The PhD in Religion, Culture, and Society is offered jointly with Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, the program provides students with the support of a diverse community of faculty and access to courses and resources across both universities.
Robust programming.
Close-knit community.
Joint partnership with the University of Waterloo.
Our innovative program is recognized for its distinct areas of specialization, multidisciplinary theories and methods, and public intelligibility.
Due to the diversity of faculty from both universities, we have experts in a variety of areas:
The program is multidisciplinary in two ways: in its admission of students from a variety of related disciplines, and in the faculty, courses and research that students encounter.
Faculty expertise extends beyond religious studies to related disciplines, including anthropology, history, philosophy, psychology, political science, and sociology. Additionally, the program utilizes adjunct faculty from related departments at both universities. The program, designed for students with either religious studies or other, closely related backgrounds, employ both fieldwork and textually oriented methods.
The PhD is designed to meet the needs of individuals who have various professional or vocational objectives. In addition to training those who intend to be scholars in religious studies or related disciplines, the program is designed to attract administrators, artists and media professionals, counsellors, journalists, religious officials, social workers and teachers. Therefore, the program stresses the need for public intelligibility in communicating religious studies scholarship.
Beyond emphasizing writing skills, the program cultivated and evaluates speaking as well as other public performance skills. The program fosters in students both a focus and a flexibility that will serve them well in a job market that requires adaptability, creativity and the ability to be articulate in public situations.
The minimum degree requirements for the Laurier-Waterloo PhD in Religion, Culture, and Society are as follows.
The PhD is designed to take four years for completion. Students must enrol in the program full-time, be available for classes and regular on-campus consultation for at least the first two calendar years, and complete a minimum of six terms beyond the Master of Arts (MA).
Students are expected to proceed through the program in a timely fashion. Normally, students must complete the course work and finish their proposal in the first year; comprehensive exams in the second year; and the dissertation project in the third and fourth years. The responsibilities of the supervisor and the supervisory committee notwithstanding, the candidate is responsible for ensuring that program requirements and deadlines are met in a timely fashion.
The degree requires a minimum of four courses beyond the MA. Students are required to take RE740 and RE750, both doctoral-level research seminars, as well as two electives. Depending on a student’s goals and admission assessment, additional course work may be required. Doctoral students must achieve at least a B in each course.
Students must demonstrate reading knowledge of a second language relevant to the field and/or the dissertation. If the topic of the dissertation makes knowledge of a third language essential, the candidate must demonstrate competence in this language as well. Students are not permitted to begin their dissertation until all language requirements are met.
The proposal is a written document outlining the dissertation project. The proposal must be formally accepted by both the student’s Supervisory Committee and the Joint PhD committee before proceeding to the dissertation project. Subsequent, substantive changes in the proposal must be approved by the Supervisory Committee and the program director.
There are two examinations, each based on a bibliography constructed by the student’s Supervisory Committee in consultation with the student. The purpose of the general exam is to ensure the breadth and depth of a student’s knowledge in relevant disciplines and in specific fields within the academic study of religion, culture, and society. The purpose of the field exam is to focus an area of specialization containing the dissertation project. Both exams are conducted by the student's Supervisory Committee.
A candidate has only two opportunities to complete each of the examinations successfully. These examinations should take place in the candidate's second year in the doctoral program.
To be permitted to take the examinations at a later time, a candidate must petition the director for an extension. Extensions are normally granted only once and then, only for one term.
The dissertation project consists of three required, closely related parts: the dissertation, the public presentation, and the dissertation defence. Students must pass all three. Evaluations, carried out by the Supervisory Committee, take into consideration the mastery of both style and content.
The doctoral dissertation is a piece of research (approximately 50,000-90,000 words in length) aimed at making an original contribution to the study of religion, culture, and society. The dissertation must be crafted for publication as a book, although actual publication is not a degree requirement. This way of fulfilling the dissertation requirement is a distinctive feature of the program, and guidelines are available from the director. The dissertation is prepared in consultation with the Supervisory Committee, which includes the candidate's supervisor acting as chair, along with two other faculty members connected to the joint program.
The public presentation is a second distinctive feature of the Laurier-Waterloo PhD in Religion, Culture, and Society. The presentation must be accessible to the public, open to questioning and debate, and subject to faculty evaluation. This presentation may take various formats and must demonstrate the candidate’s ability to make the results of research publicly intelligible and engaging for a diverse, educated but non-specialist audience. The public presentation is held in a venue and at a time different from that of the dissertation defence. Holding it in an off-campus location is preferable. Evaluation is on a pass/fail basis, and a pass is required to complete the degree. A candidate who fails may attempt the presentation only one additional time.
The dissertation defence, which is distinct from the public presentation, is an oral review and evaluation of the dissertation. Prior to the defence, an Examining Committee is established. It includes the Supervisory Committee plus an Internal Examiner from another department at either university. A Chair (from the university in which the student is registered) and an External Examiner (from another university) are appointed by the appropriate Dean of Graduate Studies. The Supervisory Committee recommends External Examiners to the Dean of Graduate Studies. The decision of the Examining Committee is based on the dissertation and the candidate's ability to defend it orally. A candidate who fails may attempt the presentation only one additional time.
Our faculty offer very diverse interests and areas of expertise, including:
"The students in this program have made an effort to help each other across cohorts and between the Laurier and UW campus. The faculty, truly want all students to succeed and have gone out of their way many times to help us. It makes what could be a very isolating and independent journey something that is more communal."
Kate McCartney, PhD student
Take the first step in your graduate education and apply to one of our graduate programs. Follow our three-step admission process — we’ll walk you through how to apply and prepare for your first day as a graduate student.
The first round of applications is considered in early January. Thereafter, applications will continue to be considered until the program is full. If applying after the first phase of applications is considered in early January, consult the graduate coordinator directly to enquire about further openings in the program. We have had a significant amount of interest in our program during the past two years, so we strongly encourage prospective students to apply prior to the deadline.
After you have submitted your OUAC application, paid the non-refundable application fee, and Laurier has received your application, you'll receive an email from gradadmissions@wlu.ca advising you to upload the additional required documentation to Laurier’s Online Registration and Information System (LORIS).
Please note, the application process and the uploading of supplemental documentation, which includes references, typically takes two weeks. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.
An application for admission to our PhD program in Religion, Culture, and Society must include:
Visit our Graduate Admissions Toolkit for more information about applying.
The Department of Religion and Culture welcomes international students to the PhD Program. International students who have confirmed funding from a third-party, such as their employer or a scholarship program in their home country, will be considered for admission.
Learn more about admission requirements for international applicants.Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential to graduate studies at Laurier. Applicants whose language of instruction during their previous postsecondary education was not in English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. If applicable, results from accepted testing services must be uploaded to LORIS.
Questions? Contact Meena Sharify-Funk, PhD Director, at msharifyfunk@wlu.ca. For general inquiries, contact Jennifer Davis at jdavis@wlu.ca.
"The guidance I've received from faculty members, especially my academic advisor and the advising committee, was excellent. The friendly environment in the department and the integration with the University of Waterloo through the joint program were very encouraging aspects of the experience too."
Gustavo Moura
Regardless of the type of graduate degree program you intend to pursue, financial planning is important. At Laurier, we want to provide you with as much information as possible about a variety of scholarship and funding opportunities and equip you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.
Laurier welcomes international applicants to all of our doctoral programs. International students who have confirmed funding from a third-party, such as their employer or a scholarship program in their home country, will be considered for admission. Learn more about admission requirements for international applicants.
Graduates of the program are well prepared for careers in higher education, government and the private sector. Potential career paths include:
Check out our career profile on Dr. Sahir Dewji, Senior Policy Analyst (PhD RLST '18).
ASPIRE is Laurier's professional skills development training program for graduate students. The program helps you craft an individualized, extracurricular learning plan tailored to your professional journey and entry to the workplace.
Learn about the interests and ongoing research of our faculty members. If their research interests you, email the professor directly to set up a meeting. Include information about yourself, your skills, your experience, and why you’re interested in their research.
Ehaab Abdou
Associate Professor
Abderrahman Beggar
Professor
Alexandra Boutros
Associate Professor
Kevin Burrell
Associate Professor
Undergraduate Advisor
Carol B. Duncan
Professor
3M National Teaching Fellow
Erich Fox Tree
Associate Professor
Chair, Religion and Culture
Dejan Guzina
Associate Professor
Ashley Lebner
Associate Professor
Jason Neelis
Associate Professor
Ashwani Peetush
Associate Professor
Edmund Pries
Professor
Meena Sharify-Funk
Professor
MA Coordinator and PhD Director
Stacey Wilson-Forsberg
Professor
Ali Zaidi
Associate Professor
Jasmin Zine
Professor
John Abraham
Associate Professor
Alicia Batten
Professor
Jeremy Bergen
Associate Professor
Secil Degtas
Associate Professor
James Diamond
Professor
Doris Jakobsh
Professor
Scott Kline
Associate Professor
Wendy Fletcher
Professor
David Seljak
Professor
W. Derek Suderman
Associate Professor
Cristina Vanin
Associate Professor
Galen Watts
Assistant Professor
Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme
Associate Professor
Jeff Wilson
Professor
Scott Kline
Chair and Professor (University of Waterloo)
Think this is the perfect program to continue your education?
