Education ‐ Culture ‐ Anthropology
Master of Arts- Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Religious Studies: World Religions in the Past and Present
What exactly is a religion? How are its dynamics? And what are its views on peace, liberty and righteousness? If you are interested in these questions, this is the programme for you!
Symbols of world religions
Image: Barbara Mack/Pixabay
Programme content
More than just gods, spirits and higher beings!
The world’s religions play a role in our everyday lives, sometimes through obvious symbols like crosses, kippahs and hijabs, but sometimes more inconspicuously through customs and ways of thinking.
The bachelor’s programme in ‘Religious Studies’ mainly focuses on the five major religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. You will explore what people believe(d) in and the extent to which cultures and societies are influenced by religion. However, you will also look at the world’s minor religions.
You definitely won’t get bored, as every religion has its own cosmologies and ideas on the role of mankind in the world, as well as its own ethical principles and philosophies on the meaning of life, earthly existence and the afterlife.
Of course, an important role is also played by various rituals, scriptures, buildings and paintings, and these will be examined in greater detail to identify similarities and differences between religions.
Religious studies is an interdisciplinary field that studies religious traditions of the past and present, identifying their historical development, emergence and passing with a range of qualitative and quantitative methods.
Structure
major subject
Graphic: Sophie BartholomeThe bachelor's degree is the first professional qualification. The standard period of study is a total of six semesters, during which various forms of courses (e.g. seminars, lectures or exercises) are offered for the individual modules.
A multi-subject bachelor’s programme consists of a major subject with 120 credit points (CP for short; 1 CP = 30 hours for attendance, preparation and follow-up work, private study, assessed coursework and examinations) and a minor subject with 60 CP.
‘Religious Studies: World Religions in the Past and Present’ is a major subject that can be combined with all minor subjects at the University of Jena. It is open to members of all religions and denominations, as well as non-religious students.
How might your degree programme shape up?
The following table shows the possible structure of your course with ‘Religious Studies’ as your major subject:
| Semester | Modules | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Introduction to Religious Studies (10 CP) |
Ancient Christianity: Jesus and the Jesus Movement in the 1st Century CE (10 CP) |
Special History of Religions I: Judaism (10 CP) |
| 2nd | Special History of Religions II: Christianity (10 CP) |
||
| 3rd | Special History of Religions III: Islam (10 CP) | Emergence and Strategic Focuses of Religions (10 CP) |
|
| 4th | Special History of Religions IV: Region-Oriented History of Religion and Interreligious Relations (10 CP) | Environment, Nature, and Ethics (10 CP) |
|
| 5th | Internship (10 CP) |
Expression and Mediation in World Religions (10 CP) |
|
| 6th | Bachelor’s thesis (10 CP) | Special History of Religions VI: Buddhism (10 CP) |
|
Abbreviations: CP = credit points
More detailed information can be found in the module catalogue for the study programme [in German]External link.
Why study in Jena?
- excellent teaching: comprehensive historical training, individual selection of focus areas from a wide range of options, and an integrated internship
- focus on cross-religious issues, such as everyday life, ideas on the afterlife, understanding of the body (health, diet, body symbolism, etc.), ethical issues and the interaction of religion and society (religion and art / music / literature and religion and gender)
- excellent supervision: The University of Jena has an international team of religion experts, who will be happy to answer your questions.
- adventures abroad: global network of partner universities, e.g. São Bento (Brazil), Stellenbosch (South Africa) and Sibiu (Romania)
What can you do after your studies?
Areas of employment for graduates
- life coaching / counselling, migration support and adult education
- journalism, public relations and publishing
- mediation
- economic/business consultancy
- tourism
- peace and conflict research
What are we looking for in prospective students?
- knowledge of the world’s religions and their ethical ideas
- interest in religious issues and popular traditions
- sensitivity to issues in multi-faith societies
‘Religious Studies: World Religions in the Past and Present’ is a field of study open to members of all religions and denominations, as well as non-religious students.
Admission requirements
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University entrance qualification
A university entrance qualification, such as a general secondary school leaving certificate, is required for admission onto the study programme.
More information on university entrance qualifications can be found here.
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Language requirements
The study programme is taught in German. You must therefore have a very good command of German at the start of the study programme.
Proficiency in English is required; another modern or classic foreign language is also recommended; students must submit evidence of their language skills (except German—see above) when registering the subject of their bachelor’s thesis at the latest.
Additional application documents for international students
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CV
Please submit an up-to-date and complete CV in tabular form. Please provide full details regarding your schooling and academic education to date. You can find more information hereExternal link.
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University entrance qualification certificate
Please upload the school certificate confirming your university entrance qualification to our application portal. You can find more information hereExternal link.
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University degree certificate / previous periods of study
Please upload transcripts of records for all previous periods of study and degrees, as well as, if applicable, your degree certificate, to the portal.
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Proof of German proficiency
Proof of sufficient German proficiency must be provided for all German-language degree programmes. The following certificates are recognized as proof of proficiency by Friedrich Schiller University Jena:
- German Language Test for Admission to Higher Education, at least level 2 (DSH-2)
- Goethe Certificate, C2 (GDS)
- German Language Diploma, Level II of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (DSD II)
- TestDaF, at least TDN 4 in all four parts of the examination
- Telc German C1 University certificate (at least with the grade “satisfactory”)
- German exam as part of the assessment test at a Studienkolleg
Please note: We strongly recommend that you submit the required proof of German proficiency at the time of your application.
If you do not yet have the required language certificate, you may apply for our DSH course starting from German level B1. This course ensures optimal language preparation and also gives you the opportunity to get to know Jena while benefiting from student status.
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Translation of international application documents
A translation into German or English must be submitted for every application document that was not originally issued in German or English. These translations must be prepared by an authorized translation office.
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APS certificate
Applicants with university degrees from India, Vietnam, or the People’s Republic of China must submit an APS certificate.
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University entrance examination
Applicants from the following countries must provide proof of their university entrance examination:
- Iran (university entrance examination or proof of a foundation year if the school-leaving certificate was obtained before 2019)
- Republic of Korea/South Korea (Scholastic Ability Test)
- China (GaoKao)
Contacts
Academic Advisor — Tommy Drexel
Room 204
Fürstengraben 6
07743 Jena
Google Maps site planExternal link
- tommy.drexel@uni-jena.de
- Phone
- +49 3641 9-41003
- Link to download vCard
- vCard
Academic Advisor — Prof. Dr Dr Bertram Schmitz
Fürstengraben 6
07743 Jena
Google Maps site planExternal link
- Phone
- +49 3641 9-41160
- Link to download vCard
- vCard
Academic Office for Student Affairs and Examinations (ASPA)
Bachstraße 18k
07743 Jena
- Support & Help
- To Service-Desk
- Phone
- +49 3641 9-411999
- Link to download vCard
- vCard
- Further link
- More information
Telephone hours:
Mondays and Fridays (9:00 – 11:00)
Wednesdays (13:00 – 15:00)
The ASPA is primarily responsible for students in the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, and the Faculty of Theology.
Postal address:
Akademisches Studien- und Prüfungsamt
Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena
Central Student Advisory Service
University Main Building / SSZ
Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena
Google Maps site planExternal link
- Support & Help
- To Service-Desk
- Phone
- +49 3641 9-411200
- Mobile phone
- +49 3641 9-411111
- Link to download vCard
- vCard
- Further link
- To the advisory services
Office hours:
We offer consultations in person, by telephone, and via Zoom. You can make an appointment by calling us on +49 3641 9-411111 (Mondays to Fridays from 9:00 to 11:00) or outside these office hours on +49 3641 9-411200. You can also use our remote help desk.
Consultation hours:
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (9:00 to 12:20), Tuesdays (14:00 to 18:00), and Wednesdays and Thursdays (14:00 to 16:00).
Video chat: To the video chat – Zoom Videochat ZeitenMondays to Fridays (12:30 to 13:00) Password ZSB2020 Data protection informationpdf, 101 kb
Student Service Centre
University Main Building, Room E065
Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena
Google Maps site planExternal link
- Support & Help
- To Service-Desk
- Phone
- +49 3641 9-411111
- Link to download vCard
- vCard
- Further link
- More information
Opening hours:
Information Desk (UHG; Room E0.65)
Mondays (10:00 – 12:00)
Tuesdays (13:00 – 15:00)
Wednesdays (10:00 – 12:00)
Thursdays (13:00 – 15:00)
Fridays (10:00 – 12:00)
You can also use our remote help desk at
www.uni-jena.de/service-ssz
or send us your enquiries by post.
Telephone hours:
Mondays to Fridays
(9:00 – 11:00)
Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Studierenden-Service-Zentrum
07737 Jena
International Office - International students
University Main Building
Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena
Google Maps site planExternal link
- incoming@uni-jena.de
- Link to download vCard
- vCard