What jobs do alumni take?
The vast majority of alumni as recent as 1-5 years after graduation enter into academic employment, while a smaller number find private employment.
How many applications are filed each year? How many applicants are admitted?
Over the past 5 years the department has averaged 85 applications annually. The actual number of admits varies with each application pool and we sometimes have both a direct admit list and a wait list. The numbers are determined each year through consultation between the Chair of the department and the faculty. The Graduate Admissions Committee, headed by the Faculty Graduate Advisor and staffed with rotating members from the faculty, make the final selections in consultation with the entire religious studies faculty.
How many applicants are admitted with funding?
Beginning with the 2015-16 cohort, we are admitting smaller MA-PhD cohorts with full funding for five years. We are unable to offer financial aid to students in the terminal master’s program (MA II).
Note: Until 2015-16 the university required international students to pay Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) until they advanced to candidacy. The university’s current policy waives the NRST for international students after their first year as long as they meet appropriate time-to-degree standards.
How many graduate students are in your program?
We currently have 60 graduate students enrolled in our program.
How many applicants are admitted to the MA II program?
This number varies quite a bit, averaging 5-12 admits in the past 5 years. The applications are reviewed separately from the MA/PhD and PhD applications.
How competitive is entrance to the MA II program?
We review the applications to the MA II as strictly as all the other applications. Although the program is shorter and has fewer requirements, the applicants will still be attending regular graduate seminars and must demonstrate in their applications that they have the academic strength to participate fully in a graduate program. As seen in the statistics given above, however, typically a slightly higher percentage of applicants are admitted to the MA II. It is important that their academic goals match the goals outlined for the MA II program.
Last updated: 10/25/2022
