Graduate Religious Studies
The University of Virginia’s Graduate Program in Religious Studies offers a comprehensive curriculum, rooted in the humanities and liberal arts, that spans diverse religious traditions, global regions, and methodological approaches. Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia as a non-sectarian institution dedicated to the “illimitable freedom of the human mind,” a vision he also promoted through his Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. The Graduate Program in Religious Studies draws on this founding commitment to intellectual freedom and non‑sectarian inquiry, cultivating a vibrant academic community dedicated to the study of religion in all its complexity.
Graduate students receive rigorous training in historical, philological, philosophical, theological, ethnographic, and literary methods as they prepare for scholarly and professional careers. Students pursue flexible M.A. pathways or specialized Ph.D. research fields while working closely with the largest stand‑alone religion faculty in the United States. Graduates of the program have secured tenure‑track positions at leading universities—including Michigan, Yale, Northwestern, Cambridge, and Washington—as well as careers in religious vocations, nonprofits, government, higher‑education administration, and other sectors.
Designed to foster deep expertise and original research, the program combines rigorous coursework, language study, professional development, and sustained mentorship to prepare scholars equipped to contribute meaningfully to the academic and public understanding of religion.
What Can I Do With This Degree?
- University or College Professor / Academic Researcher in Religious Studies
- Tenure‑track faculty at universities, colleges, and divinity schools (e.g., Michigan, Yale, Cambridge, Northwestern, Washington)
- Roles in religious vocations and ministry settings
- Nonprofit or NGO professional focusing on religion, culture, or social justice
- Government or public‑sector positions involving cultural, ethical, or religious expertise
- Higher‑education administration or academic program leadership
- Writer, editor, or public scholar on religion and society
- Historical study of religions and religious traditions
- Philological and textual analysis of religious sources
- Philosophical and theological approaches to religion
- Ethnographic and anthropological study of religious communities and practices
- Literary and cultural analysis of religious narratives, expressions, and arts
- Global, comparative, and cross‑cultural study of religions