Graduate Programs

Student Spotlight

Ellen Muehlberger

When I applied to graduate school, I really didn't know how to make my decision; before my round of campus visits started, I had all the facts about each place, but was still at a loss about where I should go. I came to Bloomington because, out of all the programs I visited, I felt the most at home at Indiana. The other graduate students I met were independent, all working on their own topics, but interested in one another's work and about the theoretical issues involved in studying religious traditions.

Since coming here, I've found that the rest of the department has a similar disposition; faculty members are working hard on their ownm projects, but interested in what students have to present. While we have a small program, the faculty I have worked with have gone out of their way to make sure I get the specialized training I need for my field. For example, I've learned Coptic and Syriac here, both in classes that were not part of the usual schedule, but were something that the faculty member decided to do on top of his other obligations because there were students interested in these languages.

In addition to being a great place to do work in Religious Studies, Bloomington is simply a great place to live. Excluding the inevitable suburban areas that every town seems to have, Bloomington is entirely walkable and/or bikeable. My dentist, hairdresser, grocery store, library, the best coffee shop, and my favorite evening haunt are all a short walk from my house.

Finally, most people outside of academia know two things about IU: Bobby Knight and Breaking Away. While the General is no longer here, Monroe County is still the best biking I've seen in the Midwest, both road and trail. If you already are a cyclist, you may well feel like you've moved to heaven if you come here. If you are not yet a cyclist, the bug may get you while you're here. Heading out for a ride is the best way I've found to get away—I get to be all legs, no brain, at least for an hour or two.