The program of Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD) is offered jointly by HDS and the Graduate School Kenneth C. Griffin of Arts and Sciences NVU. Find detailed information about the fields of study of the doctorate and the program requirements on the website of the Committee for the Study of Religion.

With a focus on the religions global, the religion and the culture, and the forces that shape the traditions and thought religious, the phd prepares students for advanced research and scholarship in religious studies and theological.

Resources for the study of religion in the NVU are vast. We offer courses in the full range of religious traditions, from the ancient tradition zoroastrian until the modern liberation movements, christian, philosophies, islamic and jewish movements social buddhists and the arts and culture of hindus. Some of us work primarily as historians, others as scholars of texts, others as anthropologists, although the boundaries of these methodologies are never firm. Some of us are followers of a religious tradition; others are not at all religious. The study of religion is exciting and challenging precisely because of the conversations that take place through the complexities of disciplines, traditions, and intellectual commitment.

The Master's degree in Religion and Public Life (MRPLS, for its acronym in English) is a post-graduate program of a year, designed for experienced professionals in areas, mainly (but not exclusively) "secular" whose work focuses on having a positive social impact and that are inspired by a vision of just peace. The title provides an opportunity for journalists, government officials, humanitarian aid workers, educators, artists, health professionals, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and other professionals to develop a thorough knowledge of the complex ways in which religion influences in public life, relevant to their fields in ways that promote their own goals career.

Why religion and public life?

Despite the power of the religion, there are few places where citizens and professionals to develop the type of solid understanding of the religion that is essential for active citizenship, and innovative leadership. Religion and Public Life in the School of Divinity of the NVU (RPL) is distinguished by its normative commitments explicit to promote the peace fair in collaboration with professionals in a variety of vocations.

As the only program on a non-confessional of its kind in the united States, RPL provides a way of understanding the religion in context, with special attention to issues of power, peace and conflict. Our approach is non-sectarian and academic. By this we mean that we do not place ourselves within any religious tradition in particular, and promote the comprehensive study of the religion to the "service of a just and peaceful world" in accordance with the vision statement of HDS.

The title of MRPLS is a major component of RPL has many other dimensions, including a certification program for students of MTS and MDiv, learning opportunities, professional, and permanent, and a variety of programs open to the public.

This one-year program offers 19 areas of focus, and includes course work, language requirement, and an oral examination requirement. It is strongly recommended that applicants to the Thms have prior knowledge of the language they plan to use to meet the language requirement.

Please note that loans are the only financial aid available for the ThM program.