Understanding the significance of religious artifacts is one aspect of religion scholarship.
A Ph.D. in religion can lead to a rewarding career as a scholar in the field of religion, though obtaining a Ph.D. in religion can be a formidable task. Graduate programs in religion usually require knowledge of ancient foreign languages and a broad understanding of the social, economic and political context of the religion being studied. A Ph.D. is a research-oriented degree that will require you to make a significant contribution to contemporary scholarship in the field of religion.
Instructions
1. Obtain a bachelor's degree. You can obtain a bachelor's degree in virtually any field, but obtaining one in a field related to religion or one that can provide further insight into the religious thought, like anthropology, will provide you with significant background for future studies. Studies in history, sociology, psychology, literature and foreign languages will prove helpful. Many Ph.D. programs in religion require knowledge of a modern foreign language and any languages that are important to the study of the historical context of your area of specialization.
2. Choose Ph.D. programs to apply to. You can choose to obtain a master's degree before entering the doctorate program, but it is not always necessary to do so. Some scholars obtain a master's degree in one area of religious studies before going on to obtain the Ph.D. This is generally true of many scholars studying the Christian religion who go to seminary before entering a Ph.D. program. Some enter a Ph.D. program offered by the seminary they attend. In either case, choose a school with a strong background in the religion you wish to study.
3. Choose an area of specialization. Obtaining a Ph.D. in "religion" usually means choosing one aspect of religion such as American religion, Judaic studies, Islamic studies, Asian religions or modern religion.
4. Complete your Ph.D. coursework. The number of required course will vary by institution. Most programs will require you to complete seminars over the course of two to three years in your area of specialization and additional subfields or complementary fields like the sociology of religion, for example. These seminars will introduce you to the major scholarship in the field and prepare you for writing your dissertation.
5. Take and pass your comprehensive examinations. In order to qualify for the Ph.D., most schools require you to pass a series of comprehensive examinations. These are usually written essay exams that can test your knowledge of any aspect of your field of specialization and the additional fields of study you have selected as subfields.
6. Complete your dissertation. This is an original piece of research that makes a significant contribution to the scholarship in your field of specialization. The dissertation usually contributes new knowledge or modifies old scholarship in the field of religion. Most programs will require a dissertation defense also. This means you will be expected to provide an oral defense of your dissertation before your committee and other members of the faculty.
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