Master of Philosophy in Contextual Theology
1. PLAN OF STUDY
1.1 Introduction
The following document presents the Master’s programme in Contextual Theology
at the Faculty of Theology, University of Oslo. This two year Master’s programme
is designed to provide post-graduate training for students with a background in
theology and/ or religious studies, and will combine aspects from the various
areas of study at the Faculty; theology, the study of Christian Religion,
diaconal studies. The programme is realised in co-operation with The Seminary
of Practical Theology, University of Oslo and the Diakonhjemmet College, Oslo.
The programme is built on a combination of courses that are required for all
students and work on a thesis that offers opportunity for specialisation.
Number of students admitted: 10
ECTS Credits: 120; Norwegian Credits («vekttall»): 40
1.2 Visions and Goals
The vision of this programme is to contribute to a theological education
and reflection which is internationally oriented, i.e. cross-cultural and
ecumenical, at the same time as it is attentive to the concrete needs and
challenges that is posed to it from the local context. Contextual theology
consciously reflects the mutual interdependence and interaction of theological
reflection and regional, socio-political, cultural and religious setting and praxis.
In its effort to reach this goal, from within a Nordic setting, the programme is
assisted by being a partner in an International Network in Advanced Theological
Education (INATE), with member institutions in Africa, Latin-America, Asia and
Eastern Europe. Common goals for this network are to reflect upon:
how theological education can assist people to build community life in church and society,
how theological education can foster the empowerment of marginalised people, the development of better life
conditions and ecological responsibility,
how theological education can contribute to justice, peace and reconciliation
in churches and societies in conflict.
The goal of the programme is:
to provide the students with a thorough knowledge of methods and central issues in theological studies in a global and contextual perspective,
to give an integrated vision of the study of Christian religion, combining theoretical and practical aspects, in an ecumenical, international and cross-cultural perspective,
to provide deeper insight in one area of study through a thesis,
to prepare for a ministry of pastoral, teaching, social or diaconal work, or for further studies and research,
to create an international and cross-cultural environment for the study of theology, drawing on resources and experiences from different contexts.
1.3 Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the programme a student must satisfy the following requirements:
either a foreign university degree based on no less than 3 years of study beyond Norwegian matriculation level or a Norwegian Cand.Mag. degree or equivalent Norwegian educational qualification, or equivalent educational qualifications approved by the Faculty.
theology or Religious studies with an emphasis upon Christianity as a main subject in the B.A. degree.
knowledge of English corresponding to a minimum of 550 points on the TOEFL test, or IELTS band 6.0, or knowledge documented to be of a level equal to such.
This Master´s programme is primarily designed for international students who
fulfil the basic requirements above, especially those who qualify for the
Norwegian programme for students from countries with low GNP and Eastern-Europe,
and exchange students (INATE; ERASMUS and NORDPLUS).
The regular programme starts in August each year, and applications
should be sent to the Department of International Relations, University of Oslo,
by February 1st each year.
1.4 Contents of the programme
1.4.1 Regulations and Duration
The Master’s programme follows the general regulations for master's programmes
at the University of Oslo, and is a programme of two years duration.
1.4.2 Form of Study
Teaching consists of a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials and in addition requires independent study.
The language of teaching will be English. For individual tutorials, papers and the
thesis, German or other languages can also be used by agreement with the advisor.
1.4.3 Main Components
The programme contains two main components:
1) a taught component with four courses. The areas covered by these courses are
described below. The four courses count as one year of full-time study (20 credits).
Each obligatory course has a required reading list of about 1000 pages (5 credits).
2) the second component consists of a written thesis on a topic chosen in
consultation with an advisor. The thesis requires a reading list of at least 2000 pp,
and may be based on fieldwork or studies in the student's home country.
Participation in a thesis seminar focusing on methodology is obligatory.
The thesis and the reading list form the basis for a final, oral exam.
The second component also counts as one year of full-time study (20 credits).
1.5 Structure of programme
1.5.1 First Year of the Programme: Courses
The programme encompasses one introductory course,
that is offered each autumn semester and three other courses,
that alternate between various areas.
1.5.1.1 The context of methods: (5 credits)
This course is the core element in the Master’s programme. The aim is to engage
the methods of biblical studies, systematic theology, practical theology and social
sciences in a mutual discussion, face to face with contextual theology. The course
focuses on the particular challenges that is posed to a theology that wishes to be
attentive both to its local and global context. The students themselves and their
particular experience and background will be a major resource in this course.
1.5.1.2 Three 5-credit courses: Different approaches to contextual theology
A) One of the courses each year is a biblical course, alternating between the Old
and the New Testament: A common perspective is a critical assessment of the content
of and the relation between gospel, faith and culture in earlier historical periods
as well as in the present situation.
The course in Old Testament Theology discusses the most influential approaches to Old Testament theology and emphasises the hermeneutical questions arising out of Biblical theology.
The New Testament course Jesus and the Kingdom of God focuses on a central
theme in the Gospels. Methodological and hermeneutical questions are central
to the course, and interpretations from various contexts, e.g. Europe and North-America,
Latin-America, Africa and Asia are used to engage in a discussion of the «horizon»
of interpretation.
B) A second course alternates between topics from systematic theology and
church history.
A course on Theology of Religion includes a historical review of various approaches
to other religions. Depending on the background and experiences of the participants,
the course will deal in more depth with the encounter between Christianity and specific
non-Christian religions.
A course on Church and Society focuses on the possibilities and challenges
involved in the relationship between church, religion and society.
The material will be taken from the study of Norwegian society,
with its folk-church tradition, and of the churches of the Western world
in the context of industrialisation, colonisation and mission.
C) A course on Faith, Health and Care
(or another theme within the field of practical theology and diaconal studies)
will be offered each spring semester.
The course discusses the massive challenges to contemporary society and churches
in the area of health quality and life, in a comparative perspective.
1.5.1.3 Examinations in the course part
in the obligatory courses the student writes a semester- (term) paper of about 20 pages. Alternative form of examination is a written 8-hour examination.
the marks A, B, C , D and fail are used.
the marks for the obligatory seminars count for 50% of the final mark.
for the evaluation of the courses the faculty uses one examiner from its academic
staff and one external examiner.
1.5.2 Second Year of the Programme: The Thesis
The second year offers concentration on the thesis, with the following components:
1.5.2.1 About the thesis
master students are required to follow a research seminar, with emphasis on methods and discussions of papers, and to present parts of their thesis at the seminar.
the thesis work will be undertaken in co-operation with individual professors. Students can participate in ongoing research or study projects at the faculty, and write their thesis in e.g. Practical theology, Ethics, Church and Society, Religious Dialogue, Theology of Diacony, etc.
the topic of the thesis is chosen in agreement with the supervisor. The student is expected to write a detailed project description for the thesis. The committee for the Master’s programme approves the project and assigns a supervisor for the thesis.
the thesis should be a written work of about 80-100 pages
1.5.2.2 Examinations, grade scales and evaluation
for the thesis the marks A, B, C, D and fail are used.
there is a final oral examination based on the reading list for the thesis.
the thesis and the oral examination count 50% of the final mark. (The oral examination has an adjusting function with respect to the final mark.)
the thesis will be subject to evaluation according to the standard procedures of The Faculty of Theology as defined by §6 in the «Reglement for studiene ved Det teologiske fakultet» (Regulations for studies at The Faculty of Theology). Thus, for the evaluation of the thesis and the oral examination the faculty uses two examiners from its academic staff and one external examiner.
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