MA in Religion

The MA in Religion provides advanced study of the religious traditions of both the West and Asia. The programme offers two pathways:

• Buddhist Studies;
• Theology and Religious Studies.

These reflect the expertise in the Department of Religion and Theology and allow the individual to study various religious traditions with scholars who are world-renowned experts in those traditions.

Students follow one of two pathways taking units worth a total of 180 credit points.

Buddhist Studies Pathway

This pathway is suitable for those who either want to deepen their knowledge of Buddhism through academic study or are interested in undertaking research in Buddhist studies but have little or no formal academic training in Buddhist studies at undergraduate level.

Core Units (40 credit points)

• Buddhism: the Foundations (20 credit points) plus one of the following language units*(20 credit points):
• Introductory Sanskrit 1
• Classical Chinese
• Pali and Buddhist Sanskrit (only available to students with one year of Sanskrit)

*Not all languages will be taught each year.

Optional Units (80 credit points in total;20 credit points each)

• Introductory Sanskrit 2
• Buddhism: The Mahayana Tradition
• The Practice of Theravada Buddhism in Asia
• Aspects of Chinese Buddhism
• Buddhist Psychology and Mental Health
• The Origins and Development of Zen Buddhism
• Yoga and Meditation
• Supervised Individual Study (on an aspect of Buddhism not covered by other units)
• An open MA unit chosen from those available in the Faculty of Arts

Dissertation

You will engage in supervised research on a topic of your choice and submit a dissertation of between 15,000 and 20,000 words.

Theology and Religious Studies Pathway

Core Units

• Buddhism: The Foundations (20 credit points)
• History of Christianity: Core Texts (20 credit points)

Optional Units (80 credit points in total; 20 credit points each)

• Medieval Mystics and Visionaries in Medieval England
• Reflection on Religious Pluralism in Contemporary Society
• Alchemy, Magic and Science in Early Modernity
• The Renaissance and the Rise of the Modern Age
• Greek Language Level A
• Latin Language Level A
• Jesus in an Age of Colonialismy
• Ancient Jewish Novels
• Atheism
• Buddhism: The Mahayana Tradition
• The Origins and Development of Zen Buddhism
• Yoga and Meditation
• Buddhist Psychology and Mental Health
• An open MA unit chosen from those available across the Faculty of Arts.

Dissertation

You will engage in supervised research on a topic of your choice and submit a dissertation of between 15,000 and 20,000 words.