Department Chair

Dr. Mustafa Ruzgar


Santa Susana Hall 224
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8316

Monday - Friday 
8 AM to 5 PM

Phone: 818-677-3392 Fax: 818-677-7112

Current Students

Welcome to the Religion Studies current students page at CSUN! Access essential academic resources, support services, and engagement opportunities.

Student Organizations

Explore the many student organizations at CSUN and join to be part of the vibrant community! Visit MATA Sync to view a list of the many organizations in campus. UPSTANDER Club is a student organization that raises humanitarian concerns among CSUN students and creates a hate-free space. Visit the UPSTANDER Club website to learn more. 

Upstander Club

Job Outlook

Graduating with a degree in Religion Studies opens a wide array of career opportunities. The skills and knowledge you acquire in our program are highly versatile and applicable across many professions. Here are some of the paths our alumni commonly pursue:

  • Community Outreach Coordinator
  • Youth Program Director
  • Social Media Manager
  • Journalist/Writer
  • Research Assistant
  • Cultural Affairs Officer
  • Non-Profit Program Coordinator
  • Religious Education Director
  • Human Resources Assistant
  • Administrative Assistant

Internships and Career Development Gain practical experience through internships and career development programs. The Career Center offers workshops, job fairs, and one-on-one counseling to prepare you for life after graduation.

Graduate Schools in California

Azusa Pacific University
Hagard Graduate School of Theology

  • Religious Studies - M.A.

California State University, Long Beach 

  • Religion in the Contemporary World - M.A.
  • Ancient and Medieval Judaism - M.A.
  • Buddhist Studies - M.A.

Claremont Graduate University

  • Hebrew Bible - M.A., Ph.D.
  • History of Christianity and Religions in North American - M.A., Ph.D.
  • Islamic Studies, M.A.
  • New Testament - M.A., Ph.D.
  • Philosophy of Religion and Theology - M.A., Ph.D.
  • Theology, Ethics and Culture - M.A., Ph.D. 
  • Women's Studies in Religion, M.A., Ph.D.

Claremont School of Theology

  • Religion, Theological Studies, M.A.R.
  • Specialized Ministry Programs - M.A.R.E. and M.A.P.C. 
  • Ministry - M.Div.
  • Religion and Theology - M.A.T.S. 
  • Religious Education, Ph.D. in Theology and Personality
  • Pastoral Care and Counseling, Ph.D. in Theology and Personality

Fuller Theological Seminary

  • Master of Divinity 
  • Christian Leadership 
  • Master of Arts in Theology
  • Biblical Studies and Theology Format
  • Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Literature Format
  • Theology and the Arts 
  • Youth, Family, and Culture
  • Family Life Education
  • Evangelism
  • Multicultural Ministries
  • Pastoral Ministry 
  • Doctor of Ministry
  • Doctor of Philosophy
  • Master of Theology

Graduate Theological Union

  • Art and Religion - M.A., Ph.D., Th.D.
  • Biblical Languages - M.A., Ph.D., Th.D. 
  • Biblical Studies - M.A., Ph.D., Th.D. 
  • Buddhist Studies - M.A., Ph.D., Th.D. 
  • Christian Spirituality - M.A., Ph.D., Th.D. 
  • Cultural and Historical Studies of Religion - M.A., Ph.D., Th.D.
  • Ethics and Social Theory - M.A., Ph.D., Th.D.
  • History - M.A., Ph.D., Th.D.
  • Homelitics - M.A., Ph.D., Th.D.
  • Jewish Studies - M.A., Ph.D., Th.D.
  • Liturgical Studies - M.A., Ph.D., Th.D.
  • Orthodox Christian Studies - M.A., Ph.D., Th.D.
  • Religion and Psychology - M.A., Ph.D., Th.D.
  • Systematic and Philosophical Theology - M.A., Ph.D., Th.D.

Naropa University

  • Creation Spirituality - M.L.A.

Pepperdine University

  • Religion - M.A.
  • Religion and Communication - M.A.
  • Religion and Counseling - M.A.
  • Master of Science in Divinity
  • Master of Divinity

Stanford University

  • M.A.,
  • Buddhist Studies - Ph.D. 
  • Jewish Studies - Ph.D.
  • Modern Western Religious Thought and Practice - Ph.D.

University of California, Los Angeles

  • Buddhist Studies - M.A., Ph.D.
  • Folklore and Mythology Studies - M.A., Ph.D.
  • History of Christianity - M.A., Ph.D.
  • Islamic Studies - M.A., Ph.D.
  • Jewish History - M.A., Ph.D.

University of California, Riverside

  • Native American Religions - M.A., Ph.D. 
  • Religions of the West - M.A., Ph.D. 
  • Asian Religions - M.A., Ph.D. 
  • Method and Theory - M.A., Ph.D.

University of California, Santa Barbara

All have M.A./Ph.D. and M.A. Plan II 

  • Philosophy of Religion
  • Sociology and Anthropology of Religion
  • Religion and Culture
  • Buddhist Studies
  • Mediterranean Studies
  • South Asian Religions
  • East Asian Religions
  • Religion in America
  • Native American Religions

University of Southern California

  • Religion an Social Ethics - M.A., Ph.D.


sun setting in the horizon

Message during challenging times

Read the statement by Chair, Mustafa Ruzgar

black lives matter poster at a protest

Statement of Solidarity with Black Lives Matter!

Read the Statement of Solidarity with Black Lives Matter

Department Chair

Dr. Mustafa Ruzgar


Santa Susana Hall 224
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8316

Monday - Friday 
8 AM to 5 PM

Phone: 818-677-3392 Fax: 818-677-7112

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