The graduate program in religion is a cooperative program between the Departments of Religion at Columbia University and Barnard College and Union Theological Seminary. It is designed for the study of the history, literature, theory, and functions of religion in its various forms within different societies and cultures. A distinctive feature of this program is the opportunity for students not only to gain advanced training in specific fields of religious studies, but also to acquire a basic knowledge of the world's major religious traditions and of the principal methods and theories employed in the study of religion. Such knowledge is useful as preparation for teaching courses of broad scope and as a background for the study of more limited areas. The program offers courses leading to three degrees: the M.A., which may be sequential or M.A. only; the M.Phil., and the Ph.D. We also offer an M.A. as part the dual Journalism-Religion M.S.-M.A. program.

Many graduates of the program go on to teach at colleges and universities throughout the world. Some graduates of our MA program go on for doctoral studies in religion at peer institutions, while others turn to a career in other professions, such as law or medicine. And our dual MS-MA program in Journalism and Religion offers a unique opportunity to combine academic study with professional training.