Graduate Programs

Requirements for Admission

Application to the Master of Arts program in Religious Studies is made through FIU’s Graduate Admissions Office. The usual minimum requirements for admission include a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and:

1. A graduate degree in the humanities or social sciences from an accredited college or university or
2. A score of 156 or higher on the verbal portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or
3. A UG 60 GPA of 3.25
   A student who does not meet any of these three requirements may qualify for admission with a UG 60 GPA of 3.0 and either:
   1. A GPA of at least 3.0 in 9 or more hours of graduate study in departmental courses (as a special student, excluding Independent Study courses) or
   2. A score of at least 152 on the verbal portion of the GRE.
4. International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

A total score of 80 on the iBT TOEFL or 6.5 overall on the IELTS is required.

Applications for admission are available from the FIU Office of Graduate Admissions and are evaluated by the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee.

Degree Requirements

1. Prerequisite: undergraduate course REL 3308, Studies in World Religions, to be completed by the end of the first semester of graduate work.
2. Three core seminars: RLG 6935 “Seminar on Sacred Texts", RLG 6013 “Modern Analysis of Religion", and RLG 5038 “Advanced Fieldwork in Religious Studies”.
3. A track of four related courses chosen in consultation with the Graduate Program Director.
4. Either 9 hours of elective courses and a thesis (involving either 6 hours of thesis credit or 3 of thesis and 3 of independent research), or 15 hours of electives and no thesis. Students must register with the Department’s Graduate Committee for the thesis track or non-thesis track during the semester in which they will complete 12 hours of credit in the program. Registration in the thesis track will require securing the agreement of a member of the Graduate Faculty to serve as Thesis Advisor.

The Department of Religious Studies does not regard the non-thesis track as appropriate preparation for further graduate study in Religious Studies.

Admission Requirements
1- Current enrollment in the Bachelor’s Degree program in Religious Studies, or any humanities major that allows at least 12 hours of electives.
2- The current GPA must be 3.4 or higher.
3- Two letters of recommendation.
4- Approval of the Graduate Committee.
5- Submission of the acceptable writing sample/essay, complete with bibliography, to      Turnitin.com.

Graduation Requirements
1- Completed BA at FIU including,
2- REL 4931 Religious Studies Seminar
3- RLG 6935 Seminar in Sacred Texts
4- RLG 6013 Modern Analysis of Religion
Six additional hours of graduate credit in Religious Studies (for majors, graduate-level enrollment in six hours of Focus Courses) must also be taken as Graduate courses.

Required
1-A four-course track, either in one religious tradition or one theme across religious traditions, approved by the Graduate Director.
2-The two graduate seminars taken in the senior year of the BA as well as the Focus courses are taken at the Graduate level (limit 12 hours double-counted).
3-Six credits of electives selected from the Religious Studies Graduate Course Offerings.
4-Six hours of thesis, or six additional hours from the Religious Studies Graduate Course Offerings.

All courses must be completed with a grade of “B” or above.

More information:
Where to apply and deadlines:  Click here