Masterprogram The Religious Roots of Europe

Mål og innhald

The aim of the Programme is to educate candidates with a high degree of specialisation in the overall subject of the Programme: the Religious Roots of Europe, i.e. Judaism, Christianity and Islam in their formative periods. The three religions have traditionally been studied more or less separately. Several master´s programmes exist in Christianity or Christian theology as well as in Judaism, Islam and religious studies. In contrast to these individual master´s programmes, the aspiration of the present Programme is to study the three religions together in their formative periods from a comparative perspective. Such a comprehensive study will enhance our under¬¬standing of contemporary Nordic, European and Western culture and identity, since the three religions interacting with each other have had a profound influence on the development of European culture and society. For centuries, Christianity has been the dominant majority religion; as minority religions, Judaism and Islam have been seen as the `other' against which Christian European identity has been shaped.

The three religious traditions are studied in their formative periods from a comparative perspective. Religious phenomena central to all three traditions, such as doctrines, rituals, canonical texts, myths and religious institutions are studied along with the relationship of the three religions to society, politics, law and ethics. Other topics that may be studied as part of the Programme include ideas of martyrdom, justification or condemnation of war, asceticism, religious authorities, gender issues and different strategies for interpreting authoritative religious texts - from literal to allegorical interpretative strategies. These and similar issues are studied using different approaches, including those drawn from history, anthropology, the social sciences, literature and philology.

Opptakskrav

The Master´s Programme is open to students with a bachelor's degree with a major in theology, the study of religion, classical philology, classical archaeology, history or the equivalent. The Master´s Programme with its modules and courses progresses from the learning outcome, knowledge, skills and abilities obtained by the students through these bachelor programmes. Since the Study Plan presupposes an ability to read ancient religious texts in the original languages - and aims at training students further in this respect - but not all the mentioned bachelor degree programmes include compulsory ancient language training, it is specified as a prerequisite for admittance to the Programme that the applicant document a proficiency in at least one of the following ancient languages: Greek, Latin, Hebrew or Arabic, which equals the proficiency achieved by studying such a language in a module allotted 20 ECTS credits.

Alternatively, a student can be admitted if she or he can document a proficiency in two of these ancient languages which equals the proficiency achieved by studying each of these languages in a module allotted 10 ECTS credits each.

The language of the Programme is English. Therefore it is a final prerequisite for

admittance that an applicant can document proficiency in English at the level required by the Host Institution where the applicant is applying.

Delstudium i utlandet

Student mobility is an essential and integrated part of the Programme. Travel and accommodation are financed by the students. These extra expenses will be in the order of EUR 3500 for the two years of study. The Host Institutions will endeavour to provide students with information on possibilities of obtaining financial support for travel.

Mål og innhald

The aim of the Programme is to educate candidates with a high degree of specialisation in the overall subject of the Programme: the Religious Roots of Europe, i.e. Judaism, Christianity and Islam in their formative periods. The three religions have traditionally been studied more or less separately. Several master´s programmes exist in Christianity or Christian theology as well as in Judaism, Islam and religious studies. In contrast to these individual master´s programmes, the aspiration of the present Programme is to study the three religions together in their formative periods from a comparative perspective. Such a comprehensive study will enhance our under¬¬standing of contemporary Nordic, European and Western culture and identity, since the three religions interacting with each other have had a profound influence on the development of European culture and society. For centuries, Christianity has been the dominant majority religion; as minority religions, Judaism and Islam have been seen as the `other' against which Christian European identity has been shaped.

The three religious traditions are studied in their formative periods from a comparative perspective. Religious phenomena central to all three traditions, such as doctrines, rituals, canonical texts, myths and religious institutions are studied along with the relationship of the three religions to society, politics, law and ethics. Other topics that may be studied as part of the Programme include ideas of martyrdom, justification or condemnation of war, asceticism, religious authorities, gender issues and different strategies for interpreting authoritative religious texts - from literal to allegorical interpretative strategies. These and similar issues are studied using different approaches, including those drawn from history, anthropology, the social sciences, literature and philology.

Læringsutbyte/resultat

Building on the bachelor degrees of the students, this Master´s Programme aims for the students to acquire:

- Advanced knowledge about the religious traditions at the root of European culture in their formative periods.

- A deeper understanding of the formative processes of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the parallels and differences between the three traditions, and the interaction of their followers.

- The ability to apply and use relevant scholarly methods and to understand and describe these theoretically.

- Skills to communicate their knowledge of the subject matter and their theoretical insights and to transmit the acquired methods to others, both orally and in writing.

- The ability to enter into more specialised occupations, to participate in innovative scholarly work and to qualify for further education, e.g. in PhD-programmes.

- The tools to evaluate critically the role of the three religions in contemporary society.

Opptakskrav

The Master´s Programme is open to students with a bachelor's degree with a major in theology, the study of religion, classical philology, classical archaeology, history or the equivalent. The Master´s Programme with its modules and courses progresses from the learning outcome, knowledge, skills and abilities obtained by the students through these bachelor programmes. Since the Study Plan presupposes an ability to read ancient religious texts in the original languages - and aims at training students further in this respect - but not all the mentioned bachelor degree programmes include compulsory ancient language training, it is specified as a prerequisite for admittance to the Programme that the applicant document a proficiency in at least one of the following ancient languages: Greek, Latin, Hebrew or Arabic, which equals the proficiency achieved by studying such a language in a module allotted 20 ECTS credits.

Alternatively, a student can be admitted if she or he can document a proficiency in two of these ancient languages which equals the proficiency achieved by studying each of these languages in a module allotted 10 ECTS credits each.

The language of the Programme is English. Therefore it is a final prerequisite for

admittance that an applicant can document proficiency in English at the level required by the Host Institution where the applicant is applying.

Obligatoriske emne / spesialisering

In addition to the Master´s thesis, the programme consists of 8 compulsory modules:

Religion and society in the ancient world (5 ECTS), Method and theory (5 ECTS), The emergence of Judaism, Christianity and Islam (10 ECTS), Interaction between the religions I and II (10+10) , Texts from a particular religion (10 ECTS), Thesis colloquium with focus on methodology and theory (10 ECTS), The three religions in an contemporary prospective (10 ECTS).

There are also 2 selective modules, where the students - depending on their prerequisite language skills and dependent on their interests - may choose between courses focused on either interaction, text interpretation or on the further training in reading and analysing religious source texts formative for the three religious traditions in the original languages.

A minimum of one language course of at least 10 ECTS credits is compulsory for students with language skills equalling only the 20 ECTS credits stipulated as the minimum prerequisite qualification for entering the Programme. If this previously acquired language skill is in only one language, the student should choose another language.

Omfang masteroppgåva

30 ECTS

Rekkefølje for emne i studiet

In total, the Programme is assigned 120 ECTS credits, consisting of four terms of full-time study, each covering 30 ECTS credits. The Programme consists of modules that vary in the number of ECTS credits allotted. The modules of every single term must be examined before the student can be examined for the modules of the next.

Krav til progresjon i studiet

There is a steady progression culminating in the fourth term with the master's thesis. It follows that the master's thesis should be assessed as the final module in the Programme.

Studiestader

Students are expected to participate in compact seminars at the other Host Institutions and at the Nordic institutes in the Mediterranean area. The individual student must complete studies equalling at least 40 ECTS credits, including the master's thesis, in courses organised by the Host Institution at which that particular student is matriculated.

Delstudium i utlandet

Student mobility is an essential and integrated part of the Programme. Travel and accommodation are financed by the students. These extra expenses will be in the order of EUR 3500 for the two years of study. The Host Institutions will endeavour to provide students with information on possibilities of obtaining financial support for travel.

Undervisningsmetodar

The programme combine distance learning, compact seminars, course assignments, tutorials and traditional teaching at the individual Host Institutions.

If special circumstances prevent a student from participating in compact seminars, alternative arrangements for teaching and examinations will be made available.

Teaching will be in English.

Vurderingsformer

The following methods of examination are used in the Programme:

Oral exam: Here the student is examined, according to the rules obtaining in the individual module and at the Host Institution responsible for the course, either a) in material and/or a question provided by the examiner (fixed oral exam), or b) on the basis of a subject and material prepared by the student and approved by the teacher (free oral exam). In fixed oral exams, the student is given a fixed time for preparation.

Written exam: Here the student is required to submit a paper on a given date, according to the rules obtaining in the individual module and at the Host Institution responsible for the course, either a) on a question and/or material provided by the examiner (fixed written exam), or b) on the basis of a subject and material selected by the student and approved by the responsible teacher (free written exam). n some modules, students fulfilling certain requirements may (as stipulated in article 3) choose between fixed and free types of exams. Regular, active and satisfactory participation in a course is defined as requiring that the student:

- Participates in the teaching-activities for each course as stipulated.

- Completes the assignments stipulated as part of the curriculum of each course.

- Exhibits a degree of diligence deemed acceptable by the teacher responsible for

the course.

The language of oral and written exams is English.

Oral examinations test students' ability to verbally present a scholarly subject, structure a verbal presentation and engage in a constructive scholarly dialogue on the subject with the examiner or examiners.

Written examinations test students' ability to present and discuss a scholarly subject in writing in an orderly fashion and in accordance with academic standards (concerning e.g. references, quotations and bibliography). Papers not complying with the formal stipulations specifying length and format as prescribed in article 3 and defined in article 6.7 cannot be accepted for examination.

External examiners will participate in the examination of the master's thesis. In the examination of other courses, external examiners will participate according to the rules of the Host Institutions responsible for this course and exam. External examiners are recruited according to national practice.

The master's thesis must be submitted in English.

Karakterskala

Each course will be marked according to the rules obtaining in the country and at the Institution responsible for the course.

Yrkesvegar

As a graduate from this programme you will qualify for innovative scholarly work and for further education, e.g. in PhD-programmes, as well as for teaching on religion and intercultural relations. You will also be able to enter into specialised occupations in government institutions or organisations dealing with culture, integration, diplomacy etc. and in private firms for example with business relations with the Middle East.

Evaluering

The teaching of each course is evaluated in accordance with institutional procedures at the Host Institution responsible for the course. Reports on these evaluations are forwarded to the Programme Committee. The Programme Committee subsequently reviews the reports in its own report and takes them into account when making proposals for adaptations of the Study Plan and future Annual List of Course.

Fagansvarleg

The Master´s Programme The Religious Roots of Europe is offered by a Consortium of institutions at six host universities: The Faculty of Theology, University of Aarhus, The Faculty of Theology, University of Copenhagen, The Faculty of Humanities at the University of Bergen (Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion), The Faculty of Theology, University of Helsinki, The Centre for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund University and The Faculty of Theology at the University of Oslo.

The general management and planning of the Programme are, however, (subject to approval by the six Host Institutions) handled by a Programme Committee consisting of one representative appointed by each of the six Host Institutions according to their own procedures, plus two students representing all the students under the Programme at all the six institutions.

Adminstrativ ansvarleg

studierettleiar@ahkr.uib.no

Read more about the programme at http://religiousroots.b.uib.no/