PhD in Comparative Literature - Study of Religion in Davis United States | University of California Davis

Our PhD candidates receive guidance from an extensive network of core and affiliated Comparative Literature faculty members. These scholars hold joint appointments with departments including East Asian Languages and Cultures, English, French and Italian, German and Russian, Middle East/South Asian Languages, and Religious Studies. The program maintains strong partnerships with interdisciplinary initiatives in critical theory, digital humanities, science and technology studies, film and media, and performance studies. We provide personalized support to help students develop the academic and professional skills essential for career success. Our faculty guide graduate students in both teaching and scholarly development, with an excellent track record of placing graduates in academic and non-academic positions.

The Designated Emphasis in Religion Studies offers graduate students a cross-disciplinary perspective on how religion has been theorized and examined throughout history, and how these frameworks shape fundamental concepts of thought, identity, and behavior globally, particularly in Western contexts. Instead of treating religion as a static phenomenon influencing other evolving domains (such as literature, culture, society, or behavior), this program encourages students to view religious studies as historically contingent, context-dependent, and actively shaping its own subject matter.