About the Institute

Baylor University established the J. M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies in 1957, so named in honor of an outstanding alumnus, distinguished author, and ardent advocate of religious liberty and the separation of church and state. The Institute is the oldest and most well established facility of its kind located in a university setting. It is exclusively devoted to research in the broad area of religion, politics, and society and committed to the separation of church and state and the advancement of religious liberty around the world.

The J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies offers three graduate programs, including the M.A. and Ph.D. in Church-State Studies and the Ph.D. in Religion, Politics, and Society. These programs are specially designed to give students a broad interdisciplinary exposure to the historical, religious, political, philosophical, and sociological dimensions of church-state relations while simultaneously "grounding" them in a disciplinary tradition. Approximately one-third of the course offerings are selected from a set of core courses taught in the Institute, while the second third are chosen from a large list of other courses taught in the institute or by affiliated faculty from other departments. The remaining course offerings are selected by the student, within prescribed limits, from relevant courses offered by the associate Departments of Religion, Political Science, Philosophy, History, Sociology and Anthropology.

Although study in the Institute is demanding, a number of amenities mitigate the rigor. The intimate nature of the Institute, with approximately 50 students in both the doctoral and master's programs, provides students with access to faculty as well as camaraderie with fellow students. The various ethnic and religious backgrounds of the students blend into a unique bond of cohesion within a shared identity and mission.

Graduates of the program are presently engaged in a wide range of professional careers, including university professorships, law, government, faith-based organizations, and pastoral ministry, to name but a few.