Part I: The MA Degree
The MA degree serves as the first milestone for PhD students. It is generally completed within two semesters, but no later than two years of registration. Courses taken as part of the MA degree serve as the foundation for the remainder of the program.
The program of study for the en-route MA is to be arranged individually with a faculty advisor designated by the Director of Graduate Studies. Courses must be selected so to foster intellectual growth in the program's three core areas: theories and methods needed for the study of religion, broad familiarity with the world’s major religious traditions, and increasing depth in one’s area of specialization. Students are required to take two courses outside their field of specialization during work for the MA.
Two Residence Units and a total of 30 credits, excluding elementary and intermediate language study, of which at least 24 must be completed with a grade of B or better. Only courses taken at the Graduate Level, 4000-level or greater, may count towards the degree, with the exception of courses taken at Union Theological Seminary. As Union Theological Seminary is a graduate school with an independent course numbering convention, courses taken at any level at Union Theological Seminary may count toward the degree. Students must take two courses outside their concentration chosen in consultation with their advisor.
1. Written: Students must achieve a grade of B or better in RELI GR6101: Theory and Method and Religion survey courses in at least two different religious traditions (not counting their area of specialization), either by showing evidence of having previously completed at a B or better level, a college survey course in a tradition, or by taking a Columbia undergraduate survey course and writing a graduate level research paper. With approval from the Director of Graduate Studies, you may take courses in related departments to satisfy the survey requirement.
2. Oral: An oral examination by a two-member faculty committee based on two research papers written for courses with different instructors. Faculty selected for the committee should be from the Department of Religion unless approved by the DGS.
Once all requirements have been completed, the student must apply for graduation in order to receive the MA degree. Degrees are awarded three times a year—in October, February, and May—and each degree conferral date has a corresponding application deadline.
Admitted PhD students who already hold a relevant master's degree, such as a Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Religion, from an accredited university, or international equivalent, may opt to apply for advanced standing in lieu of the MA. If approved, the student would receive two residence units to count towards the six required of the MPhil degree and become ineligible for a MA in Religion from Columbia.
Being granted advanced standing does not necessarily exempt students from all requirements demanded of MA candidates; as such, students are required to meet with their faculty advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies before applying for advanced standing.
Students interested in applying for advanced standing should read the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences' transfer credit policy.
The Theory and Method and Zone (TMZ) exams are taken during the first year of coursework for the PhD program but are part of the requirements for the MPhil Degree. For information about the TMZ exam please consult here.