Religious Teachers Training
Studying Comparative Religion
MA studies in Comparative Religion consist of basic, intermediate and advanced studies. All students do the basic studies, which include lecture courses that can't be replaced with book exams. During the intermediate and advanced studies students chosen to religious teachers training replace some of the studies in Comparative Religion with Theology. Theological studies are done by those Comparative Religion major students who are approved to faculty of education by entrance exam to study teachers' pedagocic studies as a minor. Religious teachers studies produce humanistically orientated teachers of Religion and Life Philosophy (which is non-confessional teaching of world views in Finnish schools) .
Masters Degree in Comparative Religion provides qualification to work as a researcher and producer of knowledge in different areas of multicultural society, where presence and effect of religious traditions to nature, society and culture is an inseparable part of everyday social life. Scholars of religion are needed as continuators of academic traditions in universities but also in social services, in cultural production of different medias, in consultation and co-ordination assignments and so on. Training provides abilities to produce information from characteristics of different religions, ideologies, worldviews and spiritual traditions as people themselves individually experience and share them. Selection of minor studies affects to employment. History, Psychology, Sociology, Media Studies and Philosophy, and other Cultural Studies subjects, such as Ethnology, Folkloristics and Archaeology are also useful.
Picture by Usva Friman
Comparative Religion
BASIC STUDIES, 25 credits (op)
P0. Orientation to the Study of Religion, 0 op
P1. Introduction to Cultural Research, 2 op
P2. Introduction to Comparative Religion
P2.1. Introduction to the Study of Religion, 3 op
P2.2. Religion as an Object of Scientific Research, 4 op
P2.3. Scholarly Traditions of Comparative Religion in Finland, 2 op
P3.Religious Traditions in Finland, 6 op
P4. Introduction to the Religions of the World
P4.1. Religions of the Wolrd, 5 op
P4.2. Indigenous Religions and Religion in the Modern World, 3 op
INTERMEDIATE STUDIES, 45 credits (op), minor students 35 op
A1. History of Religions in Europe, 8 op
Antiquity and the Birth of Christianity
History of Christianity from Antiquity to the Present
Christianity, Judaism and Islam
A2. Religion in Modern Society
A2.1. Religion and Media, 3 op
A2.2. Religions and Religious Movements, 5 op
A3. The Role of Religion in the Making of Cultural Differences, 3 op
Gender
Multiculturality
Ritualization of Purity and Borders
Nationality
Communication
A4. Materials and Methods in Ethnographic Study of Culture, 9 op
A5. Methodology in the Study of Religion, 4 op
A6. BA Seminar and Thesis, 10 op
A7. Professionalism, Competence and Skills in the Culture Section, 3 op
ADVANCED STUDIES, 80 credits (op), minor students 60 op
S1. Specialization in Religious Traditions, 8 op
S2. Religion and Multiculturality in Finland, 3 op
S3. Classical Approaches in Comparative Religion
S3.1 Classics in the Study of Religion, 2 op
S3.2. History of Comparative Religion, 4 op
S4. Advanced Theory and Methodology in Comparative Religion
S4.1. Critical Concepts in the Study of Religion 5 op
S4.2. Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion, 8 opTheories of Identity and Meaning
Ritual Theories
Cognitive Theories of Religion
Study of Narratives and Discourses
Geography of Religion
Sociology of Religion
Psychology of Religion
Phenomenology of Religion
Critical Study of Religion
S5. MA Seminar, 6 op
S6. Writing and Professional Skills, 4 op
Masters Thesis, 40 op
or Thesis in Comparative Religon as a Minor SUbject, 20 op
RELIGIOUS TEACHERS TRAINING
INTERMEDIATE STUDIES, 45 credits (op)
A1. Biblical Studies
Content of the Bible, 2 op
History of Biblical Times, 2 op
New Testament Studies, 2 op
Introduction to Biblical Studies, 4 op
A2. Practical Theology I and II, 5+5 op
A3. Systematic Theology
Dogmatic Theology, 4 op
History of Theology, 3 op
Ecumenics, Ethics and Philosophical Theology, 4 op
A4. Methodology in the Study of Religion, 4 op
A5. BA Seminar and Thesis, 10 op
ADVANCED STUDIES, 80 credits (op)
S1. History of Religions in Europe, 8 op
Antiquity and the Birth of Christianity
History of Christianity from Antiquity to the Present
Christianity, Judaism and Islam
S2. Religion and Multiculturality in Schools, 3 op
S3. Classical Approaches in Comparative Religion
S3.1. Classics in the Study of Religion, 2 op
S3.2. History of Comparative Religion, 4 op
S4. Religion in Modern Society
S4.1. Religion and Media, 3 op
S4.2. Religions and Religious Movements, 5 op
S5. Advanced Theory and Methodology in Comparative Religion, 5 op
S6. Specialization in Religious Traditions, 4 op
S7. MA Seminar
Master's Thesis, 40 op
or Thesis in Comparative Religon as a Minor Subject, 20 op
TEACHERS MINOR STUDIES IN THEOLOGY AND COMPARATIVE RELIGION, 60 credits (op)
are composed of following modules:
P3. Religious Traditions in Finland, 6 op
P4. Introduction to the Religions of the World
P4.1. Religions of the Wolrd, 5 op
P4.2. Indigenous Religions and Religion in the Modern World, 3 op
A1. Biblical Studies
Content of the Bible, 2 op
History of Biblical Times, 2 op
New Testament Studies, 2 op
Introduction to Biblical Studies, 4 op
A2. Practical Theology I and II, 5+5 op
A3. Systematic Theology
Dogmatic Theology, 4 op
History of Theology, 3 op
Ecumenics, Ethics and Philosophical Theology, 4 op
S1. History of Religions in Europe, 8 op
Antiquity and the Birth of Christianity
History of Christianity from Antiquity to the Present
Christianity, Judaism and Islam
S2. Religion and Multiculturality in Schools, 3 op
S6. Specialization in Religious Traditions: Christianity Today, 4 op