The UMKC Center for Religious Studies

The Religious Studies Program
The University of Missouri-Kansas City

The Religious Studies Program offers an interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and socio-historical approach to the study of religion. The Program involves a consortium of several area institutions of higher education that have pooled their resources in order to participate in the UMKC Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program. Founded in 1996 Religious Studies is the administrative and academic home of the Religious Studies discipline in UMKC’s interdisciplinary Ph.D. program and is governed by the regulations and requirements of that program.

Students in religious studies are introduced to the many dimensions of religious belief, practice, and expression found in human cultures across time and space. In addition to core courses designed for doctoral-level students with Religious Studies as either their Coordinating or Co-Discipline, the Program offers a number of graduate and undergraduate courses. Cognate courses relevant to the study of religion can be found under the listings of other departments and programs.

The participating consortium members are the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Nazarene Theological Seminary, Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Park University, Rockhurst University, and William Jewell College. Representatives from each institution serve on a steering committee that, together with the core faculty, determines curriculum, sets academic standards, screens applications, and oversees other administrative matters related to the Ph.D. program.

Adjunct doctoral faculty from the participating institutions work with UMKC doctoral faculty in supervising the dissertation research of graduate students in Religious Studies. Students must complete requirements in at least two approved doctoral disciplines in order to receive the Ph.D. degree. Students may select Religious Studies as either their coordinating discipline or co-discipline. The coordinating discipline is the principle field of study, while the co-discipline is the secondary complementary field. Compatible co-disciplines for Religious Studies include, but are not limited to, History, Education, Sociology/Anthropology, Political Science, Psychology, Philosophy, History of Art, and English.

Applicants applying to the Ph.D. program should have an M.A. in a cognate field or an MTS. Applications are reviewed in the early spring for fall admission. Applicants are eligible to apply for all UMKC fellowships and financial aid.

Language Requirement

While the particular language requirements vary from student to student, depending on the individual area of interest and research, the two overarching principles for the language requirement are that a student must achieve reading competency in (a) any and all primary languages required for their dissertation research, and (b) either French or German as secondary research languages.

For example, if a student wishes to pursue studies in an aspect of Hinduism, she would be expected to learn as primary languages both Sanskrit and at least one modern Indian language. As well, she would be required to achieve reading competency in either French or German. Language requirements do not count towards the overall credit-hour requirements of the program, and the secondary research language requirement must be fulfilled before the student may attempt the comprehensive examinations.