The PhD Program

Emory’s Graduate Division of Religion (GDR) is a unit of the Laney Graduate School. It draws on the resources of Emory’s Department of Religion, Candler School of Theology, and other departments and schools throughout the university. Work in the GDR is oriented entirely toward the Doctor of Philosophy degree. It is organized into twelve paths and has specialized program possibilities that allow for concentrated research in an additional four areas.

The PhD program requires two years of course work. While specific requirements vary among the courses of study, all students must take at least five doctoral seminars during the two years of course work. Individual courses of study may have certain required seminars, and independent studies may be arranged with professors. The equivalent of two seminars must be taken in an area of study outside one’s field of specialization, leading to a qualifying exam in that area. In the first year, there is a nongraded colloquium, coordinated by the GDR directors, which serves as an introduction to both the GDR and to the professional study of religion and theology.

In the third year, students take doctoral (qualifying) examinations, proceed to a dissertation prospectus, and, by the fourth year, should be writing the dissertation. Dissertation committees are composed of at least three faculty members, not all of whom need be in the student’s particular path. Dissertations are normally completed in the fifth or sixth year of a student’s program of study. Throughout the program, students may apply to Laney Graduate School for funding to support research, travel, and professional development.

Students in the PhD program must demonstrate the ability to read two languages (other than English) relevant to their research. Languages that have satisfied this requirement include German, French, Spanish, and Arabic, but any language may be chosen that is appropriate to the student’s research and approved by the student’s path. The biblical courses of study have additional requirements in the pertinent primary languages. Competence in a first research language is to be demonstrated by written examination at the beginning of the first semester in residence, and competence in a second must be demonstrated before preliminary examinations are administered. Funds are available to support language training.

The academic program is supplemented by rigorous teacher training and ample teaching opportunities. All students participate in the Teaching Assistant Training and Teaching Opportunity (TATTO) Program as part of their course of study. The program consists of a summer workshop run by Laney Graduate School, held in August before entering the GDR; a specialized teaching seminar/workshop taken in the second year; two required teaching assistantships; and one teaching associateship. These teaching opportunities normally start in the second semester of the first year (generally connected to classes in either the Department of Religion or Candler School of Theology).

Each year, Laney Graduate School and the Graduate Division of Religion offer special workshops to explore ethical issues in academia and such areas for professional development as writing practices, conference presentations, pedagogical techniques, and employment within and beyond the professoriate.