General information
This MA programme offers a unique combination of cultural-historical and philosophical-conceptual approaches needed to analyse the pivotal role of religion in the Western world.
Religion, in particular Christianity, is omnipresent in our cultural world. At first sight, this might seem an exaggeration – we live in a secular age and religion is largely a private matter, isn't it? However, religion is not only manifest in traditional churches or in Christian rituals: crucial ideas such as human rights, liberty and democracy were stimulated and shaped by Christianity. Even the very concept of the secular stems from Christian theology. The analysis that says we live in a secular world is too unsophisticated to do justice to the relevance of our Christian heritage. If you follow this MA programme, a unique combination of cultural-historical and philosophical-conceptual approaches will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to analyse the pivotal role of religion in the Western world. You will be a highly employable academic whose cultural competence will be a valuable asset to a wide range of organizations in the realms of culture, science, politics and in the public sector.
Career prospects
Once you have completed the MA programme in Religion and the Public Domain you will have a good understanding of the role of religion in Western societies. You will be able to analyse at an academic level the ways in which religion has shaped our contemporary society and how to deal with tensions and opportunities that arise concerning the presence of religion in the public domain.
You can make use of the knowledge and skills that you acquire in this programme in different sectors: Consulting & Policy, Media & Journalism, Education and Academia.
Admission
The following requirements apply:
- Bachelor’s degree programme in Theology or Religious Studies or in a related field in the Humanities (Arts, Philosophy) or Social Sciences (Sociology, Cultural Anthropology, Psychology)
- Proof of English: TOEFL: 580 paper/237 computer/92 internet
IELTS: 6.5 (not for native-speakers or Dutch students with a VWO diploma)
- a letter of motivation stating your reasons for applying to this master programme
- an overview of your bachelor programme including the marks you obtained
- a curriculum vitae
- two recommendation letters
More information
Website: master programme Religion and the Public Domain
Brochure: create your own brochure
Study advisor: Ms Drs. T.M.L. de Boer
International Office: internationaloffice.thrs@rug.nl
Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, Oude Boteringestraat 38, NL-9712 GK Groningen
Telephone: +31 (0)50 363 8017
E-mail: thrs@rug.nl
