PhD Religion at Columbia University

Programme overview

The Graduate Program in Religion is a cooperative programme of the Departments of Religion at Columbia University, Barnard College and Union Theological Seminary. It studies the history, literature, theory and functions of religion in different societies and cultures. Students gain advanced training in a specific field plus broad knowledge of the world's major religious traditions and methods of studying religion.

Faculty: Graduate School of Arts and Sciences | Department: Department of Religion | Intake: Fall | Study mode: full-time | Location: New York, NY, United States

What you will study

Fields of study include Arts, Material Culture and Performance; Buddhism; Christianity; East Asian Religions; Islam; Judaism; North American Religions; Philosophy and Critical Thought; Religion, Gender and Sexuality; Religion, Race and Indigeneity; and South Asian Religions. A Certificate in Comparative Literature and Society is available.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences PhD application: transcript for each school attended, statement of academic purpose, personal statement, resume, 3 letters of recommendation (at least two academic). Writing sample: 10-15 pages, double-spaced. GRE General: not required. Fall admission deadline: 12/10/2026. International applicants whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country where English is not the official language must submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test scores.

Intake: Fall

Apply through the official page: https://www.gsas.columbia.edu/content/prospective-students

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