Georgetown University Fully Funded PhD in Theology and Religious Studies
PhD @Georgetown University posted 1 week agoJob Description
Georgetown University offers a fully funded Ph.D. program in Theological and Religious Studies, focusing on religious pluralism and comparative theology. This interdisciplinary program prepares students for academic and research careers by emphasizing the study of multiple religious traditions and their interactions.
Program Overview
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Degree: Ph.D. in Theological and Religious Studies
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Institution: Georgetown University
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School: Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
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Format: Full-time
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Duration: Approximately five years
Funding Package
Admitted students receive five years of full funding, which includes:
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Tuition: Full coverage
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Health Insurance: Provided
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Stipend: A generous stipend to support living expenses
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Conference Travel: Funding to attend academic conferences
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Additional Grants: Opportunities for summer language study and dissertation research through external fellowships
Research Areas
The program emphasizes comparative studies and requires students to specialize in both a primary and a secondary religious tradition. Students engage in coursework and research that explore the intersections and interactions between different religious traditions. The department offers expertise in various traditions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism, as well as areas such as systematic theology, philosophy of religion, religious ethics, and Asian Christianity.
Admission Requirements
Applicants should submit:
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Statement of Intent: Articulating interest in religious pluralism, preparedness for doctoral studies, and proposed research area
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Writing Sample: A research paper of no more than 25 double-spaced pages
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Transcripts: Official records from all postsecondary institutions attended
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Letters of Recommendation: Three from former professors
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Optional GRE Scores: Not required
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English Proficiency: TOEFL or IELTS scores for non-native English speakers, unless at least four years of previous post-secondary education was in English
Applicants must have completed a master’s degree in theology, religious studies, or a related discipline by the date of matriculation. The program expects students to have substantial graduate-level training in their primary religious tradition.
Degree Requirements
The Ph.D. program typically requires five years of full-time study:
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Coursework: 36 credits in graduate courses, excluding language study
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Language Proficiency: Reading knowledge of two languages apart from English, appropriate to the student’s field of study
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Comprehensive Examinations: Preparation and completion after coursework
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Dissertation: Research and writing in the final two years
Coursework includes foundational seminars in religious pluralism, core seminars with a methodological focus, and courses in both primary and secondary fields of study.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of the program have pursued careers in academia, research institutions, and various organizations engaged in interreligious dialogue and cultural understanding. The program’s emphasis on comparative studies and religious pluralism prepares students for roles that require deep knowledge of multiple religious traditions and their interactions.
