Applications are closed for this cycle.
The Institute for Religion, Culture, and Public Life at Columbia University is seeking submissions to its annual Claremont Prize for the Study of Religion. The prize is dedicated to the publication of first books by early career scholars working in any discipline of the humanities or social sciences. Submissions can be on any aspect of the study of religion, including the study of secularism. Prize-winners will be invited to IRCPL to participate in a workshop and the books will appear in IRCPL’s series, “Religion, Culture, and Public Life,” published by Columbia University Press.
See previous winners here. See Columbia University Press proposal guidelines here.
Eligibility
The international competition is open to scholars working in the social sciences and humanities. Submissions must meet the following criteria:
1. Authors must have received their PhD on or after January 1, 2017 and by September 3, 2024.
2. The manuscript must be single-authored.
3. The submission must be the author’s first book (excluding edited books).
4. The manuscript must not be under consideration at any other press.
Timeline
September 3, 2024: Deadline for submission
Early November 2024: Notification by selection committee of short list
January 6, 2025: Full short-listed manuscripts due
January 2025 – March 2025: Short-listed manuscripts peer reviewed by Columbia University Press
March/April 2025: Prize winner announced by IRCPL
2025-26 Academic Year: Workshop for winning book at Columbia University
Submission Instructions
Applicants should submit the following materials to ircpl@columbia.edu. Please merge application form, CV and book précis into one PDF file; the book chapters should be sent as a separate PDF file. All file names should include the applicant’s last name.
1. Completed application form (found here).
2. Brief CV. Maximum 2 pages, double-spaced. Please include contact details for two references.
3. Book Précis. Maximum 2000 words. Please include: (a) Title; (b) Abstract; (c) Full description (thesis, purpose, methodological approach, and intended contribution to literature); (d) Chapter outline; and (e) Market considerations and intended audience.
4. Two Polished Book Chapters, including low-res images (if applicable). IRCPL strongly suggests that one of the submitted sample chapters be an introduction.
Applications are closed for this cycle.
Email ircpl@columbia.edu with any questions.