MA Religious Studies at Arizona State University

Programme overview

In the Master of Arts program in religious studies, you develop greater expertise regarding the nature and role of religion around the world. You are offered an opportunity to develop knowledge of various religious traditions in their historical and cultural contexts and to learn research methods. Although you often concentrate upon a single religious tradition for your thesis work, the program provides a broadly comparative understanding of religions, not simply a specialist's training in a single tradition.

What you will study

30 credit hours including the required applied project course (REL 593) and a foreign language exam, or 30 credit hours, a thesis and a foreign language exam Required Core (6 credit hours) REL 501 The Study of Religion I: Genealogies, Disciplines and Power (3) REL 502 The Study of Religion II: Epistemology, Practice and Mediation (3) Electives or Research (18 or 21 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 or 6 credit hours) REL 593 Applied Project (3) or REL 599 Thesis (6) Additional Curriculum Information There are two options for the culminating experience: a thesis or an applied project.

Career pathways

The MA program in religious studies provides graduates with training and knowledge relevant to careers in government, nongovernmental organizations, nonprofit organizations, global relationships, intercultural understanding, foreign service, researchers, professional writing, journalism and publishing. Career examples: book editor, community college instructor, foreign service employee, global affairs writer, nongovernmental organization professional, nonprofit management.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree, in any field, from a regionally accredited institution. Transcripts must show evidence of having completed the equivalent of 15 credit hours of undergraduate work in the study of religions, including advanced courses in both Western and Asian or other non-Western religions. Applicants who have not met this requirement may be required to take additional coursework beyond program requirements. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. The most competitive applicants have a GPA of 3.50 or higher.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,327 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads Source

International applicants: USD 24,780 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads ar Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer; the terms available for each programme are listed in Degree Search.

Graduate application deadlines are set by each programme office and listed in Degree Search; the application opens almost a year before the start term. The nonrefundable application fee is $75 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA and international online students outside the U.S., and $120 for international students on a nonimmigrant visa studying in the U.S. Apply with ASU's graduate application (Law applicants use the law college's site); GRE/GMAT requirements vary by programme.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply/graduate/admission

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