The website of the UG uses functional and anonymous analytics cookies. Do you also accept other cookies such as tracking cookies? If no choice is made, only basic cookies are placed. More information
The website of the UG uses functional and analytics cookies. Please choose your preferences. Read our privacy and cookie disclaimer for more information.
How does work contribute to wellbeing? What role does religion and spirituality play in our experience of health and wellbeing? How does the biomedical focus of current healthcare practice affect us?
This interdisciplinary degree programme examines what it means to be ill or healthy in diverse, individualized and highly technological societies, from psychological, cultural, ethical, and political perspectives. Not only does religious diversity influence how we try to recover or maintain our health, it also influences what we think 'health' is in the first place and what we consider meaningfull work.
This track within the Master's Programme in Theology and Religious Studies, has three specializations:
The specialization in Ethics and Diversity imparts the academic knowledge and skills to examine the anthropological, sociological, and ethical dimensions of health and well-being. This specialization is taught in English. The other two specializations are taught in Dutch. See the Dutch page of this website for information on the Dutch taught specilizations.
The MA track in Religion, Health and Wellbeing consists of:
The introductory course outlines some of the basic theories and concepts that help us think through the intersections between religion, health, and wellbeing from psychological, anthropological, and philosophical perspectives. Case studies will be taken mainly from the field of Spiritual Care.
In the Conducting Research on Religion, Health and Wellbeing course unit, you will immerse yourself in research methods in the field of meaning and work, and prepare your thesis that you will write in the second semester. This module is characteristic of the research-based nature of the programme.
Below, you will find an overview of all electives:
Periods | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Compulsory: Perspectives on Religion, Health and Wellbeing (5 EC) You will examine psychological, anthropological, and philosophical perspectives on questions concerning diversity in religion, health and wellbeing around concrete cases from health care practice and policy. | ||||
Elective ED: Religion, Gender, and Sexuality (5 EC, optional) You will focus on learning to recognize and conceptualize the links between religion, gender and sexuality. You will be introduced to classic authors on these topics. Whilst in the second part of the course, you will focus on discussing ethnographic research detailing how sexuality and gender are shaped culturally and religiously. | ||||
Elective ED & SC: Ethics in Health Care (5 EC) You will study the concept of dignified living for elderly, as well as the ethical questions concerning the end of life. | ||||
Elective WM: Perspectieven op Werk (5 EC, optional) This ethical module deals with moral dilemmas in work situations. Do organizations have a moral purpose? Do individual employees have a moral orientation? Which moral issues are organizations and individual employees confronted with in practice? | ||||
Elective WM: Zinnig in gesprek (5 EC, optional) How do you have a motivating conversation? How do you create a setting in which people can speak freely about what they find difficult in their work and perhaps hinders their functioning? How do you encourage people to take responsibility for their own work? | ||||
Elective SC: Geestelijke Verzorging (5 EC, optional) During this module, you will explore the job profile of a spiritual care counsellor and their position within organisations. This course unit is taught in Dutch. | ||||
Compulsory: Conducting Research on RHW (5 EC) You will be prepared for researching and writing your thesis. You will be taken through the steps of designing your own research in consultation with your supervisor and learn research methods and ethics simultaneously. | ||||
Elective ED: Ethics and Medical Humanities (5 EC, optional) You will look into the glory and the limitations of bio/medical ethics, and the need of a broader medical and health humanities approach. Our focal point is a question that has long been central in the field of bio/medical ethics: the end of life. | ||||
Elective ED: Gender, Religion, and Sexual Nationalism (5 EC, optional) You will explore the highly politicized themes of gender and sexuality in today's globalized world. You will learn how religious actors and transnational religious networks (e.g. evangelical, Catholic) are very influential in these processes and how we can understand such processes locally. | ||||
Elective ED and SC: Psychopathology and Religion (5 EC, optional) You will familiarize yourself with (religious) psychological theories surrounding the balance between mental health and religion, namely psychopathology. Taught in Dutch. | ||||
Elective WM: Werkgeluk en leiderschap (5 EC, optional) This human sciences module focuses on the way people function in their work. What do people hope their work offers them? Why do people often complain about their work? How can people develop a sense of personal leadership? | ||||
Elective WM: Zingeving en organisatiestructuren (5 EC, optional) This social science module focuses on the context in which people work. Which types of organizations can be distinguished? What drives organizations? How does 'power' function in organizations? How can organizations strengthen the motivation and involvement of employees? | ||||
Placement (SC) (15 EC) You have the option of a research internship or a practical internship in the work field of Spiritual Care. | ||||
Placement (ED & WM) (10 EC) In stead of a placement, you have the option to do a research project. | ||||
Thesis + Thesis Seminar (20 EC) During the seminar meetings, you will discuss and practice specific aspects of the writing, planning and researching process involved in producing a thesis on a master level. Through peer-review, you will benefit from regular feedback. Methodologies to be discussed and practised include interviewing, observation, discourse analysis and statistical analysis. |
28 hours of class and self-study per week on average
1 ECTS = 28 hrs. of study. One year contains of 60 ECTS. You will have on average 6 hrs. of lessons per week at the Faculty, the rest of the hours is reserved for preparation of the classes and studying.
For a description of the course units of Ethics and Diversity, see: https://www.rug.nl/ocasys/rug/vak/showpos?opleiding=6266. For a description of the course units of Spiritual Care, see: https://www.rug.nl/ocasys/rug/vak/showpos?opleiding=243.
Programme options |
---|
Ethics and Diversity (specialization) What is health? What is wellbeing? In Europe, these seemingly simple questions are usually answered from a biomedical perspective. However, how people experience wellbeing is also influenced by their religious and cultural background. In this specialization, you will find out how various contexts influence what people perceive to be healthy or unhealthy. You will study ethical issues related to the end of life and the dominant biomedical approach in healthcare. What do people regard as good health care? And for whom is this "good"? You will learn to ask critical questions about wellbeing and health care in this modern and diverse world. You will be taught about religion and sexual wellbeing, ethics and end of life, cure and disease in various contexts, and psychopathology. In addition to the two compulsory courses you will take four additional course units:
All course units are taught in English, unless stated otherwise. |
Spiritual Care (specialization) How do people give their lives a sense of purpose and how do they process significant events? At some time in our life, we will all face decisions concerning health and illness, life and death. As a student of Spiritual Care, you learn to support people in crisis situations by counselling them about purpose and spirituality. You will be taught religious psychology, psychopathology, ethics and philosophy. In addition, you will explore pastoral and spiritual care in contemporary society and the place of spiritual carers in primary healthcare or in a healthcare institution. Students with no previous education in theology or religious science will have to follow a pre-Master's programme first. Alongside the two compulsory course units you also follow course units in Ethics in Health Care, Spiritual Care and Psychopathology and Religion, as well as an intensive placement. This specialization is taught in Dutch. |
Work and Meaning (specialization) How does work contribute to wellbeing? Which role does religion and spirituality have in how we experience health and wellbeing? Work is an important factor for experiencing a meaningful live. Structural attention for this within organizations, contributes to the wellbeing of employees and helps companies to reflect on their societal impact. This contributes to maintaining a healthy and resilient organization. In this specialization, you will learn to critically reflect on what work means for the formation of identity, how people organize their work together, and how work contributes to society. Within organizations, you will promote the needed attention for meaning. Besides the two compulsory English taught course units, you will follow four additional course units taught in Dutch:
|
Master's Honours Programme (honours program) The Master's Honours Programme was developed especially for students who want to get more from their studies. The programme of 15 ECTS is followed in addition to your regular Master's programme. It is a one-year interdisciplinary programme that is designed to introduce students to various aspects of leadership.The theme of leadership is explored from various angles in the Masterclasses. Leadership skills are the focus in the Leadership Labs and Workshops. The Master's Honours Programme concludes with a Master Work – a project of your choosing that you design and implement. |
The Master has several exchange contracts with other universities within and outside Europe to follow a part of the study at these universities. It is also possible to undertake a traineeship or graduation research abroad. For our exchange partners, see: https://www.rug.nl/ggw/education/prosstud/exchangeprogrammes/partneruniversities
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Religious Studies | All Research universities |
Additional requirements Additional requirements:
|
Theology (part-time) | All Research universities |
Additional requirements Additional requirements:
|
Humanistiek | All Research universities | Additional requirements |
Liberal Arts and Sciences | All Research universities | Additional requirements |
Arts and Culture Studies | All Research universities | Additional requirements |
Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology | All Research universities | Additional requirements |
Interdisciplinary Social Science | All Research universities | Additional requirements |
Medicine | All Research universities | Additional requirements |
Gezondheidswetenschappen | All Research universities | Additional requirements |
Health and Life Sciences | All Research universities | Additional requirements |
Health and Society | All Research universities | Additional requirements |
Psychology (EN) | All Research universities | Additional requirements |
Business Administration | All Research universities |
Additional requirements Additional requirements:
Je krijgt krijg ter voorbereiding een leeslijst aangereikt en je kunt een springcourse volgen. Bij aanvang van de studie gaan we er van uit dat je op de hoogte bent van de concepten en theoretische discussies die in deze literatuur is beschreven. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Sociology | University of Groningen | Additional requirements |
Liberal Arts and Sciences | University of Groningen | Additional requirements |
Medicine | University of Groningen | Additional requirements |
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
grade list |
A grade list of the marks of your bachelor's degree programme with an explanation of the followed courses. |
language test |
Sufficient proficiency in English is required. Minimum requirements: TOEFL 580 paper/237 computer/92 internet or IELTS: 6.5 (6.0 on each part). Native speakers of the English language, as well as Dutch applicants with a VWO certificate, are exempt from this requirement. |
previous education |
Bachelor's degree in Theology, Religious Studies, Arts, Philosophy or Social Science (e.g. Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology). Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. Students with another bachelor's degree can be permitted via a bridging programme. For admission requirements for the Dutch taught specializations, see the Dutch page of this website. |
Curriculum Vitae (CV) | |
written request |
A letter of motivation to the admissions board explaining the choice for this study programme (max. 1 page) is required, accompanied with a writing sample of an academic paper, preferably your Bachelor's (or Master's) thesis. |
assessment interview |
Voor de specialisatie Geestelijke Verzorging geldt een intakegesprek. Het intakegesprek is bedoeld om wederzijdse verwachtingen te bespreken. Om toegelaten te worden tot de stage in de specialisatie Geestelijke Verzorging dien je voorafgaand aan de toelating tot de master een assessmentprocedure te doorlopen. |
Students with a Dutch Bachelor's degree send all the documentation by mail to onderwijs.ggw rug.nl, even if a direct access is applicable.
Dutch students with a non-Dutch Bachelor's degree send in all their documentation after registration in Studielink via the Online Application System (OAS).
The specialization in Spiritual Care has additional admission requirements.
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 01 May 2021 | 01 September 2021 |
01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 | |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2021 | 01 September 2021 |
01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 | |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2021 | 01 September 2021 |
01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 |
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
grade list |
A grade list of the marks of your bachelor's degree programme with an explanation of the followed courses. |
language test |
Sufficient proficiency in English is required. Minimum requirements: TOEFL 580 paper/237 computer/92 internet or IELTS: 6.5 (6.0 on each part). Native speakers of the English language, as well as Dutch applicants with a VWO certificate, are exempt from this requirement. |
previous education |
For specialization in Ethics and Diversity: Bachelor's degree in Theology, Religious Studies, Arts, Philosophy or Social Science (e.g. Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology). Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. Students with another bachelor's degree can be permitted via a bridging programme. |
Curriculum Vitae (CV) | |
written request |
A letter of motivation to the admissions board explaining the choice for this study programme (max. 1 page) is required, accompanied with a writing sample of an academic paper, preferably your Bachelor's (or Master's) thesis. |
Exam | Minimum score |
---|---|
IELTS overall band | 6.5 |
IELTS listening | 6 |
IELTS reading | 6 |
IELTS writing | 6 |
IELTS speaking | 6 |
TOEFL paper based | 580 |
TOEFL computer based | 237 |
TOEFL internet based | 92 |
International students and Dutch students with non-Dutch qualifications are not automatically admitted to a Master's degree programme at the University of Groningen. The full registration procedure will take longer than for Dutch students with regular Dutch qualifications and consists of three steps: application, admission and registration.
Check the admissions guide for more information about the admissions procedure.
(International) Students with a Dutch Bachelor's degree send all the documentation by mail to onderwijs.ggw@rug.nl.
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 01 May 2021 | 01 September 2021 |
01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 | |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2021 | 01 September 2021 |
01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 | |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2021 | 01 September 2021 |
01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 |
Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
---|---|---|---|
EU/EEA | 2020-2021 | € 2143 | full-time |
EU/EEA | 2021-2022 | € 2168 | full-time |
Talent Grant available for Non-EU students, check this and other funding options here: https://www.rug.nl/ggw/education/prosstud/talent-grants-and-scholarships-theors
Practical information for:
This Master's degree qualifies you to work in a care institution, such as a hospital, nursing home or psychiatric hospital, for example as a spiritual carer. You could also become a policy officer in public health, global (mental) health and healthcare, or a consultant on a medical-ethical committee. These days, it is becoming increasingly common for spiritual carers to start their own practice.
Check our alumni page to find out where our alumni end up.
In the specialization in Spiritual Care, you will study a wide range of religious traditions and personal convictions. You will learn how to counsel groups and individuals, helping them to find meaning and stability in their lives. You can also train company employees and offer advice and opinions at policy level. Spiritual Carers can find jobs in care institutions, for example general or psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes or institutions for people with a mental disability. These days, it is becoming increasingly common for spiritual carers to start their own practice instead of working for an institution.
You will gain knowledge and understanding of ethical questions, diversity and health, based on case studies and care practice. You can work as a policy officer for the government, a patient organization or a care institution, or in an advisory position, for example on a medical-ethical committee.
Once you have completed this Master's programme you will have enough knowledge of the subject to become a secondary school teacher in the subject of Religious Studies. You could also opt for a position in higher vocational education, for example teaching Theology at a university of applied sciences. As you also need didactic skills as a teacher, it is advisable to do a Master's in Education after you have completed your regular Master's programme, or follow this track within the two-year Master's programme in Education.
Traditional forms of religion are making way for new ways of searching for meaning and purpose in your life. How do modern opinions of health and wellbeing fit in? What is the role of spirituality and religious convictions? How do present-day dilemmas and divergent ideas about these dilemmas affect both our wellbeing and the way we organize our care system? What is the function of professional spiritual counselling in our current healthcare system? This Master's programme will equip you to answer these and other questions. The two-year Research Master's degree programme also offers a specialization in Religion, Health, and Wellbeing. The Research Master's is the best way to prepare for a career in academic research.
The MA in Religion, Health and Wellbeing is a multidisciplinary programme, and so you will benefit from the expertise of the Centre for Religion, Health and Wellbeing and its affiliated scholars. The Centre for Religion, Health and Wellbeing is part of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies and focuses on these specializations:
Spiritual Care
Spiritual care professionals and chaplains contribute to healthcare
by providing support and sustenance for people who struggle with
questions posed by their life events; such as severe physical and
mental illness. These life events may bring up questions around
meaning, purpose, self-identity and value, which require an
interdisciplinary approach informed by a blend of sociological,
philosophical, ethical; anthropological, theological and
psychological theories. These theories explore religion,
spirituality, coping; human relationships and health/wellbeing.
Research in the field focuses on how theoretical and empirical
insights can be used to inform both practice and policy to improve
or maintain biopsychosocial-spiritual well-being and how healthcare
and community-care can be organised to support these goals.
Ethics and Cultural History
Study in this field concentrates on a culturally and historically
informed analysis of generally-held key concepts and practices
around both health and wellbeing. This then develops into
identifying the key theoretical concepts which are put to work in
the proposals of (for example) the World Health Organisation. The
concepts are critically examined; both in terms of their
feasibility and their situation within a larger cultural-historical
map.
Health Psychology
One of the avenues of research is explicitly psychological;
focusing on the role of behaviour, psychology and culture in
physical health and wellbeing. More specifically, topics in this
area include the prevention of illness through behaviour change,
optimisation of medical treatment through the application of
psychological theory and ideas of coping, stress and diversity
(socio-economic status, culture, gender and religion). Health
psychology is an interdisciplinary field; drawing from the social
sciences, psychological traditions, humanities, medicine and life
sciences.
Cultural Anthropology and Sociology of
Culture
This field of research is informed by anthropological and
sociological approaches within the sub-fields of the anthropology
of religion and medical anthropology. Furthermore, feminist
approaches to issues of embodiment and health are explored.
Empirical research is developed from the standpoint that many
people look for holistic ways of addressing health and
wellbeing.
Lecturers and their expertise
Staff members within the MA in Religion, Health and Wellbeing bring their own research into teaching; preparing graduates for a career at the cutting edge of any chosen specialism.
Read moreThe reciprocity is what makes the work inspiring
The decision to study Spiritual Care in Groningen was an important one for me, as I believe it was for many other students. Indeed, it was the consequence of personal development and events in my life until then. After my studies in Industrial Engineering and Management, I witnessed spiritual care at my volunteer job in a hospice. I thought it was a very special profession.
The UG degree programme in general spiritual care appealed to me because I don't adhere to any one religion. Plus, I could follow the Master's degree programme after a shortened pre-Master's programme. What I like about the Master's is how the course units combine an academic level with a focus on practice. Psychopathology & Religion is a good example of this. They challenge you to reflect on the theory and your own position in it as a future spiritual carer. The combination of course units and a placement also spark a different learning process: that of dealing with stress and (re)claiming your own space and inspiration to function properly as a spiritual carer.
I now work as a spiritual carer at the UMCG, where I did my placement. I enjoy working in a hospital very much. On the one hand because it is about collaborating with other care providers in a dynamic organization; on the other hand because it allows you to counsel people at a precarious time in their lives: being sick and hospitalized is often a very profound experience. It is a time at which existential questions may arise and spiritual care may be needed. In the hustle and bustle of a hospital environment, spiritual care enables you to focus on the effects of illness on a person, but also to find someone's sources of strength and inspiration. I believe that the conversations we have can be wholesome and rewarding for patients and spiritual carers alike. So you could say there is reciprocity in our relationships with people, which makes the work inspiring for me.
Read moreA solid basis for practice
What attracted me in Spiritual Care was its attention to meaning
and existential questions. The opportunity to become an independent
spiritual carer made the Groningen programme ideal for me. The
atmosphere was open, with students and lecturers stimulating each
other and critically exploring each other's views.
Everyone showed geniality, interest, commitment and an eye for
context, without making concessions to academic quality –
exactly the qualities of a good spiritual carer! I now realize that
the theory I gained in course units like Psychopathology and
Religion and Care Ethics are not only a solid basis in daily
practice, but they also help me reflect on that practice.
I really love my job as a spiritual carer in nursing homes. I was drawn to elderly care because of its special way of communicating with residents. My creativity is constantly being challenged there by questions like: how can I get through to residents? What do their seemingly unrelated statements mean? How can I connect with their reality? My tasks here are very diverse. Of course I talk to people, in groups and individually. But I also provide palliative care and lead liturgical services and memorial services in the residents’ living room. In addition, I participate in various networks, such as the Alzheimer Café and the Palliative Network, and I keep in touch with spiritual carers and ministers in the area.
Since my graduation, I have gained so much experience that I returned to the Faculty recently. Not as a student, but as a lecturer, teaching the course unit in Conversation Techniques and Group Dynamics and to supervise internships of students in Spiritual Care.
Read moreUnderstanding “the bigger picture”
When I followed the minor “Religion in the Modern World” at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies during my bachelor's in Pedagogical Sciences, I realized how important it is to learn to understand different perspectives in today's society. After my bachelor's degree, I was seeking a master's degree where students would be broadly trained so that the "bigger picture" could be better understood.
So far I have been very enthusiastic about the Religion, Health & Wellbeing - Ethics & Diversity master's programme. Social issues are approached from different disciplines such as anthropology (my personal favorite), philosophy and history. Additionally, we are challenged to think critically about the texts we read. Because of the small scale, there is a positive atmosphere and there is a lot of room for discussion and feedback.
Until now, Gender, Religion and Sexuality has been my favorite course unit. The construct gender was approached from different religions, from a Western and non-Western point of view and from different disciplines. I enjoyed this course with great pleasure and it was often really eye-opening. It was interesting to understand a little better how the meaning of gender and sexuality is shaped by religion, culture and history, among other things.
I am going to write my thesis about the possible consequences of the new law on citizenship education for a diverse society. I don't know exactly what I want to do after my master's, but I think I would like to work for a non-profit organization.
If you do not have a bachelor's degree in either the Humanities or Behavioural and Social Sciences, you will first need to complete a pre-master's programme before you can enter this master's programme. There are several electives you can choose from. Below, you will find the complete programme.
1st semester (30 ECTS)
2nd semester (30 ECTS)
If you have followed minor courses in Theology or Religious Studies, it might be possible to follow a shorter pre-master's programme. Please contact our student advisors to see what the options are.
For the Dutch taught specialization in Spiritual Care, you need to follow a different pre-master's programme.
For the pre-master's programme, you will pay a so called compensation in stead of regular tuition fees. This compensation is the same for both EU and non-EU students.
If you are interested in a master's degree programme in religion, you might also consider:
You are interested in the intersection between people's search for health and wellbeing, as well as the techniques, rituals and practices that religious contexts can offer. You want to know how health and wellbeing can be understood differently across cultural and religious contexts, as well as historical periods - and what the ethical implications of this are. You enjoy the intellectual challenge of combining insights from across psychology, anthropology, philosophy and religious studies.
Master's students are expected to show a large degree of independence. If necessary you can make use of various forms of study supervision and study support. For example, you can contact a mentor or your study advisor. While writing your thesis, you will receive personal supervision from one of the lecturers.
Immediately after arrival, students who gained their Bachelor's degree at a different faculty or university as well as international students will be allocated a mentor who will help them get to know the Faculty. You can also go to the study advisor if you have doubts about your abilities or for whatever reason run the risk of study delay. You will receive intensive supervision while writing your thesis. The Master's programme includes a thesis seminar, where attention is paid to how to tackle writing a Master's thesis, and where the progress of the process is monitored closely. You will also receive structural supervision from the lecturer who is the specialist in the field of your thesis.