Our PhD in Religious Studies, with a specialization in Religious Diversity in North America, is offered jointly with the University of Waterloo. This joint partnership allows our students to feel supported by both departments, and provide access to additional resources, courses, and diverse faculty members from both universities.
Our innovative program has three facets: a North American focus, multidisciplinary theories and methods, and public intelligibility.
Robust programming.
Close-knit community.
Joint partnership with the University of Waterloo.
We are excited to tell you about our innovation program, which has three facets.
The program concentrates on the diverse nature of, and interactions among, the religious traditions and movements of Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. The emphasis is largely, although not exclusively, contemporary. In order to understand the religious complexity of the North American continent, essential textual and historical background is provided.
The program is multidisciplinary in two ways: in its admission of students from a variety of related disciplines, and in the faculty, courses and research that students encounter.
Faculty have expertise not only in religious studies but also in related disciplines such as anthropology, history, philosophy, psychology and sociology. In addition, the program utilizes adjunct faculty from related departments at both universities. The program, designed for students with either religious studies or other, closely related backgrounds, employ both fieldwork and textually oriented methods.
The PhD is designed to meet the needs of individuals who have various professional or vocational objectives. In addition to training those who intend to be scholars in religious studies or related disciplines, the program is designed to attract administrators, artists and media professionals, counsellors, journalists, religious officials, social workers and teachers. Therefore, the program stresses the need for public intelligibility in communicating religious studies scholarship.
In addition to emphasizing writing skills, the program cultivated and evaluates speaking as well as other public performance skills. The program fosters in students both a focus and a flexibility that will serve them well in a job market that requires adaptability, creativity and the ability to be articulate in public situations.
The minimum degree requirements for the Laurier-Waterloo PhD in Religious Studies are as follows.
The PhD is designed to take four years for completion. Students must enrol in the program full-time, be available for classes and regular on-campus consultation for at least the first two calendar years, and complete a minimum of six terms beyond the Master of Arts (MA).
Students are expected to proceed through the program in a timely fashion. Normally, students must complete the course work and finish their proposal in the first year; comprehensive exams in the second year; and the dissertation project in the third and fourth years. The responsibilities of the supervisor and the supervisory committee notwithstanding, the candidate is responsible for ensuring that program requirements and deadlines are met in a timely fashion.
The degree requires a minimum of four courses beyond the MA. Students are required to take RE700 and RE710, both doctoral-level research seminars, as well as two electives. Depending on a student’s goals and admission assessment, additional course work may be required. Doctoral students must achieve at least a B in each course.
Students must demonstrate reading knowledge of a second language relevant to the field and/or the dissertation. If the topic of the dissertation makes knowledge of a third language essential, the candidate must demonstrate competence in this language as well. Students are not permitted to begin their dissertation until all language requirements are met.
The proposal is a written document outlining the dissertation project. The proposal must be formally accepted by both the student’s supervisory committee and the joint PhD committee before proceeding to the comprehensive examinations and dissertation project. Subsequent, substantive changes in the proposal must be approved by the supervisory committee and the program director.
There are two examinations, each based on a bibliography constructed by faculty in consultation with the student. The purpose of the general exam is to ensure breadth and to assess competence in the religious diversity of North America and in religious studies. The purpose of the field exam is to focus an area of specialization containing the dissertation project. The general exam is conducted by the joint committee, whereas the field exam is conducted by the student's supervisory committee.
A candidate has only two opportunities to complete each of the examinations successfully. These examinations should take place by the end of the candidate's second year in the doctoral program.
To be permitted to take the examinations at a later time, a candidate must petition the director for an extension. Extensions are normally granted only once and then, only for one term.
The dissertation project consists of three required, closely related parts: the dissertation, the public presentation, and the dissertation defence. Students must pass all three. Evaluations, carried out by the supervisory committee, take into consideration the mastery of both style and content.
The doctoral dissertation is an piece of research (approximately 50,000-90,000 words in length) aimed at making an original contribution to the study of religion. The dissertation must be crafted for publication as a book, although actual publication is not a degree requirement. This way of fulfilling the dissertation requirement is a distinctive feature of the program, and guidelines are available from the director. The dissertation is prepared in consultation with the supervisory committee, which includes the candidate's supervisor acting as chair, along with two other faculty members, one of whom may be a member of a non-religious studies department.
The public presentation is a second distinctive feature of the Laurier-Waterloo PhD in religious studies. The presentation must be accessible to the public, open to questioning and debate, and subject to faculty evaluation. This presentation may take various formats and must demonstrate the candidate’s ability to make the results of research publicly intelligible and engaging for a diverse, educated but non-specialist audience. The public presentation is held in a venue and at a time different from that of the dissertation defence. Holding it in an off-campus location is preferable. Evaluation is on a pass/fail basis, and a pass is required to complete the degree. Evaluation of such presentations is by the supervisory committee on the basis of a set of criteria available from the program director. A candidate who fails may attempt the presentation only one additional time.
The dissertation defence, which is distinct from the public presentation, is an oral review and evaluation of the dissertation. Prior to the defence, an examining committee is established. It includes the supervisory committee plus an internal examiner from another department at either university. A chair (from the university in which the student is registered) and an external examiner (from another university) are appointed by the appropriate dean of graduate studies. The supervisory committee recommends external examiners to the dean of graduate studies. The decision of the examining committee is based on the dissertation and the candidate's ability to defend it orally. A candidate who fails may attempt the presentation only one additional time.
Our faculty have a number of research interests including:
"The students in this program have made an effort to help each other across cohorts and between the Laurier and UW campus. The faculty, truly want all students to succeed and have gone out of their way many times to help us. It makes what could be a very isolating and independent journey something that is more communal."
Kate McCartney, PhD student, Religious Studies
Take the first step in your graduate education and apply to one of our graduate programs. Follow our three-step admission process — we’ll walk you through how to apply and prepare for your first day as a graduate student.
The first round of applications is considered in early January. Thereafter, applications will continue to be considered until the program is full. If applying after the first phase of applications is considered in early January, consult the graduate coordinator directly to enquire about further openings in the program. We have had a significant amount of interest in our program during the past two years, so we strongly encourage prospective students to apply prior to the deadline.
After you have submitted your OUAC application, paid the non-refundable application fee, and Laurier has received your application, you'll receive an email from gradadmissions@wlu.ca advising you to upload the additional required documentation to Laurier’s Online Registration and Information System (LORIS).
Please note, the application process and the uploading of supplemental documentation, which includes references, typically takes two weeks. To avoid disappointment, apply early.
An application for admission to our PhD program in Religious Studies must include:
Visit our Graduate Admissions Toolkit for more information about applying.
The Department of Religion and Culture welcomes international students to the PhD Program. International students who have confirmed funding from a third-party, such as their employer or a scholarship program in their home country, will be considered for admission.
Learn more about admission requirements for international applicants.Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential to graduate studies at Laurier. Applicants whose language of instruction during their previous postsecondary education was not in English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. If applicable, results from accepted testing services must be uploaded to LORIS.
Questions? Contact Meena Sharify-Funk, graduate coordinator, at msharifyfunk@wlu.ca or 548.889.5144. For general inquiries, contact Kirsten Pries, at kpries@wlu.ca or 548.889.5141.
"The guidance I've received from faculty members, especially my academic advisor and the advising committee, was excellent. The friendly environment in the department and the integration with the University of Waterloo through the joint program were very encouraging aspects of the experience too."
Gustavo Moura
Regardless of the type of graduate degree program you intend to pursue, financial planning is important. At Laurier, we want to provide you with as much information as possible about a variety of scholarship and funding opportunities and equip you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.
Laurier welcomes international applicants to all of our doctoral programs. International students who have confirmed funding from a third-party, such as their employer or a scholarship program in their home country, will be considered for admission. Learn more about admission requirements for international applicants.
Graduates of our program have pursued successful careers in higher education, teaching, government and the private sector. Examples of jobs held by our graduates include:
Check out our career profile on Dr. Sahir Dewji, Senior Policy Analyst (PhD RLST '18).
ASPIRE is Laurier's professional skills development training program for graduate students. The program helps you craft an individualized, extracurricular learning plan tailored to your professional journey and entry to the workplace.
Learn about the interests and ongoing research of our faculty members. If their research interests you, email the professor directly to set up a meeting. Include information about yourself, your skills, your experience, and why you’re interested in their research.
Abderrahman Beggar
Professor
Gavin Brockett
Vice Dean, Faculty of Arts
Associate Professor, Middle East and Turkey
Kevin Burrell
Associate Professor
Undergraduate Advisor
Michel Desjardins
Professor Emeritus / Online Instructor
Carol B. Duncan
Professor
3M National Teaching Fellow
Erich Fox Tree
Associate Professor
Chair, Religion and Culture
Paul Freston
Professor Emeritus
David Haskell
Associate Professor
Ashley Lebner
Associate Professor
Jason Neelis
Associate Professor
Edmund Pries
Professor
Christopher F. J. Ross
Professor Emeritus
Meena Sharify-Funk
Professor
MA Coordinator and PhD Director
Ali Zaidi
Associate Professor
Jasmin Zine
Professor
Douglas Cowan
Professor (University of Waterloo)
David Seljak
Professor (University of Waterloo)
Jeff Wilson
Associate Professor and Graduate Advisor (University of Waterloo)
Scott Kline
Chair and Professor (University of Waterloo)
