A Bold New Chapter for Our PhD Program
Fall 2026 marks the start of an exciting new era for our PhD program. Read more about how the program will change!
Fall 2026 applications will open in September.
Completion Time
Finish your PhD faster, and step into success sooner.
Fully Funded
Full tuition scholarships + a substantial stipend for the most qualified students.
Program Overview
With a significant emphasis on faculty-student research collaboration in an environment that is both specialized and interdisciplinary, students will be initiated into an intellectual community centered around the discovery and production of new knowledge.
Research Collaboratives are faculty-led, student-engaged research groups. Each Research Collaborative focuses on a cutting-edge topic within one or more fields of religious studies and theology. A PhD student will be required to affiliate with a Research Collaborative that aligns with the student’s research interests and professional goals. The first Research Collaboratives will be announced in September.
Each Collaborative:
- Is led by two or more faculty members
- Focuses on a specific research question or problem within one or more fields of study
- Supports PhD advising and professional development
Application Requirements will be addressed in-depth once the application opens in September. However, to best prepare, please review the basics as our requirements have changed.
- Personal statement
- Research Proposal
- Writing sample, relevant to the research you would like to pursue
- 1 relevant language requirement completed by the time of enrollment
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts
PhD students can expect an increased focus on writing and publishing academic research, as well as teaching.
Requirements:
- GTU Seminar: a topical, interdisciplinary, GTU-wide seminar that encompasses every dimension of the study of religion and theology
- Research Collaborative Seminar: the regular seminar of a Research Collaborative
- Elective Seminars: relevant to one’s scholarly goals
- Article-Writing Workshop: practical initiation into the world of peer-reviewed research and publication
- Dissertation Proposal Workshop: practical design of one’s extended research
- Professional Pathway Workshops: guidelines on how research in religion and theology translates into careers
Looking for Next Steps?
While awaiting applications to open and Research Collaboratives to be posted in September, we encourage all prospective students to start researching our Core Doctoral Faculty members for those whose interests, publications, and expertise match your own and can potentially serve as a faculty advisor.
Featured News
Dr. Sam Shonkoff Has Been Awarded Tenure and Promoted to Associate Professor at the GTU
