/Institutions/Catholic-University-of-America/json/2023-2024/Graduate-Announcements-local.json

/Institutions/Catholic-University-of-America/json/2023-2024/Graduate-Announcements.json

Graduate Announcements > School of Theology and Religious Studies > Degree and Certificate Programs > Academic Areas > Religion and Culture

Religion and Culture

1. Faculty:

Academic Area Director:	Dr. Charles B. Jones
Ordinary Professors:	Dr. William Barbieri Dr. William Dinges Dr. Charles B. Jones Dr. Robert Miller II, O.F.S. Dr. Wilhelmus Valkenberg
Associate Professors:	Rev. Raymond Studzinski, O.S.B.

2. Description of Academic Area:

This academic area emphasizes analysis of the ways that religious expressions have both transformed and been transformed by cultures. This study trains students in two types of investigation. The first utilizes the methods of the social sciences such as anthropology, hermeneutics, history, psychology, and sociology in the analysis of religion. The second is directed to the history and teachings of religions outside of Christianity. The use of interdisciplinary methods helps students to understand the human side of religious phenomena and to apply multiple approaches to its interpretation. Area programs place emphasis on the critical stud y of symbol, ritual, and myth and on the interchanges between religious traditions and their particular social and cultural forms. Past students have focused their studies on religion as seen through social development, art, architecture, literary studies, interreligious dialogue, science, economics, and politics. The Religion and Culture curriculum also requires active dialogue with the Catholic theological tradition.

3. Degrees Offered:

• Master of Arts (M.A.)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

4. Master of Arts (M.A.)

The M.A. degree in Religion and Culture provides the student with a basic foundation in the field of Religious Studies through a set of core courses and allows for a level of specialization by encouraging the student to focus electives in a certain area of study. The degree can prepare the student for doctoral studies or for careers in teaching, public policy, religion journalism, church work, etc.

1. Admission Requirements: Please refer to the admission requirements section of the "Civil Degrees: Master of Arts (M.A.)" for further information.
2. Coursework Requirements: This degree requires 30 credit hours of coursework, within which the following courses are mandatory:
   1. TRS 760: Theological Foundations or TRS 660: History and Method in Theology
      1. TRS 780A: Introduction to the Study of Religion
      2. TRS 780B: Hermeneutics and Religion.
   2. Students also take 9 credits (3 courses) in Religion and Culture, including 3 credits (1 course) devoted to the cross-cultural study of religion or the study of a religious tradition other than Christianity.
   3. The student selects 9 additional credits (3 courses) from School courses related to the Catholic theological tradition, including offerings in Historical and Systematic Theology, Biblical Studies, Spirituality, and Catechetics.
   4. Students must take 6 credits in courses in which they produce two significant research papers, or in M.A. thesis guidance to produce a master’s thesis.
   5. Please refer to the coursework requirements section of the "Civil Degrees: Master of Arts (M.A.)" for more information
3. Language Requirements:
   1. M.A. students must pass a proficiency test in one modern language.
   2. Please refer to the language requirements section of the "Civil Degrees: Master of Arts (M.A.)" for more information.
4. Comprehensive Examinations:
   1. Students take 2 days of comprehensive examinations during their last semester of coursework as set by the School calendar. The first day covers required material in Religious Studies and the Catholic Theological Tradition. The second day covers elective topics which the student selects. The basis for the examinations is a standard reading list.
      1. Please refer to the comprehensive exam section of the "Civil Degree: Master of Arts (M.A.)" for more information.

5. Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. in Religion and Culture prepares students for academic careers by providing training in research methods, appropriate languages, courses that provide a foundation in the area of religious studies, and specialization in a research area through the writing of a dissertation. It also trains the student in the Catholic theological tradition in such a way as to place religious studies and theology in conversation within the student's scholarship. The student also develops expertise in an allied discipline (e.g., history, politics, psychology, etc.).

1. Admission Requirements: Please refer to the admission requirements section of the "Civil Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)" for further information.
2. Coursework Requirements:
   1. A minimum of 36 credit hours of coursework beyond the M.A. degree.
   2. The following courses are required if the student did not take them in their M.A. program: TRS 780A: Introduction to the Study of Religion, TRS 760B: Theology, Culture, and Hermeneutics; or TRS 780B: Religion and Hermeneutics, and TRS 760: Theological Foundations or TRS 660: History and Method in Theology. If the student completed any or all of these courses within the area’s M.A. program, then they take other courses to fulfill the distribution requirements and reach the requisite 36 credit hours.
   3. At least 21 credits (7 courses) in the field of Religion and Culture, including at least 3 credit hours (1 course) devoted to the cross-cultural study of religion or the study of a religious tradition other than Christianity. At least 9 credits (3 courses) in the Catholic theological tradition, and 6 credits (2 courses) in an allied area of specialization chosen from some other area of the School or department of the University (e.g., Anthropology, Sociology, Philosophy, etc.).
   4. In conjunction with research seminars taken at the 800 level students are required to produce 4 research papers (3 if the student earned the M.A. in the area) that will become a part of the student's permanent file. The Religion and Culture faculty will review these research papers prior to admitting the student to doctoral candidacy. All 4 of these papers should deal explicitly with Religion and Culture and give evidence of the student's proficiency in research methods and in using foreign languages.
   5. Please refer to the coursework requirements section of the "Civil Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)" for more information.
3. Language Requirements: Please refer to the language requirements section of the "Civil Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)" for more information.
4. Comprehensive Examination: The program requires three days of examinations: 1. Religion and Culture, 2. The Catholic theological tradition and Allied Area, and 3. Subfield. Please refer to the comprehensive examination section of the "Civil Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)" for more information.
5. Dissertation: Please refer to the dissertation section of the "Civil Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)" for more information.