Unit III: Research and Dissertation Writing

At the conclusion of research and writing, the dissertation is presented to the faculty and defended before the Dissertation Examination Committee. The defense is a major public academic event with the Chair of the Religion Department presiding. Upon acceptance of the dissertation and its successful defense, the candidate is recommended to the University for the conferring of the Ph.D. degree.

Language Requirements

Students are expected to have facility in the languages of scholarship in religion, and for research in their areas of specialization. Until language requirements are completed students should be enrolled continuously in language study. All requisite language competencies must be satisfied before the doctoral examinations. Competence in the most widely used foreign languages is determined by Educational Testing Service examinations administered in the Department.

Application Deadlines

Applications for admission should be submitted by January 1. Applications for scholarship awards must be received by January 1.

Scholarship Awards

The Department has an active Scholarship Award program. Outstanding students are awarded teaching stipends, tuition remission and other benefits. Awards are made and renewed annually. Deadline for application is February 1. Besides department funds disbursed on merit, the University has a financial aid program which it administers solely on the basis of financial need. Where appropriate, students may receive support from both sources.

Exchange Programs

The Department maintains a regular exchange of graduate students and faculty with corresponding departments in the Universities of Tubingen and Hamburg.

The Philadelphia Consortium on the Study of Religion

Temple University Department of Religion belongs to the Philadelphia Consortium on the Study of Religion, a group of forty-seven departments of religion that cooperate in a number of projects, including faculty and student exchanges. Students enrolled in Temple's Department of Religion also may take courses without additional tuition at the University of Pennsylvania (Department of Religious Studies), at the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, at the Reconstuctionist Rabbinical College, and at the Lutheran Theological Seminary.

Course Descriptions -Religion

410. Foundations in Chinese Religions. (3 s.h.)

Basic studies of (1) the classical texts and essential teachings of early Confucianism and Taoism, and (2) the ideological continuity from early Confucianism and Taoism to Neo-Confucianism and Neo-Taoism.

413. Foundations in Japanese Buddhism. (3 s.h.)

Designed to provide the student with a basic understanding of Japanese Buddhism from the 6th C. through the 14th C. Its orientation is historical and theoretical. Historically it traces the processes of assimilation, Japanization, and subsequent development of Buddhism in Japan. Philosophically it examines selected original texts of the thinkers prominently associated with these processes.

414. Foundations in Chinese Buddhism. (3 s.h.)

Introduction to the basic teachings of the major Chinese Buddhist schools: in particular, Ten-ti, Hua-yen, Chn (Zen), and Pure Land.

420. Foundations in Christianity. (3 s.h.)

Writings from the New Testament, the fathers of the church, and some landmark writings from East and West, to discern the hermeneutical and theological patterns which flourished in different periods. Second-century apologists and fifth-century writers of the "golden age," Anselm, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Schleiermacher, Rahner. Theological and biblical methods of study of the present century.

430. Foundations in Islam. (3 s.h.)

Introduction to Islam as religion, culture and civilization. Analysis and historical survey of key concepts, values, and events represented in Islamic religious writings. Tools and methods of research in Islamic.

440. Foundations in Judaism. (3 s.h.)

Introduction to core texts of rabbinic Judaism; Mishnah, Tosefta Gemara, Midrash, Codes, Responsa, and Bible Commentaries. Hermeneutics of various schools examined.

460. Foundations in Philosophy of Religion. (3 s.h.)

Issues in philosophy to religion, including the nature of religion, the relation of philosophy of religion, the nature of religious language, the meaning and truth of religious beliefs, religion and morality, mysticism, conflicting truth-claims in interreligious dialogue.

470. Foundations in Religion and the Social Sciences. (3 s.h.)

Major social-scientific theories which have impact on the study of religion. Students mainly familiar with other approaches (i.e., literary, philosophical, historical) will confront methods developed outside the religious traditions themselves.

480. Foundations in Textual Historical Studies in Religion. (3 s.h.)

Methodologies of research in historical studies and in the study of texts: the philosophy and practice of research on history and in the writing of history; research methods in historiography; the phenomenon of religious scripture; research methods in textual studies.

522. Foundations in Hinduism. (3 s.h.)

Provides background for advanced graduate studies in Hinduism by studying specific classics in the field. Teaches skills appropriate to carrying out research in this area.

525. Foundations in Japanese Buddhism. (3 s.h.)

Provides background for advanced graduate studies in Zen Buddhism by studying specific classics in the field. Teaches skills appropriate to carrying out research in this area.

533. Foundations in Modern Jewish Thought. (3 s.h.)

Students divided in two groups based on backgrounds. For Group I: students without background either in modern Judaism or philosophy. The course functions as a foundations course, with lectures and discussions of assigned readings, both required and recommended. For Group II: students with background. The course consists of detailed readings by a major Jewish philosopher. The topic will be Franz Rosenzweig's use of logic to describe God, man and the world in relationship to Greek and Asian religions.

544. Foundations in American Religious History. (3 s.h.)

Protestants, Catholics, and Jews in the development of American society, with special attention to church/state relations and the development of interreligious cooperation.

552. Foundations in Muslim Jurisprudence. (3 s.h.)

Provides background for advanced graduate studies in Muslim jurisprudence by studying specific classics in the field. Teaches skills appropriate to carrying out research in this area.

554. Foundations in Muslim Philosophy. (3 s.h.)

Provides background for advanced graduate studies in Muslim philosophy by studying specific classics in the field. Teaches skills appropriate to carrying out research in this area.

562. Foundations in the Qur'an. (3 s.h.)

Textual and thematic issues involving the Qur'an and its interpretation, including attempts to reconstruct the chronology of Surahs, influence of Jewish or Christian ideas on the Qur'an, and efforts to describe the Qur'an's content and message. Classical Arabic works consulted, but special emphasis on twentieth-century Qur'anic scholarship. Knowledge of Arabic preferred but not required.

583. Foundations in Religion and Psychology. (3 s.h.)

Provides background for advanced graduate studies in religion and psychology by studying specific classics in the field. Teaches skills appropriate to carrying out research in this area.

611. Chinese Philosophy and Religion. (3 s.h.)

Philosophical analysis of the classics of early Confucianism. Taoism and Neo-Confucianism in the Chinese tradition.

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