The Religious Studies program is an interdisciplinary program within the Department of History and Classics and offers programs leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
Program Requirements
Students are required to complete a minimum of ?7 and a thesis.
Required Courses (?7)
RELIG 575 (?3) – Contemporary Theories of Religion
One ?3 graduate course in the student’s area of specialization as determined by the supervisory committee.
RELIG 675 (?1) Graduate Seminar. Each PhD student will present a research paper in this seminar one time prior to candidacy, usually during the second year in the program. All PhD students in residency are expected to attend it on an ongoing basis. The Seminar’s aim is to provide a regular opportunity for graduate students to submit their research to peer review and discussion.
Additional courses (up to a maximum of ?15 in addition to the required courses above) will be determined by the supervisory committee in consultation with the student.
Language courses may be required (see Language Requirement below). Language courses will not normally count as graduate credits for the program.
Courses may include Religious Studies (RELIG) courses, courses offered by other departments and programs with Religious Studies content or courses offered by other departments and programs with a theoretical or intellectual bearing on the student’s particular area of research.
Thesis
Registration in 900-level THES. All doctoral candidates must prepare and defend a thesis of high calibre on an approved topic.
Length of Program
The time required to complete the PhD will vary according to the candidate’s background and progress; however a minimum of four years should be expected.
The maximum time to complete the PhD program as set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research is six years.
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution
September 2025
North Campus
116 St. and 85 Ave.,
Edmonton,
Alberta,
T6G 2R3, Canada
The minimum admission requirements are an MA in Religious Studies or the equivalent with an admission GPA of at least 3.3 on the 4- point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution.
Applicants may be admissible if they have completed an MA in a field other than Religious Studies if their thesis and/or course work had Religious Studies content relevant to their proposed thesis topic and if they have earned substantial Religious Studies credits at the BA level.
English Language Proficiency:
The deadline to apply for the Religious Studies PhD and MA programs is February 1.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
One of Canada’s top teaching and research universities, the University of Alberta has an international reputation for academic excellence.
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