The faculty of Christian Studies trains students in the vast global range of historical and contemporary Christian traditions. Doctoral students study the social, cultural and material dimensions of religion as applied to plural Christianities. Although students may choose to focus on a particular version or historical moment of Christianity for their dissertations, we challenge them to frame their research in transnational and transhistorical terms.
Mandatory courses include REL 535, 635, and 651.
Language Requirement
Students are required to demonstrate advanced ability in two languages other than English in order to enable comparative research. Given the temporal and global span of Christian traditions, the specific languages will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the student’s mentoring committee. Customarily the committee will select one or two ancient languages and one or two modern languages. The following are the languages most frequently studied in the Christian Studies Track, but the mentoring committee can select others as needed:
- Ancient: Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, Latin, as well as medieval vernaculars
- Modern: French, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, Korean
Faculty in Christian Studies
For information on faculty areas of study and advisement, please click here.
Related Research Centers:
Students may also work with our faculty in Judaic Studies and have the opportunity to use resources here at USC and at Hebrew Union College.
Contact Us
Chair
Cavan Concannon
concanno@usc.edu
Academic Program Manager
Angie Guerrero
angiegue@usc.edu
USC School of Religion
825 Bloom Walk, ACB 130
Los Angeles, CA 90089
religion@usc.edu
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Jill Hicks-Keeton
jill.hk@usc.edu
Director of Graduate Studies
Max Strassfeld
strassfe@usc.edu