About the M.A.

The M.A. program in Religion provides a broad background in the study of religious currents, including the marginal and transnational, within a strong theoretical framework of the academic study of religion. The M.A. program will be designed to assist students in:

  • acquiring the necessary background and credentials for admittance in competitive divinity and doctoral programs*, or
  • developing the skills necessary for other vocational or professional options that do not require a Ph.D., or
  • exploring personal and professional interests

*MA students applying to the Rice PhD program before the second year of the MA program will not be considered. Allowances will be made for second-year MA students, but they will have no special privilege of entry into the PhD program and will be assessed on their merits, in competition with all other applicants.

Students accepted into the M.A. program are eligible to participate in the GEM Certificate Program.

Tuition

Tuition for the 2023-24 is $10,000 per semester. All students must pay fees. Fees for 2022-23 are $367.50 per semester. There are no scholarships or financial assistance (outside of federal loans for U.S. citizens) available for students in the M.A. program.

Application Information

Applications for Fall 2024 admissions are now open. Information about the application process and a link to apply can be found here.

Contact

Inquiries regarding the application process should be directed to Humanities Graduate Admissions. For academic inquiries regarding the program, please contact Professor Claire Fanger, director of M.A. Studies.