The General and Specialized Master of Arts Degrees

1. MA in Religion. Students may choose one of the following tracks for an MA in Religion:
   1. General – Students work in 3 areas of the study of religion.
   2. Specialized – Students choose to specialize in one the following programs: Comparative Scriptures; Hebrew Bible; History of Christianity and Religions of North America; Islamic Studies; Jewish Studies; New Testament; Philosophy of Religion and Theology; Theology, Ethics, and Culture; and Women’s Studies in Religion.

Unit Requirements

All MA degree programs require a minimum of 48 semester units of credit. Up to 10 units may be transferred from an accredited graduate institution, in courses relevant to the student's program, for which a grade of “B” or better was earned. Students may submit a “TRANSFER of CREDIT” form (obtainable from the SOR Office) after they have completed 12 CGU units.

Students in the General MA program must complete a minimum of 12 units in three different areas. Students in the Specialized MA program are required to register for a minimum of 28 units of credit in their area of specialization and a minimum of eight units of credit in an area or areas outside of their specialization. Students in both programs may register for up to 10 units of REL 399, Thesis Research. Language instruction taken to meet the Secondary Research Language Requirement does not count toward the required 48 units. However, students may count up to 12 units of courses in a primary text language toward the required minimum of 28 units of credit in their area of specialization.

MA students admitted into the SOR doctoral program will receive credit for 24 units toward their 72-unit doctoral degree. In very rare cases, students may be allowed, at the discretion of the area faculty, to count more than 24 units of their MA toward their 72-unit doctoral degree. However, no MA thesis units may be counted toward the Ph.D.

Required Course

All MA students must take REL 362, Theories of Religion. This course will introduce the major approaches to the study of religion in the Modern and Contemporary West. Methodological issues in the study of religion will be introduced through readings of interpreters and observers of religious beliefs and rituals. These issues will be studied in light of the rise of the humanities and the social sciences in the post-Enlightenment West. The course is also designed to help prepare students to teach an introductory course in religious studies.

Primary Text Language Requirement

Specialized MA degree programs in Comparative Scriptures, Hebrew Bible, Islamic Studies, Jewish Studies, and New Testament, require the completion of courses in a primary text language (see specializations below). Other specialized degree programs may, at the discretion of the area faculty, require a primary text language depending upon the nature of a student’s research plan.

Secondary Research Language Requirement

All MA students must have a reading proficiency in another language. Consult with your advisor and the associate dean to determine which languages will satisfy this requirement.

Thesis

An MA Thesis is to be prepared in consultation with the student's advisor or advisory committee (advisor and second reader) and is normally 60-85 pages in length. Students may take a minimum of two units and a maximum of 10 units for thesis credit. All theses require a second reader. Guidelines for preparing the thesis are available from the SOR Office. All theses must conform in format and style to the CGU guidelines. A copy of the signed title page is to be submitted to the SOR Office upon completion. Two copies of the thesis are submitted to the registrar for deposit in Honnold Library.

Time Limit

The institutional time limit for completing the MA degree is five calendar years from initial registration, regardless of the student's course load per semester. A student may petition for an extension of time. Extensions in the MA program are normally for one year.

Program Outline/Final Approval/Fees

During the semester in which the student expects to have met all requirements for the degree, the “Master's Program Outline and Final Approval of Master's Degree” form must be completed. These are available in the SOR Office. Students should check the Academic Calendar for degree deadlines (including those for payment of fees and filing the “Intent to Receive a Degree” form with the CGU Student Affairs Office).
Descriptions, Courses, and Language Requirements for MA Programs

General. The general MA degree program in religion is designed to give students a strong foundation in the scholarly study of religion through courses and research in three major areas of the study of religion. Students may choose 3 areas from the following: History of Christianity and Religions of North America; Islamic Studies; Jewish Studies; Mormon Studies; Philosophy of Religion and Theology; Theology, Ethics and Culture; and Women’s Studies in Religion. There is no primary text language requirement. The degree will provide preparation for Ph.D. studies in religion and related disciplines, and for a wide range of work and service in religious communities. This MA degree program provides the greatest breadth of preparation for researching and teaching in the field of religion and religious studies.

For information specific to your area of study, please review the SoR Program Handbook.