Fall 2025 PhD Religion

[JonesSJ]

It's labor day weekend and I'm working on applications, so I'll go ahead and get the thread started.

You know the drill. Who's applying for PhD programs this fall and where? 

[tryme4]

Mad silent. UT for Fall 2025

[SemperDiscentes]

I'm splitting my focus between religion and German programs, aside from one comparative thought program.

For Religion: U-Virginia, U-Toronto, U-Chicago, Columbia, Princeton, & Brown.

[JonesSJ]

I'm currently applying to Duke, Vandy, Notre Dame, Emory, and maybe Brown, though this list may not be final. Doing most of my work in Hebrew Bible.

[tryme4]

No background in theology/divinity or even religion for that matter. Riding on vibes tbh. I'm most interested in meta-topics at the intersection of religion and technology.

[shishockie]

I'm in the process of applying to Duke, Duke Div, Yale, Princeton Seminary, and Emory for New Testament.  

Edited October 15 by shishockie

[DavidX]

Life has been hectic for me, so I am starting late this year. I'm looking to apply (for the final time) to stanford, columbia, Uchicago, and maybe Notre dame . This would be in american religions or religions in modernity depending on the school

[tryme4]

On 10/23/2024 at 1:13 PM, DavidX said:

Life has been hectic for me, so I am starting late this year. I'm looking to apply (for the final time) to stanford, columbia, Uchicago, and maybe Notre dame . This would be in american religions or religions in modernity depending on the school

I would love to hear more about your project. Don't worry, it sounds like you are being very picky which means we are probably alike in terms of how we are pursuing graduate school. Let's connect. 

[tryme4]

I am at a point where I am finalizing schools to attend, and where I want to be. I recently added another state school to my list for a MA in Religious Studies.

Edited October 26 by tryme4
typo

[SemperDiscentes]

On 10/12/2024 at 5:38 PM, SemperDiscentes said:

I'm splitting my focus between religion and German programs, aside from one comparative thought program.

For Religion: U-Virginia, U-Toronto, U-Chicago, Columbia, Princeton, & Brown.

p.s. focusing on philosophy of/and religion. 

[tryme4]

Anyone planning to apply to Boston U and was let down by the news?

Edited Sunday at 08:08 AM by tryme4

[JonesSJ]

On 11/17/2024 at 2:05 AM, tryme4 said:

Anyone planning to apply to Boston U and was let down by the news?

Luckily, I had decided against applying to Boston early on in the process due to questionable program fit and cost of living in Boston. I did recently have to strike Brown off my application list because my person of interest informed me that he intended to retire and was no longer taking students. Losing programs to apply to makes the whole process more nerve racking.

[Intleduhope]

Can you share what happens to BU?

[JonesSJ]

7 hours ago, Intleduhope said:

Can you share what happens to BU?

They aren't admitting for the PhD in religious studies this year

[xypathos]

7 hours ago, JonesSJ said:

They aren't admitting for the PhD in religious studies this year

It makes sense, they've been struggling to place students into TT positions. There's a strong rumor mill going at AAR that BU is aiming to completely shut down the PhD program.

[bgt28]

BU suspends admissions to humanities, other Ph.D. programs

[SemperDiscentes]

23 hours ago, xypathos said:

It makes sense, they've been struggling to place students into TT positions. There's a strong rumor mill going at AAR that BU is aiming to completely shut down the PhD program.

This makes sense given my little knowledge. The religion department doesn't seem to a have a shared focus or reputation in any subfield (any longer at least), perhaps with the exception of religion and science (although most of these folks seem to work with people in the School of Theology anyway). Also, the cost of living is so high that between the philosophy department, the School of theology, and neighboring schools (e.g., Boston College, Harvard, etc.) the religion department appears redundant given the economic climate these days.