normally taken during the third or fourth semester (for full-time students).  Students who elect to write a thesis become eligible for the comprehensive examination after completing 24 hours of course work; all others become eligible after completing 30 hours of course work.

     Students have the option of writing a thesis (6 semester hours credit) or of compiling a portfolio of selected research papers written for courses in the program (no additional credit).  In either case the candidates must complete an oral examination based on their thesis or writing portfolio.

    All degree requirements, including the comprehensive examination, thesis or portfolio, and oral defense, must be completed within six calendar years of first enrollment in the program.
     
  • How many hours of course work are required for the M.A.?

    At least 30 hours of approved course work are required for the M.A.
     
  • Can I pursue the degree part-time?

    Yes, the degree can be pursued either full or part-time, provided that all degree requirements are completed within six years of initial enrollment.  The Graduate School defines a full load as 9 hours per semester.  As the Catalog states: ‘this is lower than the normal undergraduate load because of the extensive reading, independent thinking and individual research required of graduate students.  Generally, graduate students should not register for more than 12 semester hours during a semester.’
     
  • Am I required to study languages in order to receive the M.A. in religious studies?

     No student is ‘required’ to study ancient and/or modern languages as part of their degree program.  The department however expects students to recognize that the acquisition of competence in certain sub-disciplines of the field may necessitate the study of one or more languages during their M.A. tenure.  It is unlikely, for example, that a thesis proposal involving significant textual or literary analysis of a particular religion’s ‘scriptures’ would win approval if the proposal’s author had not engaged in the formal study of the relevant scriptural language(s). 
     
  • Am I required to pass a modern language proficiency exam before receiving the M.A.?

     At present no such examination is required.  Students should however bear in mind that the study of religion and religions is an international enterprise: much significant scholarship in the field of religious studies has been and continues to be produced in both western and non-western languages (German, French, Italian, Spanish, modern Hebrew, Arabic, etc.) and that most doctoral programs will require the demonstration of at least a reading knowledge of two or more of the traditional European ‘languages of scholarship.’
     
  • Are there specific "tracks" or concentrations available within the M.A. program?

    All M.A. students in religious studies are required to complete (with a course grade of B or higher) RELS 6101 Approaches to the Study of Religion within the first three semesters of their initial enrollment.  Other than this core course, students are relatively free to develop and pursue their own emphasis or ‘track’ in graduate study with the advice and active cooperation of the graduate director and affected faculty.      The department offers a broad range of courses in Asian, Middle Eastern, European, and American religious traditions which focus on aspects of both their historical and contemporary manifestations.  The faculty moreover possesses wide-ranging expertise in a number of areas or sub-disciplines of study which may not be directly addressed in formal course offerings.  Prospective students desiring to pursue specific interests (e.g., religion and popular culture) or to develop special competencies (e.g., Semitic language studies) are encouraged to contact the relevant departmental faculty to determine whether their envisioned program will be a feasible one at UNC Charlotte.
     
  • How do I apply to the program?

     The Graduate School application package must be obtained from and returned directly to:

    Graduate Admissions
    University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    9201 University City Blvd.
    Charlotte, NC  28223-0001
    Phone: (704) 687-3366

    Or apply online at http://www.uncc.edu/gradmiss .
     

  • What is required in the application?

     The application package must include: (1) a written form submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions (address above) accompanied by a $55 application fee; (2) two official transcripts of all previous academic work attempted beyond high school; (3) official agency reports of test scores on the GRE or MAT (these must be less than five years old); (4) at least three letters of reference from persons familiar with the applicant's academic prowess and qualifications (these too must be less than five years old); and (5) an essay (statement of purpose)     that specifically addresses the applicant’s motivation for pursuing the M.A. in religious studies, with some discussion of the applicant’s research interests and career or professional goals. 
     
  • When are the application deadlines?

     The deadlines for applications are May 1 (for the following fall semester) and November 1 (for the following spring semester).  Given the high demand for this program and the keen competition for the few available openings, complete application materials must be received by these dates.  Partial applications and applications submitted after the posted deadlines will likely not be reviewed for the desired date of admission.

    It should be noted that individual applications are submitted to the Department for assessment once they are complete: they are not collectively held by the Graduate School until after the deadline date has passed and then delivered en masse.  This means that the earlier you submit your application before the posted deadline, the better your odds for securing a place in the entering class.
     
  • If I meet the admission requirements, can I assume I will be admitted?

     Given the competitive nature of the admissions process and the limited number of spaces available each academic year, it should be understood that simply meeting the requirements for admission does not guarantee acceptance into the M.A. program in religious studies.
     
  • If I applied several years ago to another graduate program at UNC Charlotte, can I simply recycle the older application materials which are already on file there for the M.A. in religious studies?

     The transcripts of previous course work can be re-used in this way, as well as the standardized test scores provided these latter are less than five years old.  Your letters of reference (no older than five years) must address your aptitude and abilities with regard to the M.A. program in religious studies, and the statement of purpose must be keyed to explaining your interests and goals with regard to graduate work in religious studies at UNC Charlotte.  Application must explicitly be made to the M.A. in religious studies, and you will again need to pay the application fee ($55).
     
  • I'm a student in another graduate program at UNC Charlotte and am interested in one of the graduate courses being offered by the Department of Religious Studies.  Do I need permission to enroll in the course?

    No one     may register for graduate-level courses in religious studies (i.e., 6000 or above) without the permission of the Department of Religious Studies.  Such permission (unless every space in the desired class is filled) can normally be obtained by consulting the graduate director.
     
  • Can I pursue the M.A. in religious studies while simultaneously working on a degree in another graduate program at UNC Charlotte?

    Generally speaking, the department discourages dual enrollment of this type.
     
  • Can you please tell me more about the comprehensive written examination?

     Every graduate student must satisfactorily complete a comprehensive written examination upon the conclusion of their coursework.  This examination is normally taken during the third or fourth semester (for full-time students).  Students who elect to write a thesis become eligible for the comprehensive examination after completing 24 hours of course work; all others become eligible after completing 30 hours of course work.  Students must be enrolled during the semester in which they take the comprehensive examination.

    After completing the aforementioned course work and filing an Application for Admission to Candidacy form with the Graduate School, students should begin to study for their exam.  Their exam will be based on a customized reading list generated in consultation with three graduate faculty members.  One of these faculty must be that student’s RELS 6101 instructor, whereas the other two are chosen by the student (based presumably upon the student’s program of study).  Each of these faculty prepare several questions which will form the content of the exam.

    The comprehensive examination is administered by the director of graduate studies.  The examination takes place on a fixed date each fall and spring.  The examination is assessed by the three participating faculty using the rubrics high pass, pass, or fail.  The student may meet with the participating faculty after receiving the grade in order to review the exam and receive feedback on it.  The examination itself is not released to the student.
     
  • Can you please tell me more about the thesis option?

     Students who elect the thesis option (all students planning doctoral study should prepare a thesis) should prepare and submit a thesis topic proposal for departmental approval while studying for the comprehensive examination.  This involves (1) selecting a suitable topic and preparing a thesis proposal in accordance with the departmental template; (2) securing the formal cooperation of three graduate faculty members to serve as Thesis Committee for the selected topic, two of whom must be from the Department of Religious Studies (one of these two will serve as principal reader/advisor for chapters in progress, whereas the other members of the Committee will serve as readers of the final drafts of the ‘finished’ thesis); and (3) communicating the results of these deliberations to the director of graduate studies.  Upon the director’s approval, the student then files a Petition for Topic Approval with the Graduate School.  Once the Petition has been accepted, students are required to maintain continuous registration (fall and spring) until the thesis is completed.

    Once the completed thesis has been approved by all three members of the Thesis Committee and this decision has been communicated by the principal thesis advisor to the graduate director, the graduate director schedules an oral defense date for the thesis.  This defense takes place no less than three weeks after the graduate director receives approval notification from the Thesis Committee.  The defense takes the form of an oral presentation by the student wherein the topic of the thesis is introduced, outlined, and expounded before an audience consisting of the departmental faculty, other graduate students in the program, interested undergraduate or graduate students or other faculty from the UNC Charlotte campus, and invited guests (e.g., faculty from area institutions).  The presentation concludes with a lengthy question-and-answer period.  Following the completion of the presentation, the master’s candidate is responsible for preparing and submitting three unbound error-free copies of the approved thesis to the Graduate School no later than the filing date specified in the University Calendar.

    The physical format of the thesis (title page, pagination, margins, et al.) is governed by a template mandated by the Graduate School, a copy of which is available on-line.  Students are responsible for insuring that their thesis conforms to the guidelines spelled out in this document.  Students are moreover responsible for meeting the various deadlines set by the program and the Graduate School.

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