An examination of postgraduate theses on religious education in Türkiye between 2015 and 2023

This study examines postgraduate theses in the field of religious education prepared between 2015 and (July) 2023 and archived in the database of the National Thesis Center of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) in Türkiye. The theses were analyzed according to various variables, including type, year, university, institute, author gender, and subject matter. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the recent developmental trajectory of the discipline of religious education, analyze the existing body of literature to identify underexplored themes, and provide guidance for future academic research. Designed within the framework of a quantitative research approach using the survey model, this study systematically reviewed theses produced during the specified period. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive statistical techniques, presented systematically in tabular form, and interpreted through comparison with similar studies in the literature. The findings indicate that the majority of the postgraduate theses examined were conducted at the master’s level, whereas doctoral dissertations remained comparatively limited in number. In terms of chronological distribution, thesis production peaked in 2019, while, institutionally, Marmara University emerged as the leading university. Through content analysis, the theses were classified under nine main themes, revealing a strong concentration of studies in the fields of formal and non-formal education. In conclusion, the findings demonstrate that although the discipline of religious education institutionalized relatively late as an independent academic field, it has gained considerable momentum in recent years and contributed substantial depth to the literature. Nevertheless, there remains a need for new studies focusing on underexplored topics and approaches in order to enhance the methodological and thematic diversity of the discipline.