“EARLY CHRISTIAN STUDIES”

 

 

The interdisciplinary graduate program "Early Christian Studies," administered by the Center for the Study of Early Christianity, offers M.A. and Ph.D. courses (the latter degree concluding with a dissertation).

Courses are taught either by the Mellon Professor or by faculty members in various Schools and Departments of the University.

 

 

 

 

 

Goals and Principles

 

1. We insist on the need to study the development of early Christianity in its social, political, and cultural context.  We reach beyond theological ideas and religious practice (although those are central to our study), and give due attention also to Jewish and other non-Christian influences.

2. We emphasize the importance of language skills - in Greek; and in Latin, Syriac, and Coptic.  (It is also possible to study at CUA several other languages of the Christian Orient.)  Students are expected to read easily in German and in at least one other European language other than English (normally French or Italian).

3. The program is interdisciplinary.  The prescribed courses are taught in the Departments of Greek and Latin, and of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures (those being within the School of Arts and Sciences), and in the Schools of Theology and Religious Studies, and of Philosophy.  Our aim is to develop within each student the skills proper to a range of disciplines and methodologies.

 

 

Funding of M.A. and Ph.D. students

 

Applicants who require tuition funding are not admitted to the program unless they qualify for a full tuition waiver.  A number of such scholarships are available specifically to the program.

Once such a scholarship has been awarded, applicants deemed suitable in relation to other criteria will receive it for a maximum of five years, together with an annual stipend of $18,000.

 

 

Applications

 

Applications are normally considered at the beginning of the calendar year (and should be submitted before December 1 the previous year), and students who succeed in gaining admission are expected to begin their courses in the following Fall semester.

 

There are four pathways to admission:

1. Direct admission to the M.A./Ph.D. program in Early Christian Studies.

2 and 3. Admission to the Ph.D. program in Early Christian Studies via an M.A. completed at CUA in either Semitics or Greek and Latin.

4. Admission to the Ph.D. program in Early Christian Studies via an acceptable M.A. completed at some other institution.

 

All applicants should complete the form "Application for Graduate Admission", http://admissions.cua.edu/pdfs/graduateapp.pdf.  The program you have in mind may not be included in the provided list of graduate degree programs, and you will have to write it in on the line "Program" (this for those applying through pathways 1 and 4 above).  All your admissions options come under the heading "School of Arts and Sciences" - the "School" box you should tick.

 

Those applying through pathways 2 and 3 above should remember that they are applying in the first instance for admission as M.A. students to one of the two Departments specified above.  They should add on the line "Program" "with the intention of proceeding to a Ph.D. in Early Christian Studies."

 

Again, those applying through pathways 2 and 3 above should include, in addition to the "Statement of Purpose" required of every applicant, a separate signed letter addressed to the Chair of the Department concerned and to the Director, Center for the Study of Early Christianity (two copies, therefore), specifying their intention of completing a Ph.D. in Early Christian Studies.  The Chair of Semitics is currently Professor Sidney H. Griffith, and of Greek and Latin Professor Frank A.C. Mantello; and the Director of the Center is Professor Philip Rousseau.

 

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the Director, or the Administrative Assistant of the Center, Barbara Mullaney, mullaneb@cua.edu.

 

 

The Center

 

The Center for the Study of Early Christianity undertakes many other responsibilities, and a full account of its activities can be found by clicking on "Center" in the left-hand menu.