- M.A. in Religious Studies
- M.A. in Journalism and Religion
Religious Studies
Applications and all supporting materials must be submitted online by 5PM Eastern Time. If a listed deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or U.S. federal holiday, then the next business day will be the actual deadline.
M.A. in Religious Studies
- March 1: Fall admission
M.A. in Journalism and Religion
- December 18: Fall admission, recommended deadline
- January 4: Fall admission, final deadline
- Late applications are accepted. As there is a limited pool of merit-based financial aid, applications should arrive by January 15 for consideration. We will continue to consider submissions on a rolling basis through August.
- Late applications are accepted. As there is a limited pool of merit-based financial aid, applications should arrive by January 15 for consideration. We will continue to consider submissions on a rolling basis through August.
Requirements
In addition to the general application requirements, the department specifically requires:
GRE
- Please do not send GRE test scores — they will not be reviewed by our Admissions Committee.
TOEFL/IELTS
Applicants must submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores (TOEFL preferred) unless they:
Are a native English speaker; OR
Are a US citizen or permanent resident; OR
Have completed (or will complete) a baccalaureate or master's degree at an institution where the language of instruction is English.
M.A. in Religious Studies
As part of your statement of purpose, please explain why you are interested in the academic study of religion and what you hope to achieve upon completion of the M.A. in Religious Studies.
M.A. in Journalism and Religion
Journalism requires applicants to write a personal essay. The essay is an extremely important part of the application, so treat it accordingly. The essay should be 1,000 to 1,500 words in length. In addition, applicants must submit at least two samples of their work, whether published or not.
As part of your personal essay, please include a discussion that provides the Admissions Committee with a sense of who you are as someone who aspires to a career in journalism, writing and reporting about important matters in the news and analysis of religious issues.
Please append to your essay a brief statement of your plans for financing your graduate work. This statement must be included, whether or not you are applying for financial aid.
M.A. in Religious Studies
A writing sample is required. It should be an example of your strongest academic writing, preferably a paper written for an undergraduate course that demonstrates your ability to construct a coherent argument. It should not exceed 25 double-spaced pages.
M.A. in Journalism and Religion
Two different writing samples are required. One should be an example of your strongest academic writing, preferably a paper written for an undergraduate course that demonstrates your ability to construct a coherent argument. It should not exceed 25 double-spaced pages. The second should represent your aptitude for journalism. A clip from your college newspaper, a personal essay, academic research paper, and short fiction are all acceptable.
Useful Links
- GSAS Bulletin
- Department Website
- Email religious.studies@nyu.edu
- Application Portal
- Back to Programs, Requirements and Deadlines
The Graduate School of Arts and Science reserves the right to change this information at any time. This page supersedes all previous versions.
Last updated August 2023.