>

Degree Requirements

The Master's degree requires a minimum of 45 hours, including The Study of Religion: Theory and Methods (RLGS 4000).  Students must also take a minimum of 16 hours in one of six areas of specialization, which must be declared after 32 hours of course work.   Depending on the area of specialization, passage of a language competency exam may be required.   Requirements for each area of specialization are detailed below.

In order to complete the degree, students must pass a comprehensive examination, write a thesis, or complete a translation of a previously untranslated religious text into English.  

The comprehensive examination will consist of three exams over two successive days. Exam questions will deal respectively with (1) two of the five major religious traditions and (2) the theory of religion. General bibliographies for the exams, on which the student will be tested, must be worked out with the instructor administering the exam.  

Up to 10 quarter hours of previous graduate course work may be transferred from another institution or another department at the university during the first quarter of the student's admission to the program.  The transfer must be approved by the department as well as by the graduate school. 

Students may also take up to 12 hours of independent study, or independent research, as well as 5 hours of thesis research. 

The minimum grade for any specific course necessary to fulfill requirements is a B-.  The minimum grade for any course taken for the degree is a C. 

Degree Completion

The thesis, or translation, option is recommended for students who intend to pursue doctoral work, but it is up to the department to decide whether the student is able to fulfill, or capable of fulfilling, that goal.  In order to be eligible to submit a thesis proposal, the student must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 at the time of submission.  If the department does not believe the student is capable of writing a thesis for any reason or ultimately gaining admission to a competitive doctoral program, the student will not be granted the thesis option and will be required to take the comprehensive exams instead.  Normally the thesis proposal is not submitted any earlier than the quarter when the student is expected to have completed 32 hours of course work.  The thesis proposal must be approved by the faculty member in the department who will serve as the primary reader and adviser.  The primary reader and adviser must be a full-time member of the department.  Up to 5 hours of independent research may be used to satisfy the thesis or translation option. 

A master's thesis must involve original research and demonstrate broad academic competency in the subject chosen.  According to university requirements, the thesis must be defended on completion by means of a two-hour oral exam with an examining committee consisting of two faculty from the department and a chair chosen from outside the department.  Outside chairs must also be full-time University of Denver faculty members.  The outside chair is not allowed to vote for approval, or disapproval, of the student's thesis project, but may participate in the oral exam. 

The translation project must involve a text that is significant for the field of religious studies, but previously untranslated into English.  All translations must be from the original language into English.  The student must have already demonstrated competence in the language from which the text will be translated, and must have a command of English equivalent to a native English speaker. 

A student must maintain a minimum of 3.0, or B, grade point average (GPA) throughout the duration of their enrollment in the master's program.  Students falling at any time below a 3.0 average will be placed on probation and will have one quarter to raise their GPA back to the minimum requirement.  If the student's GPA is not raised back to the minimum within one quarter, or if the GPA falls below the minimum a second time, the student will automatically be terminated from the program. 

Required Courses 

RLGS 4000 (Theory and Methods in the Study of Religion).

Courses in three of the five traditions for a total of 12 hours.  At least one course must be selected from each of the following groups: 

    Group 1 - Judaism, Christianity, Islam;

    Group 2 - Buddhism, Hinduism.  

    A minimum of 16 hours of course work in a declared area of specialization (below).   

Areas of Specialization

Students must declare an area of specialization after 32 hours of course work.  To meet the specialization requirements they must also complete a minimum of 16 hours of course work in one of the following areas: Biblical studies, theory of religion, international and multicultural studies, philosophy of religion, Islamic studies, world religions. Courses taken for any of the core requirements may not be counted toward the area of specialization. 

An approved list of courses for each of the areas of specialization is updated by the department annually.  Students may also take up to 12 hours outside the Department of Religious Studies to meet area of specialization requirements in courses which: 1) are approved by the department chair or the MA director;  2) are compatible with the area of specialization; and 3) meet the student's curricular and long-term professional goals.  Independent study, or independent research, may not be counted, except under very special circumstances, toward the 16-hour minimum unless indicated in the specific area of specialization.

All courses meeting area of specialization requirements must have a minimum of 4 hours credit.

Certain areas of specialization require competency in a relevant language.  Competency will be measured by passing an exam administered by the department or an approved unit of the University of Denver.  Students are responsible for learning one of these two languages through self-study, enrolling in a summer language institute, or taking for-credit or non-credit courses outside DU. Up to 5 hours of graduate-level language course work may be transferred from other institutions.  

Detailed Requirements for Areas of Specialization 

Biblical studies.  Minimum of 16 hrs. Students must take in addition to the core requirements  at least one course in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam plus at least one additional course in either Judaism or Christianity.  Students will also be expected to meet minimum competency standards in either the Hebrew or Koiné Greek languages.  

Theory of religion.  Minimum of 16 hrs. Students must take approved courses in each of the three theoretical areas of the study of religion: philosophy of religion, psychology of religion, anthropology of religion.  The remaining course, or courses, can be chosen from the department's approved list of courses for the area of specialization.  

International and multicultural studies.  Minimum of 16 hrs. The specialization in international and multicultural studies focuses on the role of religion in the interplay of different religions and cultures within the context of the globalization process.  Particular attention may be given to certain regions such as the Americas, Europe, or Asia depending on the interest or availability of faculty.

Students must take at least one course in a specific religious tradition beyond the core requirements as well as one course in the theory of religion that pertains to international and multicultural studies.  The remaining courses can be chosen from the department's approved list of courses for the area of specialization.   Finally, students must take at least 4 hours of course work (including independent study, service learning, or field work) at a location outside the United States and Canada that meet the student's curricular and long-term professional goals. 

Previous graduate level study abroad courses may be transferred into the program to meet this requirement.  Graduate-level interterm course work at the University of Denver is also acceptable. Depending on the student's program of study, the department may in certain instances require the passing of a competency exam in a language relevant to that program of study.

Philosophy of religion.   Minimum of 16 hrs. Students must take at least two courses in the theory of religion plus one course in a specific philosopher, or philosophers, from each of the two historical periods: ancient and modern (Plato to Kant), late modern and postmodern (Hegel to the present).   The remaining courses can be chosen from the department's approved list of courses for this area of specialization.   Because many of the courses concerning specific philosophers are taught in the philosophy department, students choosing this area of specialization may take courses in the philosophy department beyond the 12-hour restriction (up 20 hours), unless those courses taken are otherwise cross-listed with the religious studies department.  

Islamic studies.  Minimum 16 hrs. This area of specialization is designed to provide students with an introductory foundation in Islamic Studies, through a combination of core courses and electives, as well as basic language training in Arabic. The coursework required for this area of specialization introduces students to the textual foundations of Islamic theology and legal reasoning, as well as exposing them to major issues in the development of Islamic traditions, majoritarian and minoritarian. Finally, it introduces students to contemporary developments in Islam, and particularly to questions of reform and fundamentalism. Students must take the basic introductory course in Islam (or have it waived, if they have taken a comparable course elsewhere at either the graduate or undergraduate level).

In addition, students must take a minimum of three additional courses at the University of Denver that deal specifically and centrally with Islam as a historical, or current, phenomenon.   At least one of these additional courses must have an RLGS designation.   Finally, students in this area of specialization must pass no later than the end of the quarter, in which they will complete 32 hours toward the degree, a competency examination in Arabic. 

Competency in Arabic is required for the area of specialization in Islamic Studies.

World religions.  In addition to the core requirements, students must take at least four courses in the world's major religious traditions.   To satisfy requirements for this area of specializaton, a student must have taken, transferred in, or waived at least one course during the program in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism, regardless of whether these courses count for core credit or toward the area of specialization.