two-semester master’s level introduction to the history of Christianity prior to enrollment. Students who have not done so will be required to complete the two-semester History of Christianity course (REL 301 and REL 302) in their first year. These courses will not count toward the 48 units required for the program and may be taken for audit credit. In such a case, students are required to complete all written work for the two courses. Students entering the 72-unit PhD program, as well as MA students specializing in History of Christianity, should take REL 301 & 302 during their first year of course work.
Students accepted into the 48-unit Ph.D. program in Religions in North America should have completed relevant master's level work in American History, American Religion, and/or the History of Christianity prior to enrollment.
Diagnostic Exam
The Diagnostic Exams in the History of Christianity and Religion in the U. S. are intended to ensure (1) a general level of competence in the History of Christianity or Religion in U. S. prior to beginning more specialized doctoral work and (2) the ability to teach an introductory course in the History of Christianity or Religion in U. S.
Normally, students are expected to take the relevant Diagnostic Exam prior to beginning their last 48-units of Ph.D. course work. HC students who are admitted to the 48-unit program without the requisite two semester History of Christianity course are required to take the exam no later than the beginning of their second year of course work.
Program Advisors and Dissertation Chairs
Entering students are normally assigned a faculty member in HC (Karen Torjesen, Lori Anne Ferrell, Ann Taves, Jack Fitzmier) or RNA (Taves) as a program advisor based on the interests expressed in their application. Students in an HC Concentration (see below) may request the approval of the core faculty in HC to ask a person outside the History of Christianity to serve as the chair of their dissertation committee.
In consultation with their program advisor, students in RNA may ask a faculty member associated with Religion in North America (see RNA Exams below) to serve as the chair of their dissertation committee.
Course Work and Long Range Planning
Students will work with their advisor to plan a course of study tailored to their long-range reaching and research interests. As they begin their last 48-units of course work, students should start thinking about how they will configure their doctoral examinations. In HC & RNA the doctoral examinations are designed to establish the student’s breadth of preparation and to demonstrate the areas on which a student is competent to teach beyond the introductory survey. Course work should be chosen with an eye toward preparing for exams (breadth) and writing the dissertation (depth).
Language Requirements
In keeping with School policy, students are required to pass language examinations in two of the following three languages: French, German, or Spanish. In addition, students in HC and RNA are required to demonstrate competence in the language(s) of the primary materials relevant to their period of specialization generally and their proposed area of dissertation research in particular. The student’s advisor will determine which, if any, additional languages are required of a student. Competence in these languages must be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the advisor before the student may take their doctoral examinations.
Preparation for Doctoral Qualifying Exams
After the completion of their course work, students will develop reading lists for their examinations in consultation with the faculty writing the exams. Bibliographies of recommended core readings are available for some examinations.
The student is responsible for scheduling the written and oral examinations according to the regular procedures of the School of Religion (see the School Secretary). Students in HC and RNA are required to take five written qualifying examinations.
History of Christianity Doctoral Exams
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Two period exams outside the student's area of specialization. These exams should be chosen with the student's long-range teaching objectives in mind. The most frequently offered exams are Early (Torjesen), Medieval/Reformation (Torjesen & Ferrell), Reformation/Early Modern (Ferrell) and Modern (Taves).
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An area and period exam in the student's area of specialization. Normally, given available resources, students will choose Early, Medieval/Reformation, Reformation/Early Modern, or Modern Christianity. This exam will include questions that demonstrate both the student’s breadth of knowledge in the area and period and specialized questions related to the student’s proposed dissertation research.
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A theory / method exam. HC students have written exams on cultural studies, race theory, feminist theory, anthropological theory, feminist historiography, sociological theory, rhetorical theory, translation theory. The theory & methods exam should emphasize a theory & method to the student’s proposed dissertation and long-range research and teaching interests.
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A thematic exam. The reading list should include the most important works on a given theme in the history of Christianity, regardless of period or region. Possible themes include architecture, worship, women, spirituality, the interaction between Christianity and cultures. The thematic exam should emphasize a theory & method to the student’s proposed dissertation and long-range research and teaching interests.
Concentrations within the History of Christianity
Students in HC may (but are not required to) elect concentrations that bridge sub-fields in Religion or Departments in the Humanities. Currently concentrations are in place in Christian Origins (with NT), Historical Theology (with PRT), Christian Spirituality, American Christianity (with American History), Early Modern Studies (with English, History, and Philosophy), and Women’s Studies. The thematic or, where appropriate, the methodology exam will reflect the guidelines for the concentration.
Concentration in Christian Origins: Students electing a concentration in Christian Origins will plan a course of study, in consultation with their advisor and in light of their previous preparation, that will include courses in Hellenistic texts, Greek philosophy, early Judaism, and Greco-Roman religions, as well as the History of Christianity. Concentrators will take the area and period exam in Early Christianity and the thematic exam covering early Judaism and Greco-Roman religions on a theme relevant to the student’s proposed dissertation research. Dissertation Chairs: Karen Torjesen, Greg Riley.
Concentration in Early Modern Studies: Students electing a concentration in Early Modern Studies will plan a course of study, in consultation with their advisor and in light of their previous preparation, that will include courses in British and/or European History, English or Renaissance Literature, and English and/or continental historical philosophy from the periods 1500-1800—in addition to courses in Reformation and post-Reformation Europe and Britain. Concentrators
will take the area and period exams in Reformation Europe and Britain. Dissertation Chair: Lori Anne Ferrell.
Concentration in American Christianity: Students electing a concentration in American Christianity will plan a course of study, in consultation with their advisor and in light of their previous preparation, that will include courses in American history as well as History of Christianity. Concentrators will take the area and period exam in Modern Christianity with an emphasis on Christianity in the U.S. and substitute an exam in American history for the thematic exam. Dissertation Chairs: Ann Taves, Jack Fitzmier, Scott Cormode.
Concentration in Historical Theology: Students electing a concentration in Historical Theology will plan a course of study, in consultation with their advisor and in light of their previous preparation, that will include courses in Theology as well as History of Christianity. Concentrators will focus their thematic exam on a theological topic relevant to the student’s proposed dissertation research. Dissertation Chairs: Karen Torjesen, Lori Anne Ferrell, Anselm Min.
Concentration in Christian Spirituality: Students electing a concentration in Christian Spirituality will plan a course of study, in consultation with their advisor and in light of their previous preparation, that will include courses in Theology and Spirituality Studies as well as the History of Christianity, including "Approaches to the Study of Spirituality" (Dreitcer). Concentrators will focus their thematic exam on a topic in spirituality relevant to their proposed dissertation research. Dissertation Chair: Andrew Dreitcer
Concentration in Women’s Studies: Students electing a concentration in Women’s Studies will plan a course of study, in consultation with their advisor and in light of their previous preparation, that will include courses in women’s history and feminist theory, as well as the History of Christianity. Concentrators will take their methodology exam in feminist theory and focus their thematic exam on women or gender. Dissertation Chairs: Karen Torjesen, Lori Anne Ferrell, and Ann Taves.
Religion in North America Doctoral Exams
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Christianity – Students are required to demonstrate knowledge of Christianity in the U.S. or North America generally, as well as a more in-depth knowledge of some particular aspect of Christianity in the U.S. (Ann Taves, Jack Fitzmier, Scott Cormode).
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A Non-Christian Tradition or New Religious Movements – Students are required to demonstrate knowledge of a tradition other than Christianity in the U.S. or knowledge of new religious movements that have emerged in the U.S. At the present time, students may write exams in Judaism/Jewish history (Hal Barron with Marv Sweeney or Gary Gilbert), Islam (Zayn Kassam), Buddhism (Zhiru Ng), or New Religious Movements (Ann Taves).
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American history (Janet Farrell Brodie or others in history at CGU or the Colleges).
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Theory / Method -- See HC exam (above).
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Thematic Exam – The reading list should include the most important works on a given theme in the American context, regardless of tradition. Possible themes include interaction of traditions, sacred space, religious architecture, sacred music, prophets and visionaries, religion and the family, women and religion.
Dissertation Committee
After the student has passed their doctoral examinations, they will develop a dissertation proposal in consultation with their advisor and the members of their dissertation committee. The committee members will normally be chosen from the faculty of CGU, CST, and/or the Claremont Colleges. Students are encouraged to invite an outside (fourth) reader to serve on the committee as well. Faculty may be invited to serve on the committee either before or after the proposal is drafted, as deemed appropriate by the chair of the student’s committee.
The Dissertation Proposal
The proposal should be 5-7 pages in length and include the title of the dissertation, the research problem addressed by the dissertation, the significance of the problem, the (tentative) thesis, a definition of major terms, a discussion of work previously done on the problem, and the scope and limitations of the dissertation. The student will append a chapter outline and a bibliography. The dissertation proposal, signed by the chair and the committee members, will be submitted to the core faculty in HC for final approval.
The Oral Defense
The student is responsible for scheduling the oral defense of their dissertation in accordance with the regular procedures of the Department of Religion (see Department Secretary).
HC Courses Offered Recent HC PhDs