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Frequently Asked Questions Application
Statistics How many applications are filed each year? Generally we receive between 160-180 applications. How many applicants are admitted? We usually admit 30 or so applicants in order to have an incoming group of 15-20 new graduate students. The actual number varies each year, and we sometimes have both a direct admit list and a wait list. For example, in a recent year we directly admitted 20 and placed another 20 on a wait list, with all 20 eventually being admitted; another year we admitted close to 30 immediately and had a wait list of 10, with the first five eventually being admitted; and in yet another year we directly admitted 35 with no wait list. The actual numbers are determined by the Graduate Admissions Committee, headed each year by the faculty graduate advisor and with the other members rotated among the faculty. The overall applicant pool is the other determining factor. How many applicants are admitted with funding? This varies each year, but generally between 30-60% of the incoming group receive some kind of funding. Only a few top-ranked candidates can be nominated for central fellowships from the Graduate Division, including merit-based fellowships and merit-with-diversity fellowships. Others might receive departmental funding if it is available, or FLAS awards for specific language study. Still others come in with their own extramural funding, such as the Jacob Javits Fellowship (see http://www.ed.gov/programs/jacobjavits/index.html -- any Humanities student may apply for this before and during their first year of graduate study only). How many graduate students are in your program? We currently have approximately 60-75 graduate students present on campus and actively participating in the department, and approximately 20 or so who are at the dissertation-writing stage and are away from campus. Our overall number of registered students has remained at about 80-90 for several years. How many applicants are admitted to the MA II program? Generally we receive about twelve applications to the terminal master's program, or MA II. We usually admit about five. This number varies quite a bit each year, and the applications are reviewed separately from the MA/PhD and PhD applications. How competitive is entrance to the MA II program? We review the
applications to the MA II as strictly as all the other applications.
Although the program is shorter and has fewer requirements, the applicants
will still be attending regular graduate seminars and must demonstrate
in their applications that they have the academic strength to participate
fully in a graduate program. As seen in the statistics given above,
however, typically a slightly higher percentage of applicants are admitted
to the MA II. It is important that their academic goals match the goals
outlined for the MA II program. Are GRE scores required? Yes, UCSB requires GRE scores of all applicants, regardless of age, degrees earned, or background. Only the general test is required (as of October 1, 2002, the general test consists of Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing sections). There is no specific subject test for Religious Studies. We strongly recommend that applicants take the GRE seriously and prepare as well as they can for the test. Workbooks, practice tests, and even workshops are available to help in this regard. The institution code for the GRE is 4835; the department code (if required) is 2904 for Religious Studies. Is there a minimum GRE score for admission? We admit applicants with a wide variety of GRE scores; there is no specific minimum required. All applications are viewed as complete packages, and strong letters of recommendation, excellent GPA from transcripts, and a focused and well-written statement of purpose can help to offset middle range GRE scores. However, our most successful candidates for general (unfunded) admission earn scores at least in the 75th percentile or higher in the Verbal section and most likely 4 or higher in the Analytical Writing portion, while top-ranked candidates for departmental fellowship packages earn scores at least in the 85th percentile or higher in Verbal and most likely 5 or higher in the Analytical Writing. To be nominated for central fellowships (sponsored by the Graduate Division and awarded in a campus-wide competition), applicants need to score in the 90th percentile or higher in Verbal and most likely 5.5 or higher in the Analytical Writing. How late can I take the GRE to meet the application deadline? Can scores arrive late? We recommend taking the GRE test no later than early November in order to meet the December 1 deadline. It is your responsibility to see that they arrive on time; be aware that incomplete application packages will not be considered. It generally takes two to three weeks for GRE scores to be received electronically at the Graduate Division. Can I use my old GRE scores? GRE scores remain current for five years after the test is taken, and ETS will only forward scores for tests taken within the past five years. We can accept older scores if the applicant has an official, original (not copied) printout. If the applicant is admitted on that basis, the official printout must then be taken in person to the Admissions section of Graduate Division for verification, where a copy will be made and the original returned to the student. Do not mail the original score report in to the department or the Graduate Division; anything sent in as part of an application legally becomes the property of UC and cannot be returned. How can I find out when and where the GRE test is offered? Contact the
GRE website at www.gre.org for detailed information. Statement of Purpose & Other Supplementary Materials Where do I find out about the Statement of Purpose? When you access the online application, follow the link for supplemental forms (http://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/admissions/forms/ ) to find the downloadable cover page for the Statement of Purpose (http://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/forms/admis/pdf/sop.pdf ). You will need to print out the cover sheet and attach it to your statement. The cover sheet explains exactly what is requested in the Statement of Purpose. Note that you must submit two copies of the Statement including coversheet. There are three sections to the Statement; can you explain them? The first section is the standard academic statement of purpose. This is where you outline your research goals and academic interests, as well as your career goals. It is important that this section be very focused and to the point. You should clearly state your intended area of emphasis, and how your goals fit in with our programmatic strengths. You should also emphasize how and why this department will meet your research needs, and with whom you anticipate working. It is useful for the committee if you can demonstrate familiarity with the academic study of religion. The second section is oriented toward how you would contribute to the diversity of the student population at UCSB. One of the main reasons for this section is that there is a campus-wide fellowship competition based on merit plus diversity; this section helps the department to identify applicants who might fit within a diversity profile and be nominated for the fellowship competition. Be sure to pay careful attention to the requested information and be aware that there are many ways to fit within a diversity profile. This section can also be regarded as a personal statement, where information on travels, life experiences, volunteerism, etc. can be included. The third section simply asks for a resume or a curriculum vita. If one is already prepared, it can just be attached. How long should the Statement of Purpose be? There is no specific required length for the Statement; it varies widely and the emphasis should be on the quality of the information given rather than the quantity. As a rule of thumb, the first section is generally anywhere from two to four pages long while the second section is usually shorter, perhaps one or two pages in length. Where do I find out about the letters of recommendation? When you access
the online application, follow the link for supplemental forms (http://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/admissions/forms/
) to find the downloadable cover page for the letters of recommendation
(http://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/forms/admis/pdf/rec.pdf ). You will need
to print out a cover page for each letter of recommendation, complete
your portion and sign it, and send it to your recommenders so that they
can complete it and attach it to their letters. Yes, we frequently receive more than the required three letters of recommendation. Applicants have submitted four or five, even six, letters in the past. It is probably best not to submit more than six. Do all of my letters have to be from former faculty or academic sources? It is very important that all three required letters be from former faculty or academic sources who can attest to your abilities in the classroom and to your writing and research abilities. Additional letters can be from an employer, a colleague, a religious affiliate, or whomever you choose. I've been out of school for quite a while; do I still need letters from former instructors? You would be surprised at how many faculty remember their former students, even after ten or more years. It is always a good idea to approach them even if you're not sure they'll remember you. If you had a good working relationship with any of your instructors, you should definitely ask them. If you truly can't find any faculty recommendations, then submit the best letters you can from reliable sources. Should the letters be sent to me or directly to your department? We can accept letters of recommendation either way, so it's whatever is most convenient for you and/or your recommenders. If they are sent to you, be sure that they remain in their original sealed, unopened envelopes, and forward them on to the department in an outer envelope. Usually faculty sign their names across the flap of the envelope as further proof that they have not been opened. If the Graduate Program Assistant receives a letter of recommendation in an envelope that appears to have been opened or is unsealed, she cannot accept it and you will have to solicit another letter. Exactly what transcripts do you need? According to the electronic application instructions, we must have two official copies of each transcript from each post-secondary institution you've attended. Bachelor’s and Master’s transcripts must show conferral of the degree if the program has been completed. If the program is still in process, the most recent transcripts showing all work to date should be submitted. If the applicant is admitted on the basis of a partial transcript, final transcripts will have to be submitted as soon as the degree conferral is actually recorded. What constitutes an official transcript? Official transcripts
are labeled as such and a seal from the registrar's office is included.
To be considered official, all transcripts must arrive in the original
sealed envelope as issued by the registrar, usually with a signature
or registrar's seal across the flap. No photocopies or unofficial student
copies may be accepted. As with the letters of recommendation, you may
have the registrars send the transcripts directly to our department
or they can be sent to you to include in a larger packet, as long as
the transcripts remain unopened and in their original sealed envelopes.
Usually if the transcripts are released to the applicant it is noted
on the envelope or on the transcript itself. Yes, we strongly recommend submitting a writing sample. This is usually a copy of a paper from a course, and it should reflect favorably on your writing and research abilities. Usually it is helpful if the sample explores your area of academic interest. There is no specific length required, although ideally it should be under 25 pages. If I am applying to the PhD program, should I submit a copy of my Master's thesis? Yes, we ask for a copy of the Master's thesis because we consider it to be essential preparation for writing a dissertation. You can submit a copy of the entire thesis if it is a journal-length article of approximately 20-30 pages or, if it is quite long, you can submit a copy of the introduction, a representative chapter, and the conclusion. Again, no specific length is required. My Master's program did not require a thesis. What should I do? If you did not write a thesis during your Master's program, you don't need to do anything during the application phase. Can supplemental materials arrive after the deadline? All supplemental materials and GRE results should arrive by the stated deadline of December 1. If a letter or transcript arrives late, we will accept it, but be aware that incomplete applications cannot be considered for review and late materials can jeopardize the whole application. Where do I send the supplemental materials? All supplemental materials, including two copies of the Statement of Purpose (all sections), two copies of each official transcript, the letters of recommendation, and any writing samples or theses, should be sent to:
May I visit the department and campus? By all means; visits are very much encouraged. Feel free to visit at any time; there is no particularly advantageous time for our department and visits can be arranged either before, during, or after the application is filed. How do I arrange my visit? Our faculty
keep their own schedules. Therefore, to maximize your visit, you should
contact faculty directly via email (you can use the links from the Faculty
page on our website at www.religion.ucsb.edu) and propose dates that
would be convenient for you. You can also contact current graduate students
to try to arrange a meeting; a list of current grads with their research
interests is in the Graduate section of our site and includes email
links. You can also send a brief email message to the Graduate Program
Assistant describing your research goals and plans for visiting, and
that can be forwarded to our graduate student email list. Once you have
a specific date narrowed down you should also notify the Graduate Program
Assistant, Sally Lombrozo, to be sure she will be available at the time
of your visit -- although you don't need a specific appointment with
her, she can answer many general questions and give a brief tour of
the department. When are the campus tours offered? The UCSB Visitor's Center offers campus tours daily at noon and 2 p.m. No reservations are required; you can just show up at the Center. Be warned, however, that the tours are heavily oriented toward undergraduate students with much emphasis on dorms, recreational facilities, etc. Many prospective graduate students have opted to skip the tour after finding the information not of particular use to them. I want to sit in on a class; can I find a schedule online? The quarterly
Schedule of Classes is available online at http://www.registrar.ucsb.edu/
(follow the link on the side bar to Schedule of Classes). This is the
same as the printed version and unfortunately goes out of date quickly,
as many changes are made before the quarter begins. You can consult
the Graduate Program Assistant to verify that courses shown online are
accurate and get updated info. There is an online catalog as well, so
be sure to examine that to spot classes that are of particular interest.
Our website has a tentative curriculum plan, with times and days of
classes posted for the next couple of quarters – it is available
at http://www.religion.ucsb.edu/courselist.html. Or, you can drop by
to see the Graduate Program Assistant first thing when you visit to
get some help and a map. I suddenly have a chance to visit but can't give much notice; should I come anyway? Yes, even on short notice it's fine to come in for a visit. Your chances of meeting with faculty and grad students are reduced, but hopefully you will still be able to explore the department and campus and find a class to sit in on. Ideally you should at least check with the Graduate Program Assistant, even at the last minute, to see if she is available to help you. What days of the week are best for visiting? We recommend Mondays and Tuesdays as good days, mainly because more classes and seminars are available on those days. Fridays probably offer the least opportunities for sitting in on graduate seminars. If you can arrange your visit so that you can sit in on the required 200 proseminar, that would be ideal; all new grad students are required to take the series so you will have a chance to meet the newest cohort of students. The schedule varies -- be sure to check with the Graduate Program Assistant for the current quarter's schedule. However, any day is fine according to your convenience, and we realize not everybody can visit at the beginning of the week.
What is the distinction between the MA for the MA/PhD program and the MA Plan II? The MA portion of the MA/PhD program, also called the MA Plan I, is quite different in focus and intent from the terminal master’s degree program, also called the MA Plan II. Plan I is specifically designed to prepare for and lead on to a PhD; Plan II is a final degree. Plan I is intended for those whose ultimate goal is to teach or conduct research in a university setting; Plan II is intended for those with other career goals in mind and who do not plan on teaching beyond a junior college level. Those who have successfully completed the MA Plan II in our department include journalists specializing in news stories focused on religion; artists working with religious imagery in their work; practicing doctors and psychologists or pre-med students who wished to have a better understanding of the various religious beliefs of their patients; high school and community college teachers; etc. How long does each program take? What requirements does each program have? The MA Plan I is typically a two- to three-year (and sometimes more) program that includes required units and coursework, required language study, the formation of a thesis committee, and the writing of a complete master’s thesis. The MA Plan II is a one-year program that includes the completion of 36 units, 24 at the graduate level, and one required core course (RG ST 201); the selection of the rest of the courses is up to the student. There is no language study involved, nor is a thesis written. Is it easier to get admitted to the MA Plan II? Is there a different application? The same application and criteria are used for admission to the MA Plan II and the MA/PhD program. The admissions committee rigorously reviews the statement of purpose, the transcripts, the GRE scores, the letters of recommendation, and the writing sample for all applicants. Since MA Plan II students will participate in the same graduate seminars as MA Plan I and PhD students, their applications must demonstrate that they will be able to keep up in those courses. It is also very important that the stated objectives of the applicant match the intended focus of the program being applied to. If an applicant to the MA Plan II program indicates a desire for a future PhD, it might signal to the reviewing committee that this person is not a suitable candidate for Plan II. If I am admitted to the MA Plan II program, can I later request to continue for the PhD? The MA Plan II is a terminal master’s degree program; it is not designed to lead on to a PhD. Our department does not permit participants in the MA Plan II to switch over to the MA/PhD program; the members of our faculty are very cautious about the MA Plan II being used for “back-door entry” into the PhD program. Is funding available for applicants to the MA Plan II? Unfortunately, no fellowship
funding is available through either the department or the Graduate Division.
Because the time commitment for the MA Plan II is so short (one year),
our funding resources must be devoted to those in the programs with
much longer time commitments and thus more costs to support. Financial
aid via the FAFSA is always a possibility (consisting of loans and/or
work study jobs), and some of our MA Plan II students have been known
to find TA positions in other departments. |
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| Department of Religious Studies | University of California | Santa Barbara, CA 93106-3130 telephone: (805) 893-7136 | fax: (805) 893-2059 | http://www.religion.ucsb.edu |
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