Master of Religious Studies at Stanford University

Stanford University

United States of America, Stanford

University Rank:#3

The Religious Studies is a Master degree offered by Stanford University at its main campus in Stanford , United States of America. The program is delivered on campus as a Full Time course in English and requires approximately 2 years to complete. Students study at the university's main campus while gaining the knowledge and practical experience expected for this area of study. The tuition fee is USD 18,829 / term, and the next intake is available from June 24, 2319.

About Master of Religious Studies

Master of Arts in Religious Studies

University requirements for the M.A. are described in the "Graduate Degrees" section of this bulletin.

The department offers an M.A. program that serves two groups of Stanford students:

undergraduates looking to pursue a coterminal master's degree in Religious Studies
Ph.D. candidates in Religious Studies who wish to also obtain a master's degree while completing their doctoral requirements.

Application and Admissions

At this time, eligibility for admission to the master's program is restricted to current Stanford undergraduates and graduate students.

Current Stanford Undergraduates

Religious Studies accepts coterm applications in Winter Quarter (due end of the second week of classes) for admission starting Spring Quarter. Only complete applications submitted by the deadline are reviewed. A complete application includes the following:

A completed online coterminal program application. See the Registrar's site for additional information.
Two confidential letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a Stanford faculty member familiar with the applicant's academic work
Statement of purpose, not to exceed two pages
Undergraduate transcript(s)
Preliminary program proposal

Current Stanford Graduate Students

The completed application forms for current Stanford graduate students
Two confidential letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a Stanford faculty member familiar with the applicant's academic work
Undergraduate and graduate transcripts
Statement of purpose, not to exceed two pages
Preliminary program proposal

University Coterminal Requirements

Coterminal master's degree candidates are expected to complete all master's degree requirements as described in this bulletin. University requirements for the coterminal master's degree are described in the "Coterminal Master's Degrees"‌ section. University requirements for the master's degree are described in the "Graduate Degrees" section of this bulletin.

After accepting admission to this coterminal master's degree program, students may request transfer of courses from the undergraduate to the graduate career to satisfy requirements for the master's degree. Transfer of courses to the graduate career requires review and approval of both the undergraduate and graduate programs on a case by case basis.

In this master's program, courses taken during or after the first quarter of the sophomore year are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career; the timing of the first graduate quarter is not a factor. No courses taken prior to the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master's degree requirements.

Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor's degree has been conferred.

The University requires that the graduate advisor be assigned in the student's first graduate quarter even though the undergraduate career may still be open. The University also requires that the Master's Degree Program Proposal be completed by the student and approved by the department by the end of the student's first graduate quarter.

Financial Aid

The Religious Studies department does not provide financial assistance to coterminal or master's students. For information on student loans and other sources of support, consult the Financial Aid Office.

This coterminous degree deepens your knowledge of the intellectual, ethical, and sociopolitical issues in the world's religions.

The purpose of the Master's program is to develop knowledge and skills in Religious Studies. For some students this will serve as preparation for applications to Ph.D. programs. For others it will serve as a further capstone experience for their undergraduate program of study. The goals are achieved through the completion of courses, in the primary field as well as related areas, and experience with independent work and specialization. For some it will involve an optional Master's thesis.

Disciplines

Religious Studies

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Master of Religious Studies at Stanford University

Entry Requirements

At Stanford, we practice holistic admission. Each piece in your application is part of an integrated and comprehensive whole.

One piece tells us about your background and life experiences, another about your school and your academic achievement. We learn from others about your character and intellectual contributions. In your essays, we learn about your ideas and interests, and what is meaningful to you.

Each year we aim to enroll a class of diverse backgrounds and experiences, talents, academic interests, and ways of viewing the world.

In a holistic review, we seek to understand how you, as a whole person, would grow, contribute and thrive at Stanford, and how Stanford would, in turn, be changed by you.

Academic Excellence

The primary criterion for admission to Stanford is academic excellence. We look for your preparation and potential to succeed. We expect you to challenge yourself throughout high school and to do very well.

The most important credential for evaluating your academic record is your high school transcript. Please know that our evaluation goes beyond any numerical formula. There is no minimum GPA or test score, nor is there any specific number of AP or honors courses you must have on your transcript in order to have your application reviewed or be admitted to Stanford.

For more complete information on our curriculum guidelines for first-year students, please visit our Academic Preparation page.

Intellectual Vitality

We want to see your commitment, dedication and genuine interest in expanding your intellectual horizons, both in what you write about yourself and in what others write on your behalf. We want to see the kind of curiosity and enthusiasm that will allow you to spark a lively discussion in a first-year seminar and continue the conversation at the dinner table. We want to see the energy and depth of commitment you will bring to your endeavors, whether that means in a research lab, as part of a community organization, during a performance or on an athletic field. We want to see the initiative with which you seek out opportunities and expand your perspective.

Extracurricular Activities

Learning about your extracurricular activities and nonacademic interests helps us understand your potential contributions to the Stanford community. Students often assume our primary concern is the number of activities in which a student participates. In fact, an exceptional depth of experience in one or two activities may demonstrate your passion more than minimal participation in five or six clubs. You may also hold down a job or have family responsibilities. These are as important as any other extracurricular activity. In general, we want to understand the impact you have had at your job, in your family, in a club, in your school or in the larger community, and we want to learn of the impact that experience has had on you.

In some cases, exceptional abilities in athletics may influence our decision if the applicant is otherwise well qualified, but such abilities never, by themselves, ensure admission to Stanford.

Context

Just as no two Stanford students are the same, each applicant to Stanford is unique. This means that as we review each application, we pay careful attention to unique circumstances. We take into account your background, educational pathway, and work and family responsibilities. By focusing on your achievements in context, we evaluate how you have excelled in your school environment and how you have taken advantage of what is available to you in your school and community.

It is important to know these variables are not listed in order of importance in our evaluation and selection process. We review applications holistically. No portion of the application is considered without the rest of the application.

English Requirements

TOEFLMin 100

Tuition and Fee Information for Master of Religious Studies at Stanford University

Tuition Fee

18,829 / term

Application Fee 90

How to Apply for Master of Religious Studies at Stanford University

Start Your Application

Click the Apply Now button above.
Click Create Account under First-Time Users. If you are a current Stanford student or affiliate, you may use the Login with SUNet ID option and you will not need to complete the remaining steps below.
Enter your email address, first name, last name, and birthdate. Click Continue.
A temporary PIN is sent to your email address.
Follow the instructions in the email you just received to establish your account password.
Log in and click Start New Application.

Return to Your Application

You may save your application anytime by clicking Continue at the bottom of any application page.

To return to your application, click the Apply Now button at the top of this page and log in to your account.

Submit Your Application

Navigate to the Review page to ensure you have completed all submission requirements and to preview your application PDF.

Click Finalize and Pay only when you are completely satisfied with your application and before 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on your program’s application deadline. You may not edit your application after submission.

Master of Religious Studies at Stanford University

Stanford University

United States of America, Stanford