Study of Religions

The two-year Master’s degree study programme in the Study of Religions develops the understanding of religious traditions of the world and deepens student insight into the theory, methodology, and history of the study of religions. In a wide interdisciplinary context, the programme develops students‘ competences in qualitative and quantitative approaches (and their combination) to the study of religions. Along with a focus on theories of religious representations and behavior, the programme includes systematic mentoring of students in transferable skills that include the organization of basic research, applied research, and popularization of the study of religions in the public sphere. The programme is based on an interdisciplinary integration of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. In addition to established perspectives in the study of religions, it offers innovative approaches from actor-network theory, digital humanities, and the cognitive and evolutionary sciences of religion.

“Towards the foundations of human culture.”

The curriculum is organized on the basis of a credit system, offering individual choices concerning the study timeline and thematic modifications according to the individual field of interest. Compulsory courses mostly cover theory in the study of religions, research management and popularization, and also include four practical seminars related to preparation of a thesis. Optional courses develop competences in qualitative and quantitative approaches in the study of religions and their combinations. These courses are taught in close connection with topics from different religious traditions.

The Master’s degree study programme is suitable for graduates of the Bachelor’s degree programmes in the Study of Religions and related fields such as anthropology, archaeology, sociology, ethnology, cultural studies, history, and psychology who intend to deepen their understanding of religious traditions viewed in the light of current international debate and from a fundamentally interdisciplinary perspective. It prepares students for occupations requiring excellent analytical skills, presentation skills and insight into the religious, cultural, and ethnic contexts of the operation of human societies and changes taking place within them.

Practical training

The study programme does not involve compulsory practical training.

Further information

http://religionistika.phil.muni.cz/en

Graduates are qualified for positions requiring critical thinking and cross-cultural adaptability. At the same time, graduates of this programme have an interdisciplinary outlook towards related social sciences and humanities as well as relevant natural sciences. Besides academia, they usually work in teaching, journalism, administration, specialized sectors of the tourist industry, non-governmental organizations, the media, data analytics, project writing in both the public and private sectors, companies focusing on the development of games and on leisure activities, and start-ups requiring creative thinking. They can offer employers strong analytical skills, creative thinking, presentation skills, know-how in work management, intercultural orientation, familiarity with the assumptions and methods of several disciplines within the humanities and the social sciences, the skill of writing texts that are both formally and factually correct, the capacity to think in local, global and interdisciplinary terms, and the ability methodically to pursue complex, demanding, and long-term projects.

Deadline for submitting applications: August 1 - November 30

Who the programme is intended for: The specialization is offered to graduates of all Bachelor’s degree programmes.

Subject matter of the entrance examination: oral examination. The oral examination will take place on the basis of the presentation and defence of the preliminary Master’s thesis project prepared on the form of the research project proposal, which applicants send in electronic form to the e-mail religion@phil.muni.cz, no later than 8 June (in the case of registration for the autumn semester) or 8 January (in the case of registration for the spring semester) of the given calendar year.

Website Department for the Study of Religions.

General information on the course of the admission procedure to the follow-up Master’s degree programmes at FA MU can be found here. Documents for the current admission procedure are kept in Materials for Applicants.

Criteria for evaluation

Pass/fail line of the entrance examination: 60 points (out of 100).

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Minimum score and numbers of accepted applicants in past years

After completion of Master’s studies, graduates can continue further studies in a doctoral degree programme in the Study of Religions or, depending on their focus during Master’s studies, in related fields such as anthropology, sociology, ethnology, cultural studies, history, archaeology, and psychology.