Master of Arts in Religion

Follow Your Curiosity

How does religion make and remake the world?

This is one of the most urgent questions of our time—and a complicated one with no easy answers. For those ready to tackle it, the Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.) degree invites you to study the world as it is shaped by religious inheritances, ideas, passions, and ways of life.

The MAR is for:

• Those preparing for doctoral studies
• Professionals seeking to develop subject credentials for fields including education, administration, journalism or librarianship
• People in a variety of vocations who want to follow their curiosity about the big questions of meaning, values and the world

MAR students pursue specialized study in a field or more broadly in Theological Studies. Because the real world is not divided according to academic disciplines, MAR students can also self-declare an interdisciplinary area that combines courses in Drew’s signature interdisciplinary fields.

Graduate and Theological Studies at Drew University.

Located just a 50-minute train ride away from the powerhouse world capital of New York City, Drew’s beautiful, wooded campus in Madison, New Jersey is home to the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies and Drew Theological School.

Be they teachers, poets, doctors, ministers, scholars, community leaders, activists or lifelong learners, graduates of Drew’s professional and academic graduate programs have a humanistic, creative and ethical way of thinking and working.

Find your mentor among the accomplished faculty. Study in The Forest. Test what you are learning in one of the most vibrant and culturally diverse regions on the East Coast. Be part of a dedicated global community that’s intent on preparing you to make a difference that matters in your own life and in the world.

Caspersen School of Graduate Studies

Drew’s Caspersen School of Graduate Studies offers a wide array of distinctive and flexible advanced degree programs designed to meet the needs of almost any busy schedule.

All programs are based on Drew’s renowned commitment to faculty-student mentorship, opportunities for out-of-the-classroom experiential learning and facilitating a robust intellectual community.

The humanities, which cultivate a deep commitment to critical reflection and analysis, form the basis and enrich all of our graduate programs. Mastering these essential skills ensures the remarkable versatility and resourcefulness which distinguishes our graduates. Although many of tomorrow’s careers haven’t even been imagined yet, with a humanities-based graduate education from Drew, you will be ready for anything!

Drew Theological School

Proudly grounded in the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition of bold ideas that impact people's lives for the good, we have trained rooted, innovative and courageous leaders for over 150 years. No matter which of our six-degree programs you pursue, a Drew Theological School education includes interdisciplinary courses that demand out-of-the-box thinking, apprenticeship training that addresses real-world issues and modes of learning that promote adaptability and innovation. In fact our program is designed to fit almost any complex schedule. All of our Master Degree programs can be completed in residence or fully online!

The Mission of the Theological School and the University

“Rooted in the Methodist tradition of innovative and bold interpretations of Christian theology and spiritual practices, the Drew University Theological School empowers creative thought and courageous action to advance justice, peace, and love of God, neighbor, and the earth.”

The Theological School’s mission joins in the work of the University to offer its diverse community of learners a challenging and individualized education shaped by a deep-rooted culture of mentoring, thoughtful engagement with the world beyond its campus and a steadfast commitment to lifelong cultivation of the whole person. Through its distinctive emphasis on the reciprocity of knowledge, experience, and service, Drew prepares its students to flourish both personally and professionally as they add to the world’s good by responding to the urgent challenges of our time with rigorous, independent and imaginative thought.