Graduate Programs

Financial Assistance

We currently have about 40 M.A. and Ph.D. students enrolled in the program. We expect to provide support for 5-6 new students in the 2009-10 entering class. Both MA and PhD applicants are eligible for funding.

Continuing students in our department have distinguished themselves over the past decade by securing numerous grants, awards, and other forms of recognition, both within the University and nationally. Students have received support from the Pew Charitable Trust, the Charlotte Newcombe Fellowship, the Templeton Foundation,the Edwards Fellowship (perhaps the most prestigious award at IU), the Mellon Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the American Association of University Women. Our students have competed successfully for dissertation fellowships offered by the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Department itself awards at least one dissertation fellowship each year.

Associate Instructorship

An associate instructorship not only pays the major initial cost of a student's education but also gives the individual experience in leadership and training in the fundamentals of Religious Studies. All Ph.D. candidates are thus expected to teach, at least part-time, for two semesters. Most associate instructorships are half-time appointments, requiring 8-10 contact hours or 15 hours of service (including preparation) per week. Entering students are offered financial assistance at slightly different levels, depending upon their undergraduate records and recommendations.

Fellowships

A number of sources for fellowship support for particularly well-qualified students exist. The department has a few fellowships for incoming students, including:

  • College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Fellowship
  • Todd Sullivan Memorial Fellowship
  • James Ackerman Fellowship for the Study of the Bible
  • Ellis Fellowship for Early Modern and Lutheran Studies
  • Jewish Studies Fellowship
  • Minority Fellowship

There are also fellowships available from other programs and places around the University.

Jewish Studies Program
The Friends of the Borns Graduate Fellowship in Jewish Studies consists of a $15,000 stipend plus tuition/fee remission.  Send e-mail to

East Asian Studies Center
The East Asian Studies Center administers Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowhips for graduate students for both academic year and summer, as well as a SOFOKS Graduate Fellowship in Korean Languages and Culture.

Russian and East European Instititue
Lists under their Employment and funding opportunities section several graduate and postgraduate funding opportunities.

Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center
Lists several different grant possibilities under their grants and fellowships page.

Department of Central Eurasian Studies

Western European Studies

GradGrants Center
Includes publications and on-line resources related to grant writing and information on grants.

Indiana University Fellowships

For a copy of Writing Fellowship and Grant Proposals: A Guide for Graduate Students, e-mail Julie Allen

Annual Religious Studies Essay Contest

In accord with established tradition the religious studies department holds an essay contest each spring. The contest is open to all graduate students, regardless of departmental affiliation. The winners of this contest is announced at the Departmental Honor's Day. Prizes of $100 will be awarded to the graduate winner.

Papers submitted for consideration need not have been written for departmental courses provided they deal in some direct way with issues pertinent to the study of religion. Criteria on which the papers will be judged by the undergraduate and graduate committees include clarity, focus, development of the subject or problem, use of evidence and sources, originality and creativity.

Graduate papers should be 15-25 double spaced pages. Please make sure your name, phone number, e-mail address, and class standing are clearly indicated on the front page.

Salz Family Award Essay Contest

In fall 1996 the Department of Germanic Studies announced the recipient of the first annual Walter Salz Family Award for the year's best submitted essay on some aspect of the history of German Jews from the earliest times to the present day. Endowed by Professor Emeritus Henry Remak and his wife, Ingrid, the competition is open to essays written by undergraduates and graduate students enrolled on any IU campus. Essays, of any suitable length, may either have been written for a course or be original compositions, and should be submitted to the department's main office by the annual June 1 deadline for consideration in the current year's competition. The winner or winners receive a prize of up to $200.