Admission

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. Bryan Cuevas. 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.

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.

In 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 [download forms here]
In Document 2 (and Document 3, if necessary), upload a sample of your writing (for example, a term paper in a religion course)
In Document 4, upload a statement of purpose (about two pages long)
Three letters of recommendation should be sent to the address below (please note that if you are applying for a fellowship, the letter should address that as well as admission to graduate study) [download forms here]

Please have recommendation letters sent to:

The department accepts applications once a year for fall admission only. The deadline for applications for admission to the graduate program for Fall 2009 is January 5, 2009.

Though outstanding grades and GRE scores are prerequisites for admission to both graduate programs, they provide no guarantee of acceptance.

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.

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.

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.

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. Bryan Cuevas, Director of Graduate Studies.