Arizona State University The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 4 courses 30 total credits
In the Master of Arts program in religious studies, you develop greater expertise regarding the nature and role of religion around the world. You are offered an opportunity to develop knowledge of various religious traditions in their historical and cultural contexts and to learn research methods. Although you often concentrate upon a single religious tradition for your thesis work, the program provides a broadly comparative understanding of religions, not simply a specialist's training in a single tradition.
| Required Core | 6 credits |
| Total Credits | 30 credits |
Required Core
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| REL 501 | The Study of Religion I: Genealogies, Disciplines and Power | 3 |
| REL 502 | The Study of Religion II: Epistemology, Practice and Mediation | 3 |
| Total Required Core | 6 credits | |
Culminating Experience (3 or 6 credit hours)
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| REL 593 | Applied Project | 3 |
| REL 599 | Thesis | 6 |
Additional Curriculum Information
There are two options for the culminating experience: a thesis or an applied project. An oral defense of the final written work is required for both options. The thesis option is recommended for students intending to seek admission to a doctoral program upon completion of the master's degree or for students who plan to teach in the discipline at community colleges. Thesis students must have reading knowledge of all languages relevant to the proposed thesis topic and take 18 credit hours of electives or research coursework. The applied project option is recommended for students intending to augment their primary area of expertise and professional training in fields such as counseling, journalism, K-12 education, law, social work and the ministry. The applied project requires submission of three publishable papers: one on theory and method, one on the student's minor area of study, and one on the major area of study. The student's chosen areas of study determine the coursework taken as electives, with applied project students taking 21 credit hours of electives coursework, four courses being in a major area of study and two courses being in a minor area. Reading knowledge of a foreign language relevant to the proposed area of study is required. The student's plan of study may include up to six credit hours of 400-level coursework or one REL 690: Reading and Conference course with department approval.
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