Graduate Theological Union

Welcome to the most comprehensive center for the graduate study of religion in North America.

SFTS is a founding member of the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), which was created in 1962 with the certainty that the future of religious renewal and theological education depends on the willingness of faith traditions to come together.

With over 200 theological faculty members across more than a dozen scholarly institutions, the GTU flourishes as a haven for interdisciplinary religious thought, study, and practice around the world. The GTU provides students with the opportunity for intensive study of many religious traditions including various forms of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, and Judaism, as well as interdisciplinary topics such as art and religion or theology and science.

Students have the opportunity to attend classes at any of the member schools, academic centers, or affiliates at the GTU. They also have full access to more than 500,000 volumes in the Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, known as one of the largest theological libraries in the country. Additionally, SFTS students have access to the Doe Library at the University of California, Berkeley, which holds more than 11 million volumes, and ranks as the fourth largest university library in the nation.

Ramp up your studies and attend classes at any of the GTU member or sister schools, or take advantage of programs at GTU centers and affiliates!

SFTS-GTU Graduate Degree Programs

Common Master of Arts (M.A.) at the GTU

Affiliated with SFTS, this two-year intensive program focuses on one theological discipline and draws on a close working relationship with a faculty advisor in an area of study. This is a good choice for those who plan to pursue doctoral studies or wish to fine-tune scholarship in a specific area. A substantial, research-based thesis is required, as is basic competency in a modern foreign language for research purposes.

For more information on the M.A., see the GTU website here

Doctoral Programs at the GTU

When you are affiliated with us, you can pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree at the GTU. This advanced academic degree is intended to prepare students for professional careers in teaching, writing, and scholarship, as well as for leadership opportunities with religious organizations, social service agencies, foundations, museums, libraries, publishing, and educational institutions. Students entering the Ph.D. program at the GTU can choose their fields of study from among more than 30 concentrations grouped into four interdisciplinary departments.

For more information on the Ph.D., see the GTU website here