PhD in Study of Religion - Feminist Theory and Research in Davis United States | University of California Davis

The Ph.D. program in Religious Studies is structured as a six-year curriculum. Participants develop expertise in the textual traditions of specific faiths while exploring their connections to modern themes and regional contexts, such as moral philosophy, human rights, secularization, scientific inquiry, digital media, artistic expression, linguistic practices, embodied rituals, and analytical frameworks. Graduates acquire both qualitative and quantitative research competencies essential for academic careers in theology and religious scholarship. Our program provides dual training: specialized study within a chosen religious canon alongside theoretical frameworks to situate these traditions within modern regional contexts. The program features concentrated research opportunities in three geographic areas: North American faith traditions, ancient Near Eastern religions, and Eastern spiritual systems. A secondary regional focus enables comparative analysis. Scholars concentrate their work through one thematic specialization: Ethics and Social Justice, Religion in Modern Societies, Digital and Visual Media, Linguistic and Performative Practices, Embodied Spirituality, or Critical Methodologies. This rigorous approach fosters innovative scholarship that expands the boundaries of religious academia and its public discourse.

The Feminist Theory and Research Specialization allows doctoral candidates in participating departments to complement their primary discipline with focused gender studies. Qualified graduate students may enroll in the specialization coursework. Upon fulfilling requirements, participants receive official recognition on academic transcripts, with their doctoral diplomas specifying "Specialization in Feminist Theory and Research" alongside their primary degree.