Compare 6 PhD Programs in Religious Studies

The purpose of doctoral studies in the field of Philosophy of Religion is for students to cultivate, in the usual way for advanced studies, their ability to examine, using philosophical tools and approaches, religious phenomena and issues relating to the religious dimension of human culture, including theological thought and its traditions. Students learn to reflect critically on these approaches and their results and to interpret them both in their specific context and within the framework of current academic knowledge. In direct connection with its multidisciplinary nature, this study program develops the skills necessary for analyzing complex issues, and students learn to combine various specialist perspectives and discourses in evaluating specific findings and testing hypotheses, while at the same time ensuring that the methods used are appropriate, the thinking is precise, and complex or controversial problems are expressed clearly. The study program not only leads to the acquisition of expert knowledge and skills, but also develops the ability to understand views, concepts, teachings and theories that are non-traditional or differ from one’s own, cultivates argumentative approaches to critical debate, and refines the ability to evaluate oneself and to formulate one’s own opinion or position.... [-]

The doctoral study program “Theology”, the branch of study “Jewish studies” with a standard length of study of four years prepares students for independent scientific research and independent creative activities in the area of Jewish studies. The branch of study enables students to specialize in their profession according to his or her individual study plan. The branch of study develops an intellectual legacy of Jewish studies and applies that in the contemporary religious situation of Judaism. The subject of the studies is Jewish history and culture, synagogue liturgy, Jewish religious philosophy, rabbi literature, reading and interpretation of selected texts of Babylonian Talmud and Hebrew language of rabbi texts. The goal of the studies is a scientific preparation of first-rate experts that are capable of independent scientific work in the area of Jewish studies. The branch is not nationally or confessionally defined but interprets Judaism as a religious phenomenon in the historical contexts overlapping into present problems. Learning about the spiritual values of Judaism enables students to deepen their understanding of Christianity, primarily its ethics.... [-]

Mode of Attendance: Full Time or Part Time

The SOAS Religions and Philosophies Department offers a vibrant, stimulating, and interdisciplinary research environment. We provide individual research supervision in a wide variety of religious traditions and comparative and interdisciplinary topics. Supervisors are experts in their fields and thoroughly familiar with the religions, cultures, languages, and geographical areas they specialize in.

In addition to individual supervision the Department offers research training at various levels: an obligatory research writing workshop which prepares year 1 MPhil students for their upgrade to the PhD level; a weekly seminar for PhD students in years 2 and 3 to discuss work in progress and receive feedback before submitting their thesis; a departmental research seminar in which both staff and students present papers on their research projects and discuss them in an interdisciplinary setting. Students also have the opportunity to attend seminars, lectures, and conferences offered by the various specialist Centres relating to their particular fields. These centers run regular evening lecture series, workshops, and conferences which host visiting speakers from other universities in Britain, Europe, and globally.... [-]

The DIRD (and DIFS) are unique programs in the sense that they are actually offered by an intergovernmental organization with a university charter and an additional mandate in inter-religious dialogue and diplomacy. Notably, EUCLID is the only university which has received the first prize of the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week, presented by H.M. King Abdullah of Jordan (photo below).

EUCLID offers several closely related but nevertheless distinct graduate programs:

This page focuses on the DIRD: EUCLID’s Ph.D. in Inter-Religious Dialogue and Diplomacy, the umbrella program designed to train diplomats, government officials and civil servants in this complex and specialized field. These programs, delivered 100% online, exist to prepare government officials, social workers, clergy, theologians and faculty members to successfully and constructively engage in inter-religious dialogue and diplomacy. This program assumes a strong interest in religion, spirituality, theology, critical thinking, academic research and global affairs. Furthermore, it is open to students from all religious backgrounds including non-believers, although its focus may be of special interest to Muslims and Christians since it was—to an extent—developed in response to the “Common Word” initiative. However, it does assume the following:... [-]

The ecological challenges of the 21st century represent a crisis of values and consciousness. The pace of global change calls for an understanding of the process by which humanity came to this crossroads in planetary history. Graduate study in Ecology, Spirituality, and Religion allows students to cultivate the knowledge and wisdom to respond to the ecological crisis from integral and transdisciplinary perspectives.

Our program is centered in nurturing a community engaged in revitalizing the human relationship to the earth and exploring intersections of eco-spirituality, eco-justice, indigenous traditions, and eco-feminism. The world's religious and spiritual traditions offer deep insight into the human condition, along with profound teachings about how humans should relate to one another and to the environment. Students gain skills and insight to transform practices, worldviews, and consciousness in the service of a more just, sustainable, and flourishing planetary future. Core faculty are founders in the field of religion and ecology, shaping global dialogue linking spirituality and cosmology with ecology and sustainability.... [-]

The Doctor of Philosophy in Inter-religious Studies is an advanced research-based, highly individualized course of study in a specialized area of religions beyond Master of Arts (or Master of Divinity) in Intercultural Studies (including Missions Studies and World Christianity).

The focus of the programme is to prepare candidates mostly in the African setting for teaching, leadership, and administration in public and private Christian organizations pertaining to critical issues of religions.

This is in view of the growing tension internationally between religious communities in Africa and even beyond, such as Christian-Muslim conflicts around the world. (The programme gives a priority to those applicants who hold an MTh degree in Intercultural Studies with emphasis on any religion (such as Islam), but it also allows even candidates with a Master of Art or Master of Divinity degree in Intercultural Studies or World Christianity to apply for this doctoral programme.)... [-]