The Department of Religion, Culture and Society in the College of Letters and Science at UC Davis is now accepting graduate applications for the 2026-2027 academic year. The admitted scholars will be the first cohort in the newly announced master’s program.
The department has offered graduate education since 2013 via its doctoral program. Currently, it serves 11 students, an intentionally small cohort to give students high levels of guidance and mentorship. Program faculty have received awards for their teaching and mentorship.
“We have very, very strong mentoring in the department. Faculty take very close interest in the students, there's a lot of feedback and professional opportunities,” said Archana Venkatesan, a professor in the department and graduate program chair. “We take that seriously."
That program attracts many older students who bring different life and career experiences to the cohort, adding to its cultural richness. It allows flexibility for students who are coming to their studies with other responsibilities or family obligations.
“We want to continue to encourage that,” Venkatesan said.
The Ph.D. program has a high rate of placement for its graduates and Venkatesan expects similar results with master’s graduates, who will be taking courses alongside Ph.D. students.
“I think it's the broad range of training that they receive that allows them to land positions in and outside of academia,” she said.
Who is the master’s program right for?
The M.A. is designed as a two-year program, but it is also designed for flexibility — meaning students may elect to complete the program in one year. It is coursework heavy, however, there is no thesis or language requirement.
Venkatesan described a few different scenarios where an applicant may prefer to pursue a master’s degree as a terminal degree instead of or before pursuing a Ph.D. or other postgraduate degree.
Some may be interested in a postgraduate education but are unsure they want to commit to a six-year program. For others, the master’s program can be a step towards a Ph.D. program, helping them become more competitive or fill in some gaps from their undergraduate education, whether it is language training or writing a thesis.
The master’s credential can help many professionals become more competitive, Venkatesan said, including those working in education, public policy, law or healthcare.
“We have built in a lot of flexibility into the coursework and the exams so that we can really serve all of these populations,” Venkatesan said.
Read an outline of the M.A. Program
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