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What does it cost?

Check out our cost calculator or visit student financial services for information on estimated costs.

How long will it take?

A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate coursework must be completed

Where will I take classes?

Application Deadlines View Admissions Requirements

  • Fall: April 15
  • Spring: Contact the Graduate Director
  • Summer: Contact the Graduate Director

Religious Studies, M.A.

Religious Studies

[email protected]
404-413-6110

Studying world religions prepares you for economic success in professions where culturally diverse points of view are valued, and to succeed personally in an international city such as Atlanta or anywhere else in the world. The program introduces you to ideas, practices and values you’ve never encountered.

Choose from two tracks and two career-oriented concentrations:

  • Thesis Track: Students work with a thesis director and committee to research and write a thesis of publishable length.
    • Final project: Thesis
  • Coursework Intensive Track: Students take more classes to gain more depth in their field or breadth across Religious Studies.
    • Final project: Research paper or project
  • Concentration in Nonprofit Management: Students in this concentration earn the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Certificate in Nonprofit Management while they complete their M.A. in Religious Studies Management while they complete their M.A. in Religious Studies.
    • Final project: Research paper or project that integrates work in Nonprofit Management, an internship and Religious Studies
  • Concentration in Religion and Aging: Students in this concentration earn the Gerontology Institute's Graduate Certificate while they complete their M.A. in Religious Studies.
    • Final project: Research paper or project that integrates work in Gerontology, an internship and Religious Studies

VIEW CATALOG INFORMATION

Program Highlights

Our graduate students are researchers, instructors and entrepreneurs 

Learn about fellowship opportunities, including our WellStar Fellowship.

Program Details

Required Materials

  • GRE NOT REQUIRED for this program
  • Statement of Purpose: Please submit an essay of no more than 1000 words outlining (1) your interest in the field of Religious Studies and (2) why you wish to pursue a graduate degree in Religious Studies at Georgia State.
  • Writing Sample: Please submit a writing sample of your previous scholarly work. Your sample should be no more than 2000 words, and maybe a complete short paper or a representative excerpt from a longer work.
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Transcripts (one from each institution attended)
  • Official TOEFL/IELTS Scores (international applicants only)
  • Institutional code 5251 should be used for reporting GRE and TOEFL scores

Proseminar in Theories and Methods (3 hours)

Courses in world religions, ethics and politics and comparative or thematic studies (12-15 hours, varies by track/concentration)

Electives (varies by track/concentration)

VIEW CATALOG INFORMATION

In recent years, nearly all of the graduate students in our department have received funding.

Department awards typically include a stipend ($2,500-3,000) and tuition waiver valued between $4,584 for in-state and $14,911 for out of state students. We make funding offers of one to four semesters of support at the time of admission, and many other financial aid opportunities are available after students enroll.

Check out our cost calculator or visit student financial services for information on estimated costs.

Hear more about how graduate students at Georgia State fund their education.

Students who complete our degree program gain cultural competency in religious diversity and skills in research and writing in a variety of applications (websites, podcasting, online course design).

Description

Careers

Our students go on to careers in:

  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Medicine and health professions
  • Education
  • Law
  • Business and entrepreneurial work

We place students interested in advanced graduate work in some of the country's most prestigious programs, including Harvard, Princeton, Chicago, the University of California Santa Barbara, Columbia, Emory and Duke.

A list of some of our recent graduates can be found here: https://religiousstudies.gsu.edu/about/career/.

Contacts

Campus Location:
Department of Religious Studies
Georgia State University
25 Park Place
Suite 1700
Atlanta, GA 30303

Mailing Address:
Department of Religious Studies
Georgia State University
P.O. Pox 3994
Atlanta, GA 30302-3994

Associate Professor, Department Chair, Interim Graduate Director
Molly Bassett
[email protected]

25 Park Pl NE #2500
Atlanta, GA 30303

The information shared provides an overview of Georgia State’s offerings. For details on admissions requirements, tuition, courses and more, refer to the university catalogs.