Questions on RelStud/Phil. Ph.D. programs and admissions

Graduate School
1

<p>Not long ago I posted some questions concerning admissions to Ph.D. programs particularly in religious studies, and had many of immediate fears alleviate. I do, at this point, however, have a few other inquiries I was hoping to have addressed if anyone has any thoughts. I apologize in advance for what may be lengthy!</p>

<p>On the issue of retaking a class: I mentioned in my first post that I had one tough semester, and I’m considering retaking one of those classes (somewhat related to grad work, though outside both my depts.). My University’s policy on retaking is that the original is replaced with an “R” and the new grade is added in the semester it is retaken…only the latter counts towards the GPA. Because my school has covered grades first semester (therefor after two years cGPA only considers 3 semesters of work) I think this would help a lot on the GPA end. I am wondering how an “R” though will be viewed by the admissions committee? </p>

<p>On specific programs and their policies: I’m wondering if there is a way other than directly contacting the DGS for each department, to determine whether the dept follows the “Last 60 hours” policy? Is contacting a DGS with specific questions about a program politically acceptable? I’d imagine so but thought I’d check just in case.</p>

<p>On publications: I will have a few directly relevant to my RelStud. work but I will also have one or two outside the field (international affairs). Is it worth listing these as well to show competence in “doing” scholarly work or should I not since its not directly applicable like some of the other stuff I’ve done? Publications seem to me to be a major factor (at times, even a req) for the grad programs in the hard sciences but, at least from what I’ve seen, far fewer humanities seemed involved at that level in research and certainly don’t seem to publish with anywhere near the regularity. Is this an accurate observation and if so, will this help me to stick out at all?</p>

<p>On my search for a program: So, my interests are somewhat varied but in general I’m looking for a Ph.D. program with 1) strong Continental philosophy (especially Husserl/Heidegger and earlier, much less interested in the various French spin-offs) as it pertains to theology, faith/reason, epistemology of religion, phenomenology of religion…2) Is also strong in Christian (Catholic) thought. At some level, I’d like to continue my ethnographic/historical work on Catholicism as well, but its not as high a priority as the philosophical tradition, which seems to me to be more limiting in terms of programs. If on 2 it’d help to have more information on just what sort of work i’m talking about I’d be happy to provide more information. At the moment, the main places that jump out at me are Chicago Divinity and Stanford RelStud. </p>

<p>A couple admissions questions: I’ve always been conscious of the need to network and have started making contacts at prospective depts. Given the importance of “Fit” how much of a difference does it make to have a prof with whom you’d like to work, supporting your application? Also, I’m thinking of applying to some terminal Masters programs too in case I don’t get into a Ph.D. program (does this make sense? I’m assuming they are generally less selective, is this true?) but I know far less about these programs and which are best for me.</p>

<p>Thank you all in advance for any help and again I apologize for the length!</p>

2

<p>1) The R will make little impact. The improved GPA will help.</p>

<p>2) “Last 60 hours” policies are practically nonexistent in Religious Studies. Overall GPA is considered, GPA in Religion (or the major) is more important. Improvement over time is a positive thing.</p>

<p>3) Contact any DGS for specific qs about their department. Avoid asking questions easily found on the department’s website, but do ask qs about anything not addressed there, and avail yourself of the DGS’s knowledge of his/her own program. Consolidate your questions into one email, or one phone call (arranged by appointment). Do not email incessantly. It looks pesty. </p>

<p>4) List all publications, even outside the field. If possible, in your SOP, highlight the relevance of all publications to your intended subfield of specialization. If entirely irrelevant, don’t mention in SOP, but list on CV. Publications by undergrads are not expected in humanities disciplines, and therefore will indeed set an applicant apart.</p>

<p>5) Cultivating faculty contacts is always good, particularly if they are potential mentors or advisors. Sometimes in admissions, committee members defer deciding votes to the faculty person who would be working most closely with the applicant.</p>

<p>6) Given interests 1 and 2) see UCSB, Harvard, Florida State U, Indiana, Vanderbilt, maybe Emory. Given 1), take a look at Yale, Stanford, Syracuse, Columbia. Keep in mind that in most programs, you will be able to take some coursework in the philosophy department, so look at faculty in those programs as well. Given 2), take a look at Notre Dame. And Pittsburgh, unless Kane leaves. (Gossip is, she might.)</p>

<p>7) Research MA programs just as you would PhD programs. Fit matters just as much in both cases. Terminal MA programs in Rel are all “feeder” programs to PhD programs. Ask the DGS where recent students have gone. Many aspiring PhD students who aren’t sure they’ve gotten sufficient prep at the undergraduate level, particularly in theory and method, but also in languages, choose MA programs. The PhD/MA applicant pools have a lot of overlap, because many applicants feel they cannot count on PhD admissions, and an MA will also get them where they want to go. MA programs are less selective in this sense: They admit more students, since many of these admitted candidates will achieve PhD admissions, and decline. MA programs also see their role as preparing aspiring PhD students, in method/theory, in languages, in achieving focus, in presenting, in publishing.</p>

<p>NOTE: All of this is off the top of my head, I may have omitted some superb programs for you. As usual, it is your job to do the research on which programs and faculty will see you as a good FIT.</p>

3

<p>As always Professor X, I can’t thank you enough for all your insight.</p>

<p>You mentioned major and I’ve seen you and several programs’ websites mention theory/method coursework…the problem is, at Hopkins, we don’t have a religion program of any kind, so the relevant work is scattered between Anthropology, Philosophy and the “Humanities Center”…in that case, what would constitute training in method/theory of religion for those departments? I’ve taking method-esque courses in each dept but certainly nothing like a ‘methods in theology’ type class. The work I have done includes extensive coursework in contemporary epistemology (research seminars in the field as well) and things like “the logic of ethnographic inquiry” in anthro. Will it help to offset this lack of coursework that I’ve been engaged in research for basically all of my undergraduate years?</p>

4

<p>Coursework in Method and Theory in the Study of Religion covers the methods and theories used in the study of religion (not theology). </p>

<p>In my (very prejudiced) opinion, a good methods course should address the history of the discipline of religious studies, covering many of the following, dealing specifically with how these scholars have shaped (and continue to shape) the discipline: Muller, Frazer, Tylor, Hume, Feuerbach, Marx, Kant, Nietzsche, Weber, Durkheim, Mauss, James, Freud, Otto, Eliade, van der Leeuw, Geertz, Turner, Girard, Culianu, Doniger, Barthes, Bell, Long, Stark and Bainbridge, JZ Smith, Foucault, Bataille, Irigaray, Deleuze, Asad, Lincoln, McCutcheon. (Again, this is off the top of my head, and I probably missed quite a few key figures.)</p>

<p>Alternatively, such a course could familiarize students with method and theory in the discipline by offering clusters of various readings in phenomenology of religion, anthropology of religion, sociology of religion, psychology of religion, history of religions, literary criticism and religion, archaeology in the study of religion, philosophy of religion, etc.</p>

<p>While courses in Anthro (like Anthropology of Religion) and Philosophy (like Philosophy of Religion) may cover some of this stuff, coursework in Religion covers it all, by necessity. </p>

<p>You may wish to pick up Eric Sharpe, Comparative Religion: A History, or Walter Capps, Religious Studies: The Making of a Discipline, or Carl Olson, Theory and Method in the Study of Religion: A Selection of Critical Readings, or even Daniel Pals, Seven Theories of Religion.</p>

<p>Because PhD admission committees specifically look for this sort of preparation, students without it may want to consider an MA program first. In your specific case, if you have the Anthro of Rel coursework and Phil of Rel coursework, you could make a case for PhD admission, but you might have to argue it (subtly but clearly) in your SOP.</p>