The Master of Liberal Arts, Religion degree field is offered online with 1 course required on-campus. Weekend options are available for the on-campus requirement.
Getting Started
Registration for January and Spring 2024 opens on November 6.
Explore Degree Requirements
- Review the required course curriculum.
- Determine your initial admissions eligibility.
- Learn about the 3 degree courses required for admission.
Required Courses
12 Graduate Courses (48 credits)
The degree is customizable. Within the program curriculum, you choose either a capstone or thesis track as well as the religion and elective courses that meet your learning goals.
The primarily synchronous online format ensures real-time engagement with faculty and peers.
Core Courses
- HUMA 100 Proseminar: Introduction to Graduate Studies in English and Religion
- 4 religion courses
- 1 religion seminar
- 1 Engaging in Scholarly Conversation (on campus)
- This 4-credit requirement is fulfilled by completing 2 two-credit Active Learning Weekends or 1 three-week summer course.
- 2 religion electives
- EXPO 42a Writing in the Humanities is an elective option.
Tip: Seminars offer small-class discussions as well as ample opportunities to connect with faculty and peers while engaging in research. We encourage you to complete multiple seminars.
Additional Thesis Track Courses
The thesis is a 9-month independent research project where you work one-on-one in a tutorial setting with a thesis director.
- HUMA 497 Crafting the Thesis Proposal in Dramatic Arts, English, and Religion Tutorial
- RELI 499AB ALM Thesis in Religion (8 credits)
Recent Thesis Topics:
- Horatio Alger Jr. and Dr. Russell H. Conwell: Protestant Prescriptions for Social and Economic Mobility
- Reverend Theodore Judson Jemison: The Man Who Revolutionized the Civil Rights Movement
- A Comparative Analysis of the Transmission and “Translation” of Tibetan Buddhist Teachings in the American Context
Additional Capstone Track Courses
- An addition religion elective
- Precapstone:
- GOVT 597A Precapstone: Strategies to Advance Social Change
- HIST 597 Social Reform Movements in America Precapstone
- Capstone:
- GOVT 599A Social Justice Capstone: Equity and the Struggle for Justice
- HIST 599 Social Reform Movements in America Capstone
The capstone experience. First, in the precapstone, you gain foundational preparation through critically analyzing the scholarly literature. Then, in the capstone, you execute a semester-long research project with guidance and support from your instructor and fellow candidates.
Capstone sequencing. You enroll in the precapstone and capstone courses in the same topic, in back-to-back semesters (fall/spring), and in your final academic year. Capstone topics are subject to change annually.
The Harvard On-Campus Experience
Nearly all courses can be taken online, but the degree requires an in-person experience here at Harvard University where you enroll in Engaging in Scholarly Conversation (ESC).
Join your fellow degree candidates for this interactive course that highlights the importance of true graduate-level analysis by training students in the skills of critically engaging the scholarly literature in their field of study.
- Accelerated on-campus option: ESC is offered in 2 two-credit Active Learning Weekends. We strongly advise you complete the two weekends in the same academic year with same instructor (part one in fall and part two in spring).
- Standard on-campus option: ESC is offered in 1 three-week Harvard Summer School (HSS) session. This option is ideal for those who want a more traditional on-campus experience. HSS offers housing, meal plans, and a prolonged on-campus experience here at Harvard University. Learn more about campus life at Harvard.
ESC must be completed after admission and prior to either the Crafting the Thesis Proposal tutorial or the precapstone to support your final research project.
You have two attempts to earn the required grade of B- or higher. A withdrawal grade (WD) counts as an attempt.
International Students Who Need a Student Visa
To meet the on-campus requirement, you choose the Standard on-campus option and study with us in the summer. You can easily request an I-20 for the F-1 student visa for Harvard Summer School’s 3-week session. For more details, see International Student Study Options for important visa information.
In-Person Co-Curricular Events
Come to Cambridge for Convocation (fall) to celebrate your hard-earned admission, Harvard career fairs offered throughout the year, HES alumni networking events (here at Harvard and around the world), and, of course, Harvard University Commencement (May).
Harvard Instructor Requirement
In either the thesis or capstone track, 8 of the above courses (32 credits) need to be taught by instructors with the Harvard-instructor designation. The thesis course is taught by a Harvard instructor.
Admissions
Below are our initial eligibility requirements and an overview of our unique admissions process to help get you started. Be sure to visit Degree Program Admissions for full details.
Initial Eligibility
- Prior to enrolling in any degree-applicable courses, you must possess a four-year regionally accredited US bachelor’s degree or its foreign equivalent. Foreign bachelor’s degrees must be evaluated for equivalency.
- You cannot already have or be in the process of earning a master’s degree in religion or a related field. Check your eligibility.
Earning Your Way In: Courses for Admission
The path to your degree begins before you apply to the program. To begin, you simply register—no application needed—for the following 3, four-credit, graduate-level degree courses (available online):
- HUMA 100 Proseminar: Introduction to Graduate Studies and Scholarly Writing in the Humanities
- Before registering, you’ll need to pass our online test of critical reading and writing skills or earn a B or higher in EXPO 42a Writing in the Humanities.
- You have 2 attempts to earn the minimum grade of B in the proseminar (a withdrawal grade counts as an attempt). The proseminar cannot be more than 2 years old at the time of application.
- 1 religion course
- 1 religion course or elective (e.g., EXPO 42a)
All 3, four-credit courses, including EXPO 42a, are investments in your studies and help ensure success in the program. They count toward your degree once you’re admitted; they are not additional courses.
Course sequencing. While the 3 courses don’t need to be taken in a particular order or in the same semester, we recommend that you start with the proseminar or EXPO 42a. All 3 courses must be completed with a grade of B or higher, without letting your overall Harvard cumulative GPA dip below 3.0.
Applying to the Degree Program
During the semester of your third degree course, submit the official application to the program.
Don’t delay! You must submit a timely application by prioritizing the 3 degree courses for admission and apply before completing subsequent courses. By doing so, you’ll:
- avoid the loss of credit due to expired course work or changes to admission and degree requirements.
- ensure critical and timely enrollment in degree-candidate-only courses.
- pay the standard versus delayed application fee.
- gain access to exclusive benefits (see bottom of page).
Eligible students who submit a complete and timely application will have 9 more courses after admission to earn the degree.
The Office of Predegree Advising & Admissions makes all final determinations about program eligibility. For details about full eligibility and the application process, visit Degree Program Admissions.
Search and Register for Courses
The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) offers degree courses all year round to support accelerated degree completion.
- You can study in fall, January, and spring terms through Harvard Extension School (HES) and during the summer through Harvard Summer School (HSS).
- You can enroll full or part-time with many degree candidates, after qualifying for admission, choosing 2 courses per semester (fall/spring) and 1 in the January term as well as summer.
- Most fall and spring courses meet online once a week for 2 hours, while January and summer courses meet more frequently in a condensed format.
To Complete Your Degree
Required 3.0 GPA, 2 Withdrawal Grades, and Repeat Course Policy
GPA. You need to earn a B or higher in each of the 3 degree courses required for admission and a B– or higher in each of the subsequent courses. In addition, your cumulative GPA cannot dip below 3.0.
Withdrawal Grades. You are allowed to receive 2 withdrawal (WD) grades without them affecting your GPA. Any additional WD grades count as zero in your cumulative GPA. Please note that a WD grade from a two-credit course will count as 1 of your 2 allowed WD grades. See Academic Standing.
Repeat Courses. We advise you to review the ALM program’s strict policies about repeating courses. Generally speaking, you may not repeat a course to improve your GPA or to fulfill a degree requirement (if the minimum grade was not initially achieved). Nor can you repeat a course for graduate credit that you’ve previously completed at Harvard Extension School or Harvard Summer School at the undergraduate level.
Courses Expire: Apply on Time and Finish Your Coursework in Under 5 Years
Courses over 5 years old at the point of admission will not count toward the degree. As noted above, the proseminar cannot be more than 2 years old at the time of application.
You have 5 years to complete your degree requirements. The 5-year timeline begins once you complete any 3 degree-applicable courses, regardless of whether or not you have been admitted to the program.
Additionally, admission eligibility will be jeopardized if, at the point of application to the program, the 5-year degree completion policy cannot be satisfied (i.e., too many courses to complete in the time remaining).
Potential degree candidates must submit timely applications or they risk losing degree credit for completed course work.
Graduate with Your Harvard Degree
When you have fulfilled all degree requirements, you will earn your Harvard University degree: Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies, Field: Religion. Degrees are awarded in November, March, and May, with the annual Harvard Commencement ceremony in May.
Degree Candidate Exclusive Benefits
When you become an officially admitted degree candidate, you have access to a rich variety of exclusive benefits to support your academic journey. To learn more, visit degree candidate academic opportunities and privileges.
