MA and AMRS Programs

Our Master of Arts in Divinity (MA) and Master of Arts in Religious Studies (AMRS) provide foundational training in the academic study of religion and its adjacent fields.

Program Overviews

The Divinity School offers two distinct Master of Arts Programs, the Master of Arts in Divinity (MA) and the Master of Arts in Religious Studies (AMRS).

Both provide graduate-level training in the academic study of religion, equipping graduates to understand better how religious actors, texts, phenomena, materials, and histories have affected and continue to influence the world around us and the people in it. Master of Arts students take courses alongside PhD and Master of Divinity students. This arrangement fosters an intellectual ecosystem unlike any other and perhaps the best preparation for engaging religion beyond the academy. The flexibility of the MA and AMRS programs, paired with the breadth of offerings across the Divinity School and the University of Chicago, allows students to tailor their studies to evolving interests and aspirations.

MA students must satisfactorily complete (B- or better) at least 15 courses through full-time enrollment in six quarters (Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters in each for two academic years). MA students must also demonstrate academic reading competency in a modern research language, such as French, German, Modern Arabic, Modern Chinese, Modern Hebrew, or Spanish, by achieving a "pass" on the Academic Reading Comprehension Assessment (ARCA). MA students admitted to the PhD, and who have completed a "high pass" on the ARCA, may count this toward one of their two required language assessments.

AMRS students must satisfactorily complete at least nine courses (B- or better). AMRS students may enroll on a part-time basis, but should complete their degree requirements within 3 years (9 quarters of Autumn, Winter, and Spring). As a capstone project, AMRS students sit for a one-hour oral examination with a faculty committee based on a paper written for a class with a Divinity School faculty member. There is no language requirement for the AMRS program, but students may wish, and are encouraged, to take language classes if they relate to the student’s academic interests.

Students in both the MA and AMRS take DVSC 30500- Introduction to the Study of Religion, DVSC 30600- Theory and Method, and at least one course in three of the four faculty committees. DVSC 30500 is offered every Autumn quarter, and DVSC 30600 is offered every Winter. Additional courses up to the required amount can be fulfilled through electives, including language courses, both inside and outside the Divinity School. See course offerings here.

Questions about our Master of Arts programs and the academic study of religion? Check out the MA/AMRS FAQs for more details, and Request More Information to ensure you receive updates about the application and the school.

Applying to the MA and AMRS Programs

Start an application

Admission into the MA and AMRS programs is offered on a yearly application cycle. The application usually opens in September and has three application deadlines: one in early January, early April, and early June. See Dates and Deadlines here.

Questions about the application process? Explore our Application FAQs.

Applicants are automatically considered for Divinity School scholarships upon admission. Scholarships are offered based on the strength of the application materials and availability; applicants wishing to ensure that they are considered for the full range of funding options should apply by the January priority deadline.

Divinity School Scholarships for MA students are automatically renewable for the second year of the program, subject to good academic progress. Students may also apply scholarship funding toward summer language study at the University. Divinity School Scholarships for AMRS students may be renewed for up to 3 years for students who complete the program on a part-time basis, but scholarship amounts are prorated when pursuing the degree less than full-time.

Tuition is charged quarterly. Please see the Bursar's fee schedule for tuition rates. For more information about scholarship and funding opportunities, please see Scholarships and Financial Aid.

Required Application Materials:

The Director of the MA and AMRS programs is Sheila E. Jelen, Professor of Religion, Literature, and Visual Culture and History of Judaism.