Program Overview

Master of Arts in Interreligious Studies

The Faculty of Theology at the University of Bern offers a Master program in Religious Studies, which has existed since 2005. This program is designed to provide students with a well-founded and reflective knowledge of their own religious tradition and the traditions of other religions.

Program Details

• Degree: Master of Arts in Interreligious Studies, Universit酹 Bern
• Number of credits: 120 ECTS credits
• Degree programs:
  • Major Interreligi飉e Studien: 90 ECTS credits
  • Minor Interreligi飉e Studien: 30 ECTS credits
• Combination possibilities: several
• Duration: 4 semesters
• Language: German
• Beginning of studies: Fall or spring semester

Legal Basis

The program is based on the following legal documents:

• Studienplan f僡 die Studienprogramme Interreligi飉e Studien an der Theologischen Fakult酹 vom 03.10.2019 (PDF, 114KB)
• Anhang zum Studienplan f僡 die Studienprogramme Interreligi飉e Studien an der Theologischen Fakult酹 vom 14. Dezember 2017 (PDF, 189KB)
• Reglement 暅er das Studium und die Leistungskontrollen an der Philosophisch-historischen Fakult酹 der Universit酹 Bern (RSL 05) vom 01.02.2014 mit 瓏derungen (PDF, 140KB)

Program Structure

The program has several components, including:

• Christianity: studied in all its historical forms down to the present day
• Other major religious traditions (Judaism, Islam, religions of India, Buddhism): courses offered in part in cooperation with other institutes

Study Content

The study content includes:

• Subject field 1: Christianity (21 ECTS credits)
  • Bibel (18 + 3 ECTS credits)
  • History of Christianity, Christian theology and practice (15 + 6 ECTS credits)
  • Judaism (18 + 3 ECTS credits)
• Subject field 2: Islam, religions of India and Buddhism (9 ECTS credits)
  • Islam (3-6 ECTS credits)
  • Religions of India and Buddhism (3-6 ECTS credits)
• Subject field 3: Inter-religious and intercultural topics, questions related to the theory of religion (15 ECTS credits)
• Subject field 4: Master thesis (30 ECTS credits)
• Subject field 5: Electives (15 ECTS credits)

Combination Possibilities

The major can be combined with any minor subject taught in a sufficient scope at the University of Bern, with the exception of Religious Studies.

Requirements

The following academic qualifications are required for admission to the master's degree program in Religious Studies (major):

• a) Bachelor's degree from a Swiss university with a major in Religious Studies
• b) Bachelor's degree from a recognized university with a major or mono in a related field (theology)
• c) Bachelor's degree from a university with a major in a different branch of studies, provided that the master's degree can be successfully completed with an additional maximum 60 ECTS credits

Application and Admission

For questions regarding application and admission, please consult the admission requirements for the minor as presented in the plan of studies.

Career Possibilities

Like any course of study in the humanities, the program offered here does not prepare students for a specific career but instead teaches them methods and skills that can be applied in a variety of fields (e.g., research, media, education, diplomacy, culture, dialog between religions).

Doctoral Studies

The Faculty of Theology offers students the possibility to contribute to further research in their field with a dissertation.