Charlottesville,
VA,
United States
Type
Public
Degrees offered
Bachelor's Degree
MA in Religious Studies in Charlottesville United States | University of Virginia
University of Virginia
|
Charlottesville United States
Visit institution website
for more information
Qualification
Masters Degree
Languages
English
Delivery Mode
On-Campus
Tuition (2025)
USD
36,182
Attendance
Full-time
Full-time Duration
24 months
The Master of Arts in Religious Studies program mandates completion of at least 30 credit hours. Students can choose between two options: 1) completing 24 graded credits plus six non-topical research credits with a thesis, or 2) fulfilling 30 graded credits with a comprehensive exam. Typically, MA candidates enroll in three (occasionally four) three-credit courses each term. Proficiency in a research language beyond English is compulsory. While the standard program length is two years, accelerated completion is possible, though GSAS sets a five-year maximum for fulfilling all degree requirements. This adaptable MA program serves dual purposes: 1) providing academic credentials for advanced graduate study applications, and 2) facilitating religious studies exploration for professional growth or personal enrichment. Students may focus their studies within PhD research areas or customize their curriculum. The program requires at least three courses in a specific religious tradition or cultural region, plus two methodology/theory courses. With advisor and instructor approval, students may enroll in relevant graduate courses across departments. The University of Virginia's Graduate Program in Religious Studies delivers an extensive curriculum covering diverse traditions, regions, and methodologies for both MA and PhD candidates. Grounded in humanities and liberal arts, faculty guide students in historical, linguistic, philosophical, theological, anthropological, and literary approaches to religious scholarship. Established by Thomas Jefferson as a non-denominational institution championing intellectual liberty - a principle embodied in his Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom - the university's Religious Studies program continues this legacy of academic excellence and open inquiry.
Destination of Study
Subjects of Study
Language Requirements
English
IELTS 7.0
Qualification Requirements
Personal Statement
This statement should be no more than two or three pages long. Its main task is to outline your intellectual preparation and agenda, and why that agenda is best pursued in Religious Studies at the University of Virginia. When writing your personal statement, please mention, on the first line, the area of study within the Department to which you are applying.
A letter of interest that includes a 500-word statement of purpose outlining the intellectual interests to be pursued in the MA program. A strong statement will also include some discussion of how the applicant's previous coursework in the Religious Studies Department has prepared her or him for graduate study.
A transcript (or transcripts) of undergraduate work (including grades for the third-year spring term)
A writing sample that demonstrates the applicant's ability to mount and sustain an argument. Writing samples should be ten pages or longer.
Two letters of reference from professors in the Religious Studies Department. All letters of reference should be submitted directly to the Religious Studies Graduate Coordinator.
The minimum internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score requirement is 90 (including sectional minimums of 22 in speaking, 22 in writing, 23 in reading and 23 in listening). The minimum paper-based TOEFL score requirement is 600. Applicants may submit scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as an alternative to the TOEFL exam. The minimum IELTS score requirement is 7.0 in each section
Applicants must upload unofficial transcripts of their entire post-secondary academic record to the online application, including all undergraduate- and graduate-level coursework. Applicants are expected to have achieved a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate programs.
This statement should be no more than two or three pages long. Its main task is to outline your intellectual preparation and agenda, and why that agenda is best pursued in Religious Studies at the University of Virginia. When writing your personal statement, please mention, on the first line, the area of study within the Department to which you are applying.
A letter of interest that includes a 500-word statement of purpose outlining the intellectual interests to be pursued in the MA program. A strong statement will also include some discussion of how the applicant's previous coursework in the Religious Studies Department has prepared her or him for graduate study.
A transcript (or transcripts) of undergraduate work (including grades for the third-year spring term)
A writing sample that demonstrates the applicant's ability to mount and sustain an argument. Writing samples should be ten pages or longer.
Two letters of reference from professors in the Religious Studies Department. All letters of reference should be submitted directly to the Religious Studies Graduate Coordinator.
The minimum internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score requirement is 90 (including sectional minimums of 22 in speaking, 22 in writing, 23 in reading and 23 in listening). The minimum paper-based TOEFL score requirement is 600. Applicants may submit scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as an alternative to the TOEFL exam. The minimum IELTS score requirement is 7.0 in each section
Applicants must upload unofficial transcripts of their entire post-secondary academic record to the online application, including all undergraduate- and graduate-level coursework. Applicants are expected to have achieved a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate programs.
Tuition
USD
36,182