<p>How do the various graduate PhD programs in Religious Studies stack up against each other? Is there some general hierarchy, some methodology for--- dare I say--- "ranking" these programs? I'm interested in the history of Christianity and religious ethics, so any information about schools with strengths in these particular areas would be most appreciated.</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>USN&WR does have rankings for these programs. Chicago has one of the best, and they are very strong in the areas you list. I believe UNC also has a strong program.</p>
<p>You might want to PM Professor X. I believe s/he is in RELS.</p>
<p>Thanks, WilliamC, this is indeed my field. And in this field, the USNWR rankings are utterly useless. In RS, it completely depends on your area of subspecialization, and who is teaching where.</p>
<p>Chicago is still "king," but is currently not strong at all in certain areas, and strengths can vary from time to time. For example, right now, a student with an area and method that last year I would have advised to look at Harvard, I would now point toward Northwestern. Similarly, Princeton has recently become a powerhouse in certain areas for which they were NEVER noted before.</p>
<p>What one must do is find the professors whose work you find most compelling, paying special attention to methodology, not just area. Then, find out if they teach in a PhD program. If not, find out where they received their PhD. Then check the current faculty in that program, and see if it is still a match for you.</p>
<p>HistXt is a broad field with WIDE variations in methodology. One program "strong in HistXt" could be a woefully bad match for someone whose methodological orientation is not supported there.</p>