Florida International University

What you'll study

The programme combines core training in methods and theory with specialised study of particular religious traditions, historical periods and thematic approaches. Students encounter courses in the history of religions, sacred texts and interpretive strategies, anthropology of religion, theory and methodology, and religion in modern societies.

• Core modules: theoretical approaches to the study of religion; qualitative research methods; critical issues in contemporary religious studies.
• Thematic and regional modules: Christianity in the Americas; religion in Latin America and the Caribbean; Islam and Muslim societies; Jewish studies; African and indigenous religions; migration, diaspora and religion.
• Topical modules: religion and politics; gender, sexuality and religion; ritual, material religion and practice; religion, media and popular culture; religion and public life.
• Research and skills: graduate seminar in historiography and theory, advanced reading courses in original languages where appropriate, and training in archival and ethnographic methods.
• Capstone: students typically choose between a supervised thesis based on original research and a non-thesis option composed of advanced coursework and a comprehensive examination or practicum.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a recognised bachelor's degree or equivalent. Admissions favour candidates with undergraduate preparation in religious studies, theology, philosophy, history, anthropology, sociology or related humanities and social sciences, but applicants from other backgrounds with relevant experience are considered.

• Official transcripts demonstrating satisfactory academic performance at the undergraduate level.
• A personal statement outlining academic interests, research goals and reasons for pursuing graduate study in religion.
• Letters of recommendation, usually two or three, from academic referees or supervisors who can assess scholarly potential.
• A writing sample that demonstrates the applicant's ability to analyse texts or conduct research; this is especially important for those intending to pursue the thesis option.
• International applicants must meet the university's English proficiency requirements through approved tests or equivalent evidence of proficiency.
• Some applicants may be invited for an interview; prior language competence in a relevant research language (for example Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic or Hebrew) is advantageous but not always required.

Career prospects

Graduates go on to a range of careers that draw on the programme's analytical, research and communication skills. Many continue to doctoral study and academic careers in religious studies, theology, history or anthropology.

• Higher education and academic research, including progression to PhD programmes.
• Teaching at secondary and tertiary levels, often combined with certification where required.
• Non-profit and community organisations, including cultural mediation, advocacy and interfaith work.
• Public sector roles in policy, cultural heritage and community relations where expertise in religion and diversity is needed.
• Museum and archive work, research curation and public programming for cultural institutions.
• Media, publishing and communications roles that require careful analysis of religious topics and public engagement.
• Chaplaincy and pastoral care, typically in combination with specific professional or denominational training required for practice.

Why study at Florida International University

Florida International University is located in Miami, a global city with a richly diverse religious landscape that provides abundant opportunities for fieldwork, internships and public-facing research. The university's programme emphasises interdisciplinary study and benefits from faculty expertise in Latin American, Caribbean and immigrant religious traditions as well as contemporary religion in the Americas.

• Proximity to diverse communities and religious institutions supports ethnographic and community-based research projects.
• Interdisciplinary links across area studies, sociology, history and anthropology create opportunities for collaborative research and coursework.
• Access to local archives, cultural centres and partner organisations enables applied learning, internships and public scholarship.
• Small seminars and supervised research foster close mentoring from faculty with active research profiles in theology, history of religions and social scientific approaches.