Graduate Admissions
General
Some successful applicants enter the department after majoring in religious studies as undergraduates, although others may come from other fields. In most instances doctoral applicants hold a master’s degree from this or other religious studies programs, a theological school, or another program closely related to their Ph.D. specialization.
Some matters to consider before making your application are discussed here: Before You Apply…
Application to the Religion graduate program involves a simultaneous process of application to both the Graduate School and the department. In addition to the minimum requirements of the Graduate School, applicants must fulfill the additional requirements of the department.
Graduate School minimum requirements
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or curriculum; an overall average grade of B or better for the junior and senior years; and for some foreign students, a satisfactory score on TOEFL (Testing of English as a Foreign Language), with a “satisfactory” taken to mean 550 or better (or 213 or better on the computer-based test conversion score).
Department Requirements
The Department of Religion only offers admission to prospective Ph.D. Students.
All applicants for admission must meet the Graduate School requirements. In addition, the department requires:
(1) Three references from persons competent to evaluate the applicant’s potential for graduate work;
(2) An essay of three to five double-spaced, typewritten pages identifying the applicant’s goals and particular interests pertinent to the six available fields of study (this essay is extremely important and applicants should attend to it carefully);
(3) Beyond these requirements, applicants need to show clear evidence of solid preparation before admission. This usually includes formal study of the primary language in the area of specialization. The department no longer requires a GRE but students are encouraged to provide one and a writing sample is also required.
(4) In addition to evidence of preparation and academic promise, the department gives careful consideration to the fit between an applicant’s central scholarly interests and the resources the department and university have to offer.
How to apply
Apply online at http://www.admissions.ufl.edu/grad.
Everything needed for your applications will be submitted through this link.
Note: Pursuant to Florida Statute, your application requires inclusion of all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about ongoing international affiliations and research funding. Please ensure this information is included on your curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé.
Application dates and deadlines
The deadline for submission of all materials, including financial aid materials, is January 15. Applicants will be notified of decisions taken by the Graduate Advisory Committee no later than mid April. In rare cases the Graduate Advisory committee will consider students for provisional spring semester admittance.