Master’s Degree

Specialised Master’s, in-depth study of the practices and foundations of interreligious relations, as to competences on the public policies and the interfaith institutions.

The international Master Interreligious Studies / Études interreligieuses course is the result of the INTER-RELIGIO project. This Master’s degree, which is unprecedented in the public university landscape, focuses on knowledge of interreligious dialogue and the practice of interreligious dialogue, with the aim of identifying the specific characteristics of each religion and the principles common to all religions, with particular emphasis on doctrinal constructions and the interpretation of the founding texts. Supported by the Faculty of Catholic Theology of the University of Strasbourg, the training is provided by lecturer-researchers from different components of this University and the Joint Research Unit on Religious Law, Business and Society (UMR Droit Religion Entreprise et Société), while benefiting from the follow-up of the Institute of Interreligious Studies of the INTER-RELIGIO project.

  • PUBLIC CONCERNED – This new course is aimed at any student with an interest in an approach to religious facts from a dialogue angle and who already has prior knowledge in theology, history of religions or human and social sciences. The course is also aimed at current or future ministers of religion or religious officials, religious teachers, chaplains, associations involved in interreligious dialogue, agents of the State and local authorities, professionals willing to improve their skills in interreligious dialogue.
  • CONDITIONS OF ADMISSION – Students with a degree in Science or History of Religion, History and Political Studies, Theology or Literature. A selection based on a file allows to consider particular curricula or the possibility of a direct admission to a 2nd year Master’s degree.

Program

Sesmester 1

EU 1: Research methodology:

  • Methodology of interpretation, Interreligious theories (3x6h)

EU 2: Foundations and History of inter-religious relations

  • Historical review of interreligious relations. Contacts and exchanges between Christians and Muslims in the Middle Age (12h)

EU 3: Seminar: Founding texts and traditions: exegetical and hermeneutical perspectives

  • 1 elective course: Koran and exegesis in context / Exegesis of New Testament writings / Ancient language of founding texts / Philosophy and Jewish thought (18 to 24h)

EU 4: Seminar: Religious beliefs: historical and contemporary perspectives

  • 1 course or seminar of your choice: A socio-anthropological perspective / Socio-anthropology of ordinary, intensive, rigorist or radical beliefs / Joint seminar on the history and sociology of religions (20 to 24h)

EU 5: Religion, Society, State

  • Status of religions in France and the European States: Freedom of religion and secularism – Religion and private law – Status of religions in Europe: (3x6h)

EU 6: Philosophy of religion and science of religions

  • Philosophy and theology: beliefs and rituals (24 hours)

EU 7: modern language (24h)

Semester 2

UE1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

  • Preparatory document for the Master thesis

UE2 INTERRELIGIOUS RELATIONS: FOUNDATIONS AND HISTORY

  • Introduction to the History of religions (24h)

UE3 FOUNDING TEXTS AND TRADITIONS: EXEGETICAL AND HERMENEUTICAL PERSPECTIVES

  • 1 course of your choice: From biblical and parabolic writings to Qur’anic suras/Coran and exegesis in context/Biblical hermeneutics and exegetical method/ Ancient language of founding texts/Philosophy and Jewish thought (15 to 24 h)

UE4 RELIGIOUS BELIEFS: HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES

  • 1 course or 1 semester of your choice: Ethics and values in a context of diversity/Collective religious and associative political mobilizations/Joint seminar on the history and sociology of religions “Fundamental notions in the history and sociology of religions” (18h to 24h)

UE5 RELIGION, SOCIETY, STATE

  • Public policies of interreligious dialogue (12h)

UE6 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION AND SCIENCE OF RELIGION

  • 1 Elective course: Philosophy and theology: faith and reason/ Philosophy and psychology of religion (24 or 20 hours)

EU7 INTERNSHIPS

  • Professional or linguistic internship or within one of the Inter-Religio research teams (35 hours in situation + follow-up and internship report)

Semester 3

UE1 INTERRELIGIOUS RELATIONS: FOUNDATIONS AND HISTORY

  • Foundations of a theology of interreligious (24h)

UE2 FOUNDING TEXTS AND TRADITIONS: EXEGETICAL AND HERMENEUTICAL PERSPECTIVES

  • Seminar. Approaches to founding texts and theology in the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist religions. (12h)

UE3 RELIGIOUS BELIEFS: HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES

  • Sociology of religious pluralism (24h)

EU4 RELIGION, SOCIETY, STATE

  • Legal status of university theology (12h)

UE5 PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION AND SCIENCE OF RELIGION

  • Introduction to the theology of religions + Seminar Philosophy of religion (12h + 12h)

UE6 OPTIONAL SEMINAR(S)

1 (24h) or 2 (2x12h) seminars of your choice from among the Master’s seminars of the faculties of theology, historical sciences, the Institute of the History of Religions, social sciences, the Institute of Hebrew and Jewish Studies. In agreement with the thesis director.

Semester 4

UE1 OPTIONAL SEMINAR(S)

  • 1 (24h) or 2 (2x12h) seminars of your choice from among the Master’s seminars of the faculties of theology, historical sciences, the Institute of the History of Religions, social sciences, the Institute of Hebrew and Jewish Studies. In agreement with the thesis director.

UE2 TEXTS AND FOUNDING TRADITIONS: EXEGETICAL AND HERMENEUTICAL PERSPECTIVES

  • Seminar. Approaches to founding texts and theology in the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist religions. (12h)

UE3 RESEARCH THESIS

Writing of the thesis and defense before the jury (two teachers including at least one Researcher at INTER-RELIGIO)

 

In Strasbourg

Master’s degree from the Faculty of Catholic Theology in Strasbourg, with two courses:

Master – Interreligious studies – international course

The international course “Interreligious Studies” with a supplement to the national Master’s degree, open to students who have validated at least 30 ECTS in the joint programmes of the partner universities of Basel or Heidelberg, and therefore requires minimum language skills in German.

Master’s degree in interreligious studies – Strasbourg course

The Strasbourg course “Études interreligieuses” accessible to mainly French-speaking students and gives access to the national Master’s degree.

  • Opening of the diploma in September 2019! Enrolments will be open from July 5th to September 30th, 2019 for both courses. For more information, please contact the pedagogical secretariat in charge of the course. Contact: 03.68.85.68.23

 In Basel

In Heidelberg