The graduate program in historical studies in Christianity and Judaism provides specialization in the areas of Judaism and Christianity in antiquity: textual and historical studies, European and American history, and historical theology.
The program in "Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity" provides the opportunity for the advanced study of Judaism from the early Second Temple period through the period of the Talmud, and of Christianity from its origins through the Arab conquest. The program combines the fields traditionally distinguished as “Hebrew Bible,” “Second Temple literature,” "New Testament," “Early Christianity,” “Rabbinic literature” and "Patristics."
The rationale for the breadth of the program lies in the close historical relationship between Christianity and Judaism in the ancient world, their emergence from a common set of scriptural texts, and their common concern with scriptural exegesis as a medium through which to develop and express theological visions. The program is designed to allow the student to study biblical and para-biblical texts not only in their historical settings, but also as they have been received and interpreted within Jewish and Christian communities.
The program provides a broad range of resources through which students can engage ancient Judaism and Christianity.
The breadth of the program is qualified by the requirement that each student elect a major and minor area of concentration from the four subject areas:
A. Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Literature
B. New Testament and Early Christian Literature
C. Rabbinic Literature
D. Patristics
These choices reflect only areas of concentration, and serious coursework is required in the other fields.
Note: Since both Christianity and Judaism belonged to, shaped, and were shaped by a larger common environment, the program also entails careful attention to Graeco-Roman society and culture.
Normally a student will be required to accumulate 72 hours of credit (12 hours per semester for 6 semesters). If, however, a student brings to the program a strong post-baccalaureate degree with clear relevance for the program, advanced standing may be granted. In that case, the course requirement may be reduced by up to 24 credit hours.
A student's course load in any given semester will normally consist of two language courses and two graduate seminars OR one language course and three graduate seminars. By agreement among instructors, not more than two major research papers will be required of any student in a single semester.
The program regularly offers courses in each of the four subject areas. The faculty recommends taking these courses whenever possible. Courses offered recently include:
Students are strongly encouraged to take courses in other departments (principally Classics, History, Philosophy and Art) as available and as relevant to their programs of study. Courses offered recently include:
Because knowledge of the classical languages of the Jewish and Christian traditions is essential to advanced study and productive scholarship, students are expected to pursue language study each and every semester they are in residence.
Students are expected to develop competency in two ancient languages from among the following:
A student who enters already well-prepared in two of these languages will be strongly encouraged to develop competence in a third language.
In each case, competence is assumed when a student can translate passages supplied by an examiner with the aid of a dictionary.
Each student sits for an eight (8) hour exam in the subject area of major concentration (A, B, C or D) and a six (6) hour exam in the subject area of minor concentration (A, B, C or D).
In addition, each student sits for a four (4) hour examination in each of the remaining subject areas.
Finally, all students sit for a four (4) exam in Graeco-Roman society and culture.
Examinations will be set in accordance with fundamental issues in the field, the student’s coursework and the student's specialized interests.
The program sponsors an on-going colloquium of faculty and graduate students which meets several times each semester and provides an informal but informative extra-curricular occasion for discussion. The format varies from meeting to meeting, and may include the presentation of a paper by a faculty member or a student, a presentation by a visiting scholar, discussion of a piece of common reading, or of dissertation work. Though extra-curricular, the colloquium has an important function in the intellectual formation of graduate students, and all graduate students in the program are expected to participate on a regular basis.
Elizabeth Shanks Alexander
Harry Gamble
Greg Schmidt Goering
Martien Halvorson-Taylor
Judith Kovacs
Karl Shuve
Malcolm Bell (Art History)
Jenny Clay (Classics)
Daniel Devereux (Philosophy)
John Dillery (Classics)
John J. Dobbins (Art History)
Coulter George (Classics)
Gregory Hays (Classics)
David Kovacs (Classics)
J.E. Lendon (History)
Elizabeth A. Meyer (History)
Jon D. Mikalson (Classics)
John F. Miller (Classics)
Eric Ramirez-Weaver (Art History)
Dominic Scott (Philosophy)
Tyler Jo Smith (Art History)
A.J. Woodman (Classics)
The graduate program in American Religions at the University of Virginia focuses on the religious cultures of the Americas in both historical and contemporary contexts. As such, the program is interdisciplinary in its methodology, incorporating historical, theological, literary, and anthropological approaches to the study of religion in the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Students in this subfield are encouraged to work with faculty in various other departments at the University of Virginia, including Anthropology, Art and Architectural History, English, History, Media Studies, Politics, and Sociology. Students may also draw upon the resources of interdisciplinary programs such as the Carter G. Woodson Center for African American and African Studies, the Program in American Studies, the Program in Jewish Studies, and Studies in Women and Gender (SWAG).
Overall, the program is designed to allow students the flexibility to shape a course of study and fields of examination that best suit their intellectual interests and career aspirations. Each admitted student will be assigned an advisor from among the American Religions core faculty.
Requirements for the PhD
A. Coursework
Students must acquire 72 credits, 54 through satisfactorily completed course work at the 5000 level or higher (18 courses) and 18 other credits (e.g. non-topical research). This coursework is normally completed in three years.
Note: Students entering with an M.A. or M.Div. may be granted advanced standing. See the Advanced Standing section of the department’s Ph.D. Degree Requirements page for more information.
The 18 courses in the sequence are broken down as follows:
2 Required Courses
RELG 7360, Study of Religion (usually taken in the first semester)
RELG 8400, Historiography Seminar in American Religions (taken in the first or second year)
16 Remaining Courses (chosen in consultation with advisor)
A minimum of 4 courses that are primarily historical in approach (in addition to RELG 8400)
A minimum of 2 courses that are primarily social scientific or literary in approach
A minimum of 2 courses that are primarily philosophical or theological in approach
B. Qualifying Examinations
Five (5) total comprehensive examinations are required, three (3) written and two (2) oral. The first and second written examinations will be chosen from the following areas. The examiner for each area will normally be a member of the American Religions core faculty.
The third written examination will be in an area defined by region, method, or religious tradition. Examples of such areas include African religions, Art History, Buddhism, Christianity, Ethnography and Religion, European Religious History, Hinduism, Immigration and Migration, Islam, Judaism, Material Religion, Religion and Literature, US South, Theology. The field and specific content of this exam will be determined based on the student’s intellectual interests, in consultation with the student’s advisor. The examiner may be a member of the Religious Studies or other UVa faculty.
These three (3) written exams are to be taken during one week’s time, no later than the second semester after the completion of all coursework.
The fourth exam is an oral exam to be taken within two weeks of the completion of the written exams. This exam will cover the same content as the written exams, and is intended to tie together and extend the conversation begun in the written exams.
The fifth exam is an oral exam to be conducted in conjunction with the defense of the student’s dissertation proposal. It is to be taken no later than one semester after the completion of the written and first oral exams.
C. Languages
All students must pass examinations in two modern languages, determined in consultation with the student’s advisor, as appropriate to the intended research agenda.
D. Dissertation
The dissertation must satisfy the requirements of the Religious Studies Department and the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GSAS). See the GSAS physical standards for theses and dissertations.
Dedicated M.A. Degree Requirements
See the Department’s M.A. Degree Requirements for more information.
American Religions Core Faculty
Valerie Cooper
Gerald Fogarty
Matthew Hedstrom
Charles Marsh
Jalane Schmidt
Heather Warren
Historical Theology provides opportunity for advanced study of the history of Christian thought. Students will concentrate on one historical period, e.g. early church, medieval, early modern, but will be examined on theological sources from other periods. One exam will deal with some aspect of the Scriptures as interpreted within Christian tradition. Besides French and German students will be required to pass examinations in ecclesiastical Greek and Latin.