- Duration: 2 years
- Credits: 120
- Language: English
Master in Religion in Contemporary Society
MA Religion in Contemporary Society: Public Issues - Global Perspectives provides advanced knowledge of the interplay between religions as cultural and historical phenomena and contemporary societal processes. The programme is interdisciplinary, with an emphasis on social science perspectives.
As a student, you will meet questions such as:
- How and why does religion mobilize in political conflicts today?
- What is “religion”? Is it a useful term?
- How are global changes expressed in local religious practices?
- What is the best way to understand those who feel as if they belong to religious traditions they neither believe in, nor are active in?
Students on this programme will acquire tools to understand and interpret relevant social processes and challenges that shape, and are shaped by, religious traditions and practices. The programme provides both analytical skills and practical skills to study and discuss religion using social scientific methods.
The programme is taught in English. All written assignments, including the exam and master’s thesis, can also be written in Norwegian or other Scandinavian languages.
Admission requirements
If you are an international applicant, please refer to our Application and Admission pages for detailed information in English about the requirements, application deadlines for non-EU applicants (regardless of residency), and the application process in full.
Programme structure
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Programme description
The MA in Religion in Contemporary Society: Public Issues - Global Perspectives provides knowledge about religion in contemporary society, from the perspectives of social science, the humanities and different kinds of religious studies. There is an emphasis on social science perspectives.
Religion in contemporary society is understood as interpretations of religious traditions, how religion is expressed in practice, and the interplay between religion and ongoing societal processes at the local, national and global scale.
The study programme provides in-depth study of recent theories of religion in contemporary society. There is an emphasis on methods from the sociology of religion and qualitative empirical studies of contemporary religion. The programme gives tools to understand and interpret relevant social processes and societal challenges that shape, and are shaped by religious traditions and practices. The study programme provides both analytical skills and practical skills to study and discuss religion using methods from social science.
The MA thus combines a broad introduction to social scientific methods and ways of thinking with perspectives from the humanities and the study of religion. There is an emphasis on the social scientific study of the role of religion, ideology and values in (post)modern societies in different parts of the world in our times. This equips students to discuss relevant societal challenges, including themes such as religion and politics, globalisation, climate change and migration. Elective courses provide the opportunity to focus on a specific topic, and give the education a unique profile suited for specific career interests or academic interests.
Compulsory courses and elective courses during the first year will enable the student to do an independent piece of research which will be presented in the form of a master's thesis in the second year. The thesis shall shed light on religion in contemporary society and the interplay between religion and society locally, nationally or globally. The coursework will train the students for doing empirical research and writing about it, but the students may choose to write a theoretical thesis as well.
As a main rule, 40 ECTS at the master level, including the course in methodology, must be completed before students can register for the master's thesis.
As a main rule, all courses in the programme must be completed before the thesis can be submitted.
The MA is open for students from the whole world, and the teaching is in English. All written work, including exams and dissertation, can be written in English, Norwegian or other Scandinavian languages.
Relevance of the Study Programme
Knowledge about religion and the role of religion in society is necessary and in demand in a range of societal domains. This master's programme will provide students with this kind of knowledge about religion and society, and help them develop the ability to think independently and critically. It will also equip the student with the ability to work with relevant questions of religion and society in a methodically rigorous way, locally as well as nationally and globally.
The programme is relevant for work where there is a demand for knowledge about the interplay between religion and society, and about how religion shapes and is shaped by contemporary social processes and societal challenges. The programme is relevant for positions in Norwegian and international institutions and organisations within the public, private and voluntary sectors.
The programme qualifies students for positions within research and education, including further studies at the PhD level.
Learning outcome
KNOWLEDGE:
The student shall:
- have advanced knowledge about different forms of religion in contemporary society and the interplay between religion and society.
- have advanced knowledge about theories of contemporary religion from the social sciences, the humanities and religion studies.
- have advanced knowledge about research methods from the sociology of religion.
- have good knowledge about how religion and be understood and studies from different social science and humanistic perspectives.
- have good knowledge of questions concerning the philosophy of science of the study of religion.
SKILLS:
The student shall:
- have experience with, and the ability to, conduct an independent research project.
- have the ability to communicate knowledge and perspectives on religion in contemporary society to people from different academic disciplines and in ongoing public debates.
- be able to use theoretical knowledge in different work situations.
- be able to work methodically and discuss relevant experiences from the perspective of a researcher on religion.
GENERAL COMPETENCIES:
The student shall:
- be able to stay up-to-date with research literature and apply new knowledge to relevant problems and societal challenges.
- be enabled for work within different roles in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
- have the necessary academic skills to communicate social scientific insights in a critical and reflective way to people coming from other academic traditions, and in a way relevant to challenges that face contemporary societies.
- be able to conduct further research in an ethically responsible way.
Qualification after completing the program: Master of Philosophy in Religion in Contemporary Society: Public Issues - Global Perspectives
Exchange programme
MF has exchange agreements with several partner universities. You can find more information about exchange opportunities for your study programme on this page.
Be sure to plan and apply for the exchange well in advance in order to secure a spot.
MF recommends that students that wish to do an exchange do so in their second semester. Applying for an exchange in the first semester is reserved for students already accepted to one of MFs other study programmes.
