Bachelor programme in Religious Studies
3 years – 180 study points.

Curriculum

1. Programme responsibility

The Department of Religious Studies – The Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tromsø

2. Language of instruction
Norwegian

3. Application deadline: 15. April

4. Qualification awarded
Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies.

5. Programme description

The course of study in Religious Studies will give students a thorough grounding in different religious traditions, both ancient and modern. The subject embraces local and global religious traditions and offers a systematic and comparative treatment of the phenomenon of religion. Course studies will give students the academic means that are necessary in order to understand religions in their cultural and social contexts. In addition, the course provides an understanding of general knowledge concerning individual religions, as well as a familiarity with theoretical and methodological approaches in this field. It is further intended that the subject should function as a gateway to foreign ideas and commercial traditions, as well as those of the student’s own culture.

The University of Tromsø has a particular responsibility for studies relating to Sami, North Norwegian and Arctic religous affairs. In this context, emphasis is placed on religio-anthropological means of approach, as well as minority perspectives.

There are two areas of study in this subject: general religious studies and theology.

6. Competence objectives

This course of study qualifies students for acceptance as master’s students in Religious Studies.

It further qualifies students to teach at secondary and further education levels, together with work in research, museum work and in posts requiring knowledge of multicultural relations, e.g. in international organizations, development work, mass media and administration. General areas of study, concentrating on Christian academic subjects, may be combined with practical-ecclesiastical training at the Kirkelig Utdanningssenter i Nord (60 study points), which provides qualifications for several ecclesiastical posts. At the University of Tromsø, this subject may in addition form the basis for studies at master’s degree level in Religious Studies and areas of study in Theology, which together form the equivalent of a cand. theol. degree. Combined with practical-ecclesiastical training, this qualifies students for the ministry of The Norwegian Church.

7. Academic organization

A. General areas of study

Students who wish to take the bachelor degree in Religious Studies must, in addition to an Ex.phil/Ex.fac qualification, have 90 study points in Religious Studies subjects, of which the following three subjects are compulsory:

• REL-1050 (Theory and method I)
  
• REL-2050 (Theory and method II)
  
• REL-2001 (Project dissertation)
  
• – 40 study points in total.

• REL-1000 Introduction to religious studies (compulsory for new bachelor degree students in Religious Studies)
  
• REL-1001 Christianity I: Christianity’s origins and history
  
• REL-1002 Arctic / Sami / North Norwegian religion
  
• REL-1003 Norse religion
  
• REL-1004 Judaism and Islam
  
• REL-1005 East Asian religions
  
• REL-1006 New religiosity
  
• REL-1007 India’s religions
  
• REL-1008 Christianity II: Biblical Studies
  
• REL-1009 Christianity III: Christian ethics and life interpretation
  
• REL-1010 Biblical Hebrew
  
• REL-1011 Hellenistic Greek
  
• REL-1012 Religion and politics

• - ERASMUS – agreement with J.W.Goethe-Universität in Frankfurt, Germany.
  
• The course REL-1007 (India’s religions) may be taken in co-operation with Kulturstudier AS. The teaching takes place in Pondicherry, India, and is given by lecturers from Norwegian universities. The course of study for this module also allows for a combination with other modules within Religious Studies and Social Anthropology.
  
• In addition, the Institute for Religious Studies is currently in discussion with the Universities of Copenhagen, Aarhus and Odense. Arrangements are due to be finalized in the course of 2004.

• REL-1000 Introduction to religious studies
  
• REL-1001 Christianity I: Christianity’s origins and history
  
• REL-1002 Arctic/Sami/North Norwegian religion
  
• REL-1003 Norse religion
  
• REL-1004 Judaism and Islam
  
• REL-1005 East Asian religions
  
• REL-1006 New religiosity
  
• REL-1007 India’s religions
  
• REL-1008 Christianity II: Biblical Studies
  
• REL-1009 Christianity III: Christian ethics and life interpretation
  
• REL-1010 Biblical Hebrew
  
• REL-1011 Hellenistic Greek
  
• REL-1012 Religion and politics
  
• REL-1050 Theory and method I
  
• REL-2001 Project dissertation
  
• REL-2050 Theory and method II