Campus Visits | Application Process | Admission Criteria | International Students
Campus Visits
Prospective graduate students are encouraged to visit the department at any time throughout the academic year. Campus visits normally include meetings with the Graduate Director and faculty in the student's area of interest, a campus tour, lunch with graduate students, and visits to one or two graduate seminars.
If you are interested in coming to see us, please contact Dr. Matthew Goff. Before you arrive, be sure to check out the helpful information at FSU's Visitor Center. In addition, you should take a virtual tour of our campus and explore the delights of living in Tallahassee, FL.
Click here to connect with the Department of Religion!
Application Process
Applying to the University
Students can apply to the university by visiting the graduate admissions website. Simply complete the online application and mail the $30.00 application fee and residency statement under separate cover.
For the Department
- Document 1, upload the Department of Religion Application for Admission to a Graduate Program, including a list of the Religion courses you have taken and grades for those courses
- In Document 2, upload a sample of your writing (for example, a term paper in a religion course)
- In Document 3, upload a statement of purpose (about two pages long)
- Three letters of recommendation, enter the required information for three academic references. References will be contacted once the application is submitted and instructed how to upload letters of recommendation.
Deadline
The department accepts applications once a year for fall admission only. To be eligible for FSU grants and awards available to applicants, applications should be submitted by January 1. To be guaranteed funding, applications should be submitted by January 15 before the fall when an applicant wishes to start their program of study. If you have any questions regarding deadlines or the application process, please contact Dr. Matthew Goff.
Admission Criteria
Grades
Though outstanding grades are prerequisites for admission to both graduate programs, they provide no guarantee of acceptance. Neither MA nor PhD applicants are required to submit GRE scores.
Personal Statement
The applicant’s statement of purpose is considered carefully in the admissions decision insofar as it distinguishes an applicant from other applicants and relates her or his specific interests to those of program faculty.
Writing Sample
The writing sample often proves to be the most important document in the application process. As an example of the applicant’s best work, the writing sample should demonstrate an ability to write well, analyze, and engage with scholarly debates and research.
Recommendation Letters
Letters of recommendation are also given great weight in the decision process. Students are encouraged to choose recommenders who can provide detailed information about academic ability and likelihood of success in graduate study.
International Students
The department welcomes applications from international students. In addition to the application process and admissions criteria listed above, official TOEFL (#5219) results are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English and who have not studied in an English-speaking country for at least one academic year. Official TOEFL scores are submitted during the process of applying to the university; please also indicate the score on your application to the department. Students are encouraged to visit the Admissions website for comprehensive instructions on applying to university graduate programs as an international student. For more information about applying to the department, please contact Dr. Matthew Goff, Director of Graduate Studies