Religion, The Study of
Questions about these requirements? See the contact info at the bottom of the page.
Coursework
Full-time study during the first two years, i.e., four semester courses during each term, with a minimum average grade of B, is required. Included in these courses is the required satisfactory completion of two common seminars, Religion 2001 and Religion 2002, normally taken, respectively, in the first and third terms of study. Also required is a minimum of two courses outside the specialization in either: (a) a tradition, (b) a geographical-historical complex, or (c) a methodological approach.
Languages
A high standard of proficiency in two languages relevant to scholarship in the proposed course of study, in addition to English, is required. Proficiency can be demonstrated by (a) receiving a “High Pass” score on the language examinations administered by the Harvard Divinity School, (b) receiving a B+ grade or higher in both a third- and fourth-term language course at Harvard, or (c) receiving certification of reading competence by means of tests and assignments given by an approved regular member of the faculty. Students are strongly encouraged to pass one language requirement upon entry into the program and the other within one year of entry.
Yearly Progress Meetings
Every student in religion must schedule a yearly progress meeting during the spring semester with the members of their advising team, qualifying exam committee, or dissertation committee. This meeting can be scheduled as early as January or as late as April, but it should take place each year before May 1.
The meeting should typically last for 30-60 minutes. The goal of the meeting is to help students to make progress in the program by setting goals and planning ahead.
Students must fill out a yearly progress form that describes their work over the past year, their teaching and research plans, and their timeline for completion. Faculty will submit this form with their comments to the Dean of Graduate Studies (DGS).
Master of Arts (AM)
Students may only be admitted for the PhD program; no one is admitted as a candidate for the AM in the study of religion. However, the requirements for the master’s degree must be satisfied by all students as they move toward the PhD and are expected to be completed by the end of the fourth term. The AM degree may be granted (upon application) when these requirements are fulfilled.
For the AM degree, a minimum of 2 full years of coursework (16 semester courses with a minimum average grade of B) is required, the language requirements must be met, the general course requirements (as above) fulfilled, and a satisfactory second-year review completed.
Teaching
In addition to its financial benefits, teaching is considered integral to the program of the PhD studies in religion at Harvard. There are many opportunities for teaching in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, in the religion undergraduate concentration, and at the Harvard Divinity School. PhD students are guaranteed teaching in their third and fourth years and in some cases may teach beyond that. Students may not teach before the third year.
Advising
Upon entry into the program, each student may choose a faculty adviser based on the area of specialization. At any point, a student may change advisers should another faculty member prove more suitable for their program. Occasionally, students will have two co-advisers. The faculty advisor meets regularly with the student, chairs the examining committee for the general examinations, works with the student in formulating a prospectus, and directs the writing of the dissertation.
During their first two years in the program, students are required to choose two additional faculty members in the Committee on the Study of Religion (CSR), in consultation with their primary adviser, to serve as members of their advising team. At least one of those faculty members should be outside of the student’s primary area of interest. G1 and G2 students are expected to meet at least once during the year with their advising team as a group.
General Examinations
A student prepares for the general examinations after the satisfactory completion of two years of full-time study, the secondary language requirements, the general coursework outside the specialization, and the second-year review. PhD students must take their generals no later than the sixth term of study. All PhD students take a general examination on theoretical and methodological issues in the study of religion. Three additional examinations are arranged according to a student’s context of study and specialization.
Should any student fail any part or all their general examinations, the student will be required to retake all the exams unless exemptions from certain areas were recommended by the examining committee and approved by the Doc-Sub Committee. Should the examiners wish to exempt certain areas, they must provide a rationale for their decision in writing to the doctoral subcommittee. Likewise, an examining committee must provide a written rationale to the Doc-Sub Committee for any recommendation that a student retake an exam in a different form (e.g., writing a paper in lieu of retaking the exam). A student may re-take general examinations once and must re-take a failed exam in the next exam period. They must also keep the same examiners (where possible) and the same bibliographies. They will be placed on “grace” status until they pass their examinations.
This written report must be produced as soon as possible after the decision in order to provide clear and timely information to the student and Doc-Sub Committee. If the Doc-Sub Committee denies the exemption or the request that a student re-take their exam in a different form, the students’ examiners may appeal to the Standing Committee.
Any recommendations to exempt a student from re-taking one of more of the general examinations, or to have the student re-take the exam in different form, must be made by the student’s examining committee as a whole.
If students fail their qualifying exams for a second time, they will not be allowed to retake them a third time, and they will be placed on “Unsatisfactory Progress” status, and permanently withdrawn from the program. If all other academic requirements have been met, students may apply to receive a master’s in passing.
Dissertation
Within 12 (preferably 6) months of passing the general examinations, all candidates must submit a written prospectus of not more than 3,000 words (plus bibliography), formulating a dissertation project. Upon formal approval of the prospectus, the student commences the writing of the dissertation. Post-prospectus, students are required to submit one completed chapter per year to their advisors. The length of the dissertation is normally limited to 300 pages or 75,000 words. Once the dissertation is completed and approved by the advisor, the degree candidate is examined orally by a committee of at least three faculty readers, two of whom must be members of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
The entire PhD program should not exceed seven years.* Students who do not complete the degree in seven years must petition the committee for an extension of time in the program. In such a petition, the student and the dissertation advisor must present evidence of reasonable and substantial progress as well as a schedule for completion of the dissertation. Extensions will not be granted beyond the 10th year. Only in unusual cases can the program be completed in less than five academic years.
* Students are permitted a maximum of four terms on leave of absence status prior to completion of the degree program. Except in special circumstances, leaves of absence are counted in calculating departmental time to degree.
Contact Info
Program Administrator
Committee on the Study of Religion
12 Quincy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-495-5781
csrel@fas.harvard.edu