Towards the foundations of human culture.

Degree programme objectives

The two-year Master’s degree study programme in the Study of Religions develops the understanding of religious traditions of the world and deepens student insight into the theory, methodology, and history of the study of religions in a wide interdisciplinary context. As an option, students can also develop their knowledge of a chosen source language. The Master’s degree study programme accentuates writing and presentation skills, qualified use of various types of data, and an understanding of the main theoretical paradigms in the contemporary study of religion and related fields rather than tests of knowledge. Students deepen their insight into phenomena of human culture, develop creative thinking and an interdisciplinary approach, and choose a path towards teaching, research, or work in the media, non-governmental organizations, or other public or private bodies. This Master’s degree study programme offers a high-quality social scientific and humanistic education, which is comparable to similar programmes at the world’s leading universities.

The curriculum is organized on the basis of a credit system, offering individual choices concerning the study timeline and thematic modifications according to the individual field of interest. Compulsory courses mostly cover theory and method in the humanities and social sciences, explained by means of particular examples from different religious traditions, and also include four practical seminars related to preparation of a thesis. Optional courses help broaden the knowledge of a range of religious traditions (eastern, western and archaic religious traditions, and religion in modern society) and deepen competences in the chosen methodology.

The Master’s degree study programme is suitable for graduates of the Bachelor’s degree programmes in the Study of Religions and related fields such as anthropology, sociology, ethnology, cultural studies, history, and psychology who intend to deepen their understanding of religious traditions viewed in the light of current international debate and from a fundamentally interdisciplinary perspective. It prepares students for occupations requiring excellent analytical skills and insight into the religious, cultural, and ethnic contexts of the operation of human societies and changes taking place within them.

Study plans

Admission Procedures
Admission to Master's degree programmes in 2024/2025 (beginning: Autumn 2024)
Submission deadline until midnight 30/4/2024

Studies

  • Objectives

    The two-year Master’s degree study programme in the Study of Religions develops the understanding of religious traditions of the world and deepens student insight into the theory, methodology, and history of the study of religions in a wide interdisciplinary context. As an option, students can also develop their knowledge of a chosen source language. The Master’s degree study programme accentuates writing and presentation skills, qualified use of various types of data, and an understanding of the main theoretical paradigms in the contemporary study of religion and related fields rather than tests of knowledge. Students deepen their insight into phenomena of human culture, develop creative thinking and an interdisciplinary approach, and choose a path towards teaching, research, or work in the media, non-governmental organizations, or other public or private bodies. This Master’s degree study programme offers a high-quality social scientific and humanistic education, which is comparable to similar programmes at the world’s leading universities.

    The curriculum is organized on the basis of a credit system, offering individual choices concerning the study timeline and thematic modifications according to the individual field of interest. Compulsory courses mostly cover theory and method in the humanities and social sciences, explained by means of particular examples from different religious traditions, and also include four practical seminars related to preparation of a thesis. Optional courses help broaden the knowledge of a range of religious traditions (eastern, western and archaic religious traditions, and religion in modern society) and deepen competences in the chosen methodology.

    The Master’s degree study programme is suitable for graduates of the Bachelor’s degree programmes in the Study of Religions and related fields such as anthropology, sociology, ethnology, cultural studies, history, and psychology who intend to deepen their understanding of religious traditions viewed in the light of current international debate and from a fundamentally interdisciplinary perspective. It prepares students for occupations requiring excellent analytical skills and insight into the religious, cultural, and ethnic contexts of the operation of human societies and changes taking place within them.

  • Learning Outcomes

    After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

    • use the concepts of the historical disciplines, sociology, cultural and social anthropology, ethnography, the cognitive sciences, and psychology for a critical, consistent, and grounded understanding of human thought and social behaviour;
    • search for information in various sources and both evaluate and synthesise it;
    • understand essential dimensions and dynamics of religion as a phenomenon of human thought and culture;
    • use, on an intermediate level, selected methods of data collection and analysis in the humanities and the social sciences;
    • prepare a high-quality research project or applied project;
    • evaluate applied and research projects from the point of view of feasibility, social impact, and ethics;
    • write formally and factually correct, useful, and original texts on phenomena of human culture using relevant sources;
    • consider phenomena of human culture from a global and deeply interdisciplinary perspective;
    • apply social scientific approaches and knowledge in professional activity as well as in the personal understanding of human phenomena in a nuanced way.
  • Occupational Profiles of Graduates

    Graduates are qualified for positions requiring critical thinking and cross-cultural adaptability. They usually work in teaching, journalism, administration, specialized sectors of the tourist industry, non-governmental organizations, the media, project writing in both the public and private sectors, companies focusing on the development of games and on leisure activities, and start-ups requiring creative thinking. They can offer employers strong analytical skills, creative thinking, presentation skills, flexibility, intercultural orientation, familiarity with the assumptions and methods of several disciplines within the humanities and the social sciences, the skill of writing texts that are both formally and factually correct, the capacity to think in global and interdisciplinary terms, and the ability methodically to pursue complex, demanding, and long-term projects.

  • Practical Training

    The study programme does not involve compulsory practical training.

  • Goals of Theses

    The Master’s thesis in the Study of Religions involves the ability to formulate and pursue a long-term project involving basic or applied research with the help of a supervisor. There are four Master’s thesis seminars, which cover all four semesters of the standard time of study and concern in chronological order the submission of (1) a structured and annotated bibliography, excerpts from literature, and summary of the intended topic, (2) a research project proposal, (3) proofs of substantially developed research project, and (4) a final text. Students choose the topic from topic lists published by individual supervisors or propose and gradually specify their own topic.

    The length of the Master’s thesis is 120,000 to 140,000 characters (ca. 65-80 standard pages). The thesis contains: title page with the name of the university, faculty, and department; title of the thesis; name of the student; name of the supervisor; seat of the university (Brno) and year of submission; statement of originality; table of contents; bibliographic references throughout the text; list of sources and literature; Czech and English summary (1,800 characters each); and list of key words in Czech and English. The thesis has to be paginated, printed on white paper of A4 format, and hardbound.

  • Access to Further Studies

    After completion of Master’s studies, graduates can continue further studies in a doctoral degree programme in the Study of Religions or, depending on their focus during Master’s studies, in related fields such as anthropology, sociology, ethnology, cultural studies, history, and psychology.

Basic information

Abbreviation
N-RL_
Type
master's degree programme (following the bachelor's one)
Profile
academic
Degree
Mgr.
Degree in Advanced Master's state examination
PhDr.
Length of studies
2 years
Language of instruction
Czech Czech

20
estimated number of admitted
12
number of active students
10
number of theses/dissertations

Faculty of Arts
Programme guaranteed by
Programme guarantor