Pre-Master in Religious Studies and Theology

Description

This is a course package offered on an advanced level, within the main area of religious studies and theology. It is divided into six courses and in addition, one elective course. The course package prepares students for the Master’s Program in Eastern Christian Studies. Most courses may be taken as an advanced level freestanding course (see individual course syllabi for more details).

Content and Objectives

The course package provides a basic orientation on the characteristics of religions, their sacred texts and traditions, historical development and the current role of people in relation to their surroundings and society in general. The course package includes six courses, and one elective course: World Religions and Sacred Scriptures; Science, Philosophy, and Religion; Christian Theology and the Life of Faith; Comparative Religion: Between Phenomenology and Hermeneutics; Methodology and Literature; and Research Thesis, and in addition one elective course either History of Religion; Religious Behavioral Science; Biblical Studies; Church History: The Birth of a New World Order; Systematic Theology: The Beginnings; or Practical Theology: Theology in Collaboration.

After completing the entire course package Pre-Master in Religious Studies and Theology (60 credits), the student must have acquired knowledge about religions, their sacred texts, and traditions as well as their role in history and the present. The student must have developed a critical approach to various presentations of theology, religion and world views and have also acquired skills to use methods in religious studies and theology. The student must also be able to make assessments of social and ethical issues, as well as of issues in relation to gender, democracy and sustainability in the field of religious studies and theology.