Program Overview

Program Overview

The Department of Cultural and Religious Studies at The Chinese University of Hong Kong offers various programs in cultural and religious studies.

Undergraduate Programs

• Cultural Management Bachelor of Arts
• Cultural Studies Bachelor of Arts
• Public Humanities Bachelor of Arts
• Religious Studies Bachelor of Arts

Postgraduate Programs

• Cultural Management Master of Arts
• Cultural Studies Master of Arts
• Buddhist Studies Master of Arts
• Religious Studies Master of Arts
• Cultural Studies MPhil-PhD
• Religious Studies MPhil-PhD

Program Details

Religious Studies Bachelor of Arts

The Religious Studies program views religion as an integral part of human life, thought, and activity. It advocates for the objective and academic study of religious phenomena, as well as the sympathetic and critical understanding of human religious life. Students can choose from five areas of study: methods in religious studies, religious traditions and classics, religion, culture, and society, classical languages, and seminars and special topics. To cater to different learning interests, the program offers three concentrations: "Religion and Culture," "Religion Education," and "Arabic Studies."

This program emphasizes interdisciplinary research methods, including psychology of religion, sociology of religion, philosophy of religion, ethics and religion, education and religion, and literature and religion. The program also requires students to conduct fieldwork and research to understand daily religious rituals in local and other regions. To encourage students to apply religious theories to practice, the program provides internship opportunities for undergraduate students.

Program Structure

The program consists of a combination of core courses, electives, and concentrations. Students are required to complete a certain number of credits in each area to fulfill the program requirements.

Research Areas

The Department of Cultural and Religious Studies has a strong research focus, with faculty members specializing in various areas, including:

• Cultural Studies
• Religious Studies
• Buddhist Studies
• Arabic Studies

Research Centers

The department is affiliated with several research centers, including:

• Catholic Studies Center
• Christian Studies Center
• Cultural Studies Center
• Taoist Cultural Studies Center
• Zen and Human Civilization Research Center
• Islamic Cultural Studies Center