Religion (with pathways in Biblical Studies, Jewish Studies, Religion in Contemporary Society and Systematic Theology)

Course detail Description

The MA in Religion is designed to be both rigorous and flexible. Under the umbrella of a single MA, you will have the choice of four pathways that can be tailored to your interests.

If you wish to gain a deeper understanding of religion in the contemporary world from political, sociological and anthropological perspectives, follow the Religion in Contemporary Society pathway.

For a comprehensive understanding of Christian thought and practice as it has been reasoned and debated over the centuries, take the Systematic Theology pathway.

The Biblical Studies pathway introduces students to the world, text and context of the Bible in antiquity and in the modern world, reading it as literature and as a theological text.

The Jewish Studies pathway opens up the richness of Jewish texts and experience from antiquity to modern times, with particular attention to current issues in multi-religious societies.

The final option available to you is to not follow a pathway and to instead forge your own path, choosing the MA-level teaching you desire from across our diverse and interdisciplinary Department of Theology and Religious Studies and beyond.

Applicants apply to the MA Religion programme, and then are allocated to a pathway depending on their module choices in the course of their studies.

Teaching
We strongly believe that teaching and research should be closely related. All our teaching staff are therefore research-active, many enjoying international reputations as leaders in their fields. Our commitment to original research means that we can introduce students to new discoveries in a diverse range of fields being explored by our staff.

If you are a full-time student, each week we will provide six to eight hours of teaching through lectures and seminars. We will expect you to undertake 34 hours of independent study.

If you are a part-time student, each week we will provide two to four hours of teaching through lectures and seminars. We will expect you to undertake 17 hours of independent study.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment
Methods of assessment vary between modules, but typically involve the submission of some coursework (usually an essay) and a written examination. A few modules are assessed through only one of these methods.

Regulating body
King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.

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Structure

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 180 credits.

Required modules for all pathways

You are required to take the following module:

• Dissertation (60 credits)

MA Religion (without a pathway)

In addition, you are required to take up to 120 credits of optional modules, of which 40 credits may be taken from outside the Department with the permission of the programme convenor from a list of optional modules which may typically include:

• Interpreting the Bible (20 credits)
• Cosmology & Chaos in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament (20 credits)
• Paul’s Writings: Special Study of Chosen Passages (20 credits)
• Advanced Greek Texts A (20 credits) • Advanced Greek Texts B (20 credits)
• Jesus’ Death & Resurrection: Gospels, Reception, Representation (20 credits)
• The Bible & Archaeology (20 credits)
• Shamanism, Animism, Dreams & Religious Visions (20 credits)
• Religion & Politics in Western Societies (20 credits)
• Contemporary Religious Movements (20 credits)
• The Anthropology of Ontology & Religious Innovation (20 credits)
• Modern Doctrine (20 credits)
• Interpreting the Bible (20 credits)
• Classics of Sufi Literature (20 credits)
• An Introduction to Buddhism Through its Arts (20 credits)
• Regional Buddhism (20 credits)
• Issues & Themes in Contemporary Islamic Thinking (20 credits)
• Intellectual History of the Muslim World (20 credits)
• Philosophy, Literature & the Human Condition (20 credits)
• Introductory New Testament Greek with Texts A (20 credits)
• Introductory New Testament Greek with Texts B (20 credits)
• The Gospels (20 credits)
• Advanced Hebrew Texts (20 credits)
• The Devotional Use of Art in Christianity (20 credits)
• Art as a Theological Medium (20 credits)
• Religion & Spirituality in Modern Art (20 credits)

Biblical Studies pathway

In addition you are required to take two optional modules (40 credits) from a specialist list of optional modules that may typically include:

• Interpreting the Bible (20 credits)
• Cosmology & Chaos in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament (20 credits)
• Paul’s Writings: Special Study of Chosen Passages (20 credits)

You are also required to take up to 80 credits of optional modules, of which 40 credits may be taken from outside the Department with the permission of the programme convenor. The list of optional modules within the Department may typically include:

• Interpreting the Bible (20 credits)
• Cosmology & Chaos in the Hebrew Bible/ Old Testament (20 credits)
• Paul’s Writings: Special Study of Chosen Passages (20 credits)
• Advanced Greek Texts A (20 credits)
• Advanced Greek Texts B (20 credits)
• Jesus’ Death & Resurrection: Gospels, Reception, Representation (20 credits)
• The Bible & Archaeology (20 Credits)
• Shamanism, Animism, Dreams & Religious Visions (20 credits)
• Religion & Politics in Western Societies (20 credits)
• Contemporary Religious Movements (20 credits)
• The Anthropology of Ontology & Religious Innovation (20 credits)
• Modern Doctrine (20 credits)
• Interpreting the Bible (20 credits)
• The Christian Text (20 credits)
• Revelation & Reason: Content & Method in Systematic Theology (20 credits)
• Identities & Communities in Flux: Texts & Methods in Jewish Studies (20 credits)
• Religion & the Modern State: Jewish & Other Perspectives (20 credits)
• Rabbinic Texts & the Readers: Gender, Sexuality & the Body (20 credits)
• Introductory Biblical Hebrew I (20 credits)
• Introductory Biblical Hebrew II (20 credits)
• Classics of Sufi Literature (20 credits)
• An Introduction to Buddhism Through its Arts (20 credits)
• Regional Buddhism (20 credits)
• Issues & Themes in Contemporary Islamic Thinking (20 credits)
• Intellectual History of the Muslim World (20 credits)
• Philosophy, Literature & the Human Condition (20 credits)
• Introductory New Testament Greek with Texts A (20 credits)
• Introductory New Testament Greek with Texts B (20 credits)
• The Gospels (20 credits)
• Advanced Hebrew Texts (20 credits)
• The Devotional Use of Art in Christianity (20 credits)
• Art as a Theological Medium (20 credits)
• Religion & Spirituality in Modern Art (20 credits)

The following typical optional modules are associated with the pathway:

• Jesus’ Death & Resurrection: Gospels, Reception, Representation (20 credits)
• The Gospels (20 credits)
• The Bible & Archaeology (20 credits)
• Introductory New Testament Greek with Texts A (20 credits)
• Introductory New Testament Greek with Texts B (20 credits)
• Advanced Greek Texts A (20 credits)
• Advanced Greek Texts B (20 credits)
• Introductory Biblical Hebrew I (20 credits)
• Introductory Biblical Hebrew II (20 credits)
• Advanced Hebrew Texts (20 credits)

Religion in Contemporary Society pathway

In addition you are required to take two optional modules (40 credits) from a specialist list of optional modules that may typically include:

• Shamanism, Animism, Dreams & Religious Visions (20 credits)
• Religion & Politics in Western Societies (20 credits)
• Contemporary Religious Movements (20 credits)

You are also required to take up to 80 credits of optional modules, of which 40 credits may be taken from outside the Department with the permission of the programme convenor. The list of optional modules within the Department may typically include:

• Interpreting the Bible (20 credits)
• Cosmology & Chaos in the Hebrew Bible/ Old Testament (20 credits)
• Paul’s Writings: Special Study of Chosen Passages (20 credits)
• Advanced Greek Texts A (20 credits)
• Advanced Greek Texts B (20 credits)
• Jesus’ Death & Resurrection: Gospels, Reception, Representation (20 credits)
• The Bible & Archaeology (20 credits)
• Shamanism, Animism, Dreams & Religious Visions (20 credits)
• Religion & Politics in Western Societies (20 credits)
• Contemporary Religious Movements (20 credits)
• Modern Doctrine (20 credits)
• Interpreting the Bible (20 credits)
• The Christian Text (20 credits)
• Revelation and Reason: Content & Method in Systematic Theology (20 credits)
• Identities & Communities in Flux: Texts & Methods in Jewish Studies (20 credits)
• Religion & the Modern State: Jewish & Other Perspectives (20 credits)
• Rabbinic Texts & the Readers: Gender, Sexuality & the Body (20 credits)
• Introductory Biblical Hebrew I (20 credits)
• Introductory Biblical Hebrew II (20 credits)
• Classics of Sufi Literature (20 credits)
• An Introduction to Buddhism Through its Arts (20 credits)
• Regional Buddhism (20 credits)
• Issues & Themes in Contemporary Islamic Thinking (20 credits)
• Intellectual History of the Muslim World (20 credits)
• Philosophy, Literature & the Human Condition (20 credits)
• Introductory New Testament Greek with Texts A (20 credits)
• Introductory New Testament Greek with Texts B (20 credits)
• The Gospels (20 credits)
• Advanced Hebrew Texts (20 credits)
• The Devotional Use of Art in Christianity (20 credits)
• Art as a Theological Medium (20 credits)
• Religion & Spirituality in Modern Art (20 credits)

The following typical optional module is highlighted as being associated with this pathway:

• The Anthropology of Ontology & Religious Innovation (20 credits)

Systematic Theology pathway

In addition, you are required to take two optional modules (40 credits) from a specialist list of optional modules that may typically include:

• Modern Doctrine (20 credits)
• Interpreting the Bible (20 credits)
• Revelation & Reason: Content & Method in Systematic Theology (20 credits)

You are also required to take up to 80 credits of optional modules, of which 40 credits may be taken from outside the Department with the permission of the programme convenor. The list of optional modules within the Department may typically include:

• Interpreting the Bible (20 credits)
• Cosmology & Chaos in the Hebrew Bible/ Old Testament (20 credits)
• Paul’s Writings: Special Study of Chosen Passages (20 credits)
• Advanced Greek Texts A (20 credits)
• Advanced Greek Texts B (20 credits)
• Jesus’ Death & Resurrection: Gospels, Reception, Representation (20 credits)
• The Bible and Archaeology (20 credits)
• Shamanism, Animism, Dreams & Religious Visions (20 credits)
• Religion & Politics in Western Societies (20 credits)
• Contemporary Religious Movements (20 credits)
• The Anthropology of Ontology & Religious Innovation (20 credits)
• Modern Doctrine (20 credits)
• Interpreting the Bible (20 credits)
• The Christian Text (20 credits)
• Identities & Communities in Flux: Texts & Methods in Jewish Studies (20 credits)
• Religion & the Modern State: Jewish & Other Perspectives (20 credits)
• Rabbinic Texts & the Readers: Gender, Sexuality & the Body (20 credits)
• Introductory Biblical Hebrew I (20 credits)
• Introductory Biblical Hebrew II (20 credits)
• Classics of Sufi Literature (20 credits)
• An Introduction to Buddhism Through its Arts (20 credits)
• Regional Buddhism (20 credits)
• Issues & Themes in Contemporary Islamic Thinking (20 credits)
• Intellectual History of the Muslim World (20 credits)
• Philosophy, Literature & the Human Condition (20 credits)
• Introductory New Testament Greek with Texts A (20 credits)
• Introductory New Testament Greek with Texts B (20 credits)
• The Gospels (20 credits)
• Advanced Hebrew Texts (20 credits)
• The Devotional Use of Art in Christianity (20 credits)
• Art as a Theological Medium (20 credits)
• Religion & Spirituality in Modern Art (20 credits)

The following typical optional module is highlighted as being associated with the pathway:

• Revelation & Reason: Content & Method in Systematic Theology (20 credits)

Jewish Studies pathway

In addition, you are required to take two optional modules (40 credits) from a specialist list that may typically include:

• Identities & Communities in Flux: Texts & Methods in Jewish Studies (20 credits)
• Rabbinic Texts & the Readers: Gender, Sexuality & the Body (20 credits)
• Religion & the Modern State: Jewish & Other Perspectives (20 credits)

You are also required to take up to 80 credits of optional modules, of which 40 credits may be taken from outside the Department with the permission of the programme convenor. The list of optional modules within the Department may typically include:

• Religion & Politics in Western Societies (20 credits)
• Contemporary Religious Movements (20 credits)
• Cosmology & Chaos in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament (20 credits)
• The Bible & Archaeology (20 credits)
• Interpreting the Bible (20 credits)
• Paul’s Writings: Special Study of Chosen Passages (20 credits)
• Jesus’ Death & Resurrection: Gospels, Reception, Representation (20 credits)
• The Gospels (20 credits)
• Identities & Communities in Flux: Texts & Methods in Jewish Studies (20 credits)
• Rabbinic Texts & the Readers: Gender, Sexuality & the Body (20 credits)
• Religion & the Modern State: Jewish & Other Perspectives (20 credits)
• Revelation & Reason: Content & Method in Systematic Theology (20 credits)
• Modern Doctrine (20 credits)
• The Christian Text (20 credits)
• Classics of Sufi Literature (20 credits)
• Intellectual History of the Muslim World (20 credits)
• Issues & Themes in Contemporary Islamic Thinking (20 credits)
• An Introduction to Buddhism Through its Arts (20 credits)
• Regional Buddhism (20 credits)
• The Anthropology of Ontology & Religious Innovation (20 credits)
• Shamanism, Animism, Dreams & Religious Visions (20 credits)
• Philosophy, Literature & the Human Condition (20 credits)
• Religion & Spirituality in Modern Art (20 credits)
• The Devotional Use of Art in Christianity (20 credits)
• Art as a Theological Medium (20 credits)
• Introductory Biblical Hebrew I (20 credits)
• Introductory Biblical Hebrew II (20 credits)
• Advanced Hebrew Texts (20 credits)
• Introductory New Testament Greek with Texts A (20 credits)
• Introductory New Testament Greek with Texts B (20 credits)
• Advanced Greek Texts A (20 credits)
• Advanced Greek Texts B (20 credits)

The following typical optional modules are highlighted as being associated with the pathway:

• Introductory Biblical Hebrew I (20 credits)
• Introductory Biblical Hebrew II (20 credits)
• Advanced Hebrew Texts (20 credits)
• Cosmology & Chaos in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament (20 credits)
• The Bible & Archaeology (20 credits)
• Exile & Identity: The Jews of Christian & Muslim Spain (20 credits; outside the Department)
• A History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict (20 credits; outside the Department)

Part-time students on the MA Religion with a pathway are required to take 40 credits within the specialist list for their pathway and 40 credits of optional modules in their first year. In their second year they are required to take the 60 credit dissertation module and 40 credits of optional modules.

Part-time students on the MA Religion without a pathway are required to take 80 credits of optional modules in their first year. In their second year they are required to take the 60 credit dissertation module and 40 credits of optional modules.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to- date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.