Faculty of Humanities

Degree Programs

Master's in Religion in Contemporary Society

The Master program in Religion in Contemporary Society (RCS) provides students with the theoretical, methodological and socio-historical knowledge and expertise they need to conduct research into the role religious traditions and figures play in contemporary processes of globalization and localization. Whereas the study program for Science of Religion in Bern focuses on the philosophical study of written primary sources from Asian religions especially, the interdisciplinary RCS program concentrates on the study of contemporary religious cultures using methods of empirical social research.

Contemporary religion

Even today, religion continues to have a major influence on modern conceptions of culture, ethnicity, nationality, government, law and political and military conflict resolution methods. Religion also influences people's attitudes toward the environment, nutrition and technological innovations such as biomedicine, for example. The MA program in Religion in Contemporary Society provides students with the analytical instruments they need for a critical study of the role religion plays at the interface between social, political and ethical issues. For example: What types of religious arguments are used in the political realm? What role do religious interpretations of the world and the meaning of life play in sustainability debates?

Globalization and localization

Globalization is an important topic in the Master program in Religion in Contemporary Society: General theories of globalization are used to develop instruments for a synchronous analysis from a global perspective of the complex and associated phenomena of politics – governance – ethnicity – knowledge transfer – technological modernization – religious ordering of meaning. These phenomena are examined in more detail using local examples, even as the global links between them are studied as well.

Methods of empirical social research

Religion is studied in the RCS program as a social human fact. The program therefore conveys important theoretical and practice-oriented knowledge of various methods of empirical social research. These methods are applied to actual research situations. Visits to religious communities and the analysis of data collected by the students themselves are integral components of the program.

Master Religion in globaler Gegenwart
Imagination und Realität in Varanasi, Indien (Foto: Sébastien Mayor)
Basic information
Degree: Master of Arts in Religion in Contemporary Society, Universität Bern
Number of credits: 120 ECTS credits
Degree programs: Mono 120 ECTS credits
Duration: 4 semesters
Language: German
Beginning studies: Registrations for the Master's in Religion in Contemporary Society are only possible up to and including spring semester 24. This study program will be discontinued thereafter.

Details of program

The Master program teaches interdisciplinary and integrative research approaches whose merging of previously separate disciplinary perspectives enables graduates to adequately understand and evaluate the complex relationship between religion and modern society. The Religion in Contemporary Society program, which is a cooperative venture between five institutes and two faculties, allows students to take part in relevant seminars at the Institutes for the Science of Religion, Islamic Studies, Social Anthropology and Philosophy, and in other faculties at the Institutes of Theology and Sociology.

Scheme of program

The Religion in Contemporary Society Master program is embedded in the Center for Global Studies (CGS), whose activities include the comparative study of cultural dynamics in the context of globalization processes in different regions and in different periods of history. The study program is interdisciplinary and consists of a total of six modules. The program leads to a single-subject Master's degree – a so-called mono-master with no minor – with a requirement of 120 ECTS credits. The degree program is divided into required coursework, electives and 18 credits of coursework that the student can freely choose.

  • Module 1: Theory and sociology of religion (minimum 19 credits)
  • Module 2: History of religion, and cultural and social history (minimum 15 credits)
  • Module 3: Philosophy of religion, legal systems and ethics (minimum 14 credits)
  • Module 4: Religion anthropology (minimum 12 credits)
  • Module 5: Social science methods (minimum 12 credits)

Deadlines

Requirements

Individual academic requirements

The following academic qualifications are required for admission to the master’s degree program in Religion in Contemporary Society (mono):

a) Bachelor's degree from a recognized university with a major in one of the following branches of studies (in accordance with appendix 1 to the plan of studies):
  • African Studies
  • Egyptology
  • Ancient Near Eastern studies
  • History
  • South Asian studies / Indian Studies
  • Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies
  • East Asian Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Science of Religion
  • Social and Cultural Anthropology
  • Theology
  • Central Asian Studies
b) Bachelor's degree from a recognized 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.
Additional attainments can either be admission requirements which must be fulfilled in order to complete the master's degree program or admission requirements which must be fulfilled before admission to the master's degree program. The ECTS credits will be listed separately in the diploma supplement as extracurricular attainments.

The bachelor's degree may not be more than ten years old. Exceptions are possible where justified.

Swiss bachelor's degrees/programs

from the University of Bern

that allow admission to the desired master's degree program without any assessment:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Science of Religion

Language requirements

Knowledge of a non-European source language is not required for a master's degree program in Religion in Contemporary Society. However, you do have the possibility to take language courses as electives (see Appendix 3 to the plan of studies).

 
For questions regarding application and admission, please contact the Admissions Office.

Application and admission

Current UniBE students

Apply for a change to the M A in Religion in Contemporary Society, Universität Bern by self-service as part of the re-registration for the next semester.
Renewal of semester registration → Self-service
Recognition of academic achievements
Procedure and timing of the renewal of semester registration
   

Application with a Swiss degree

Online application
Assessment
Steps from application to registration
 

Application with an international degree

Online application
CHECKLIST - Documents for your application / Important information
Steps from application to registration

 
For questions regarding application and admission, please contact the Admissions Office.

After your master's

The program of study is designed to enable graduates to work in organizations whose activities also involve encounters and interaction between different religions. Such organizations include NGOs that address humanitarian matters and economic development issues (e.g. the UN and its numerous organization such as UNESCO), as well as aid and relief organizations such as the Swiss Red Cross.

The MA program also serves as the foundation for further scholarly work (PhD).