Christianity and Culture
| Degree: | Master of Arts |
| Application required: | access-restricted |
| Course commences: | winter semester / summer semester |
| Standard course duration: | 4 semesters |
| Format options: | full-time / part-time |
| Language requirements: |
certified proficiency of Hebrew, Ancient Greek or Latin (at end of course);
|
| Language of instruction: | German |
| Other features: | postgraduate / consecutive |
Course outline
Students choose one of five options:
- Biblical Studies [100 CP]
- History of Christianity [100 CP]
- Dogmatics [100 CP]
- Ethics and Social Action [100 CP]
- Religious Studies / Intercultural Theology [100 CP]
They also study a subsidiary (minor) subject [20 CP].
Biblical Studies focuses on the two exegetic disciplines Old Testament and/or New Testament.
History of Christianity is concerned with the history of the Christian churches.
Dogmatics imparts knowledge on Biblical, historical and present-day topics and indicates ways of integrating these topics into theological doctrines. Students are also trained in the argumentative representation of the tenets of the Christian faith.
In Ethics and Social Action, students acquire knowledge of, and insight into, the problems of Christian action in the past and present and the ability to arrive at ethical judgments of their own.
Religious Studies / Intercultural Theology centres on theoretical approaches to Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, as well as to new religious movements and esoteric beliefs. Intercultural Theology focuses on the history of theology and Christianity in Asia, Africa and Latin America alongside fundamental issues in intercultural theology (interreligious dialogue, religious theologies, missiology, contextual theologies, etc.).
Course structure
The M.A. course on Christianity and Culture as a main subject is made up of a compulsory module (6 CP), the obligatory modules of the option selected (48 CP) and further elective modules (16 CP). A subsidiary subject accounts for 20 CP, the M.A. thesis for 30 CP.
I. Compulsory Module
Whichever option they choose, students must attend a module on the Philosophy of Science (6 CP) in which the theoretical foundations of the subject are reflected on.
Biblical Studies
II. Compulsory modules in Biblical Studies
The core subject matter in Biblical Studies is covered by the following five modules (48 CP) focusing on exegesis (Old Testament and/or New Testament), the reading of texts from the Old Testament and/or the New Testament (Hebrew and/or Greek) and an essay in line with academic standards:
- exegesis and literary history of OT and/or NT
- theology of OT and/or NT
- history of Israel and/or early Christianity
- readings from OT and/or NT
- academic essay (on OT or NT)
These modules extend and deepen the basic knowledge of the Old Testament and/or New Testament acquired in the B.A. course Christianity and Culture.
III. Elective modules in Biblical Studies
Students are required to choose two modules (16 CP) from the following offerings. They impart specialist knowledge of the selected option from a variety of perspectives and/or supplementary knowledge from neighbouring disciplines.
- history of Bible interpretation/Biblical hermeneutics in Christianity and Judaism
- Biblical archaeology
- in-depth linguistic studies OT/AT
- exegesis OT/AT
- history and religious history of the environment of OT/AT
- integrative research module I
- integrative research module II
Students admitted to the M.A. course on the basis of completion of a B.A. degree course the content of which is not largely identical with that of the Heidelberg B.A. course on Christianity and Culture are required to substitute the Biblical Studies foundation module for one of the elective modules.
History of Christianity
II. Compulsory modules in History of Christianity
The core subject matter in History of Christianity is covered by the following five modules (48 CP):
- epochs in the history of Christianity I
- epochs in the history of Christianity II
- subject-related research skills I
- research on the history of Christianity exemplified by selected topics
- academic essay (on history of Christianity)
These modules extend and deepen the basic knowledge of the Old Testament and New Testament acquired in the B.A. course Christianity and Culture.
III. Elective modules in History of Christianity
Students are required to choose two modules (16 CP) from the following offerings. They impart specialist knowledge of the selected option from a variety of perspectives and/or supplementary knowledge from neighbouring disciplines.
- interdisciplinary approaches to the history of Christianity
- Christianity and non-Christian religions in their history
- denominational studies
- Christian archaeology / art history
- subject-related research skills II
- integrative research module I
- integrative research module II
Students admitted to the M.A. course Christianity and Culture on the basis of completion of a B.A. degree course the content of which is not largely identical with that of the Heidelberg B.A. course Christianity and Culture are required to substitute the History of Christianity foundation module for one of the elective modules.
Dogmatics
II. Pflichtbereich Dogmatik
The core subject matter in Dogmatics is covered by the following five modules (48 CP):
- dogmatics I
- dogmatics II
- essential aspects of the history of dogma and theology
- ecumenical theology and denominational studies
- academic essay (on dogmatics)
These modules extend and deepen the basic knowledge of dogmatics acquired in the B.A. course Christianity and Culture.
III. Elective modules in Dogmatics
Students are required to choose two modules (16 CP) from the following offerings. They impart specialist knowledge of the selected option from a variety of perspectives and/or supplementary knowledge from neighbouring disciplines.
- fundamentals of exegesis (OT, NT)
- philosophy of religion
- special issues in dogmatics
- fundamentals of ethics
- religious studies and intercultural theology
- theology in interdisciplinary dialogue
- integrative research module I
- integrative research module II
Students admitted to the M.A. course Christianity and Culture on the basis of completion of a B.A. degree course the content of which is not largely identical with that of the Heidelberg B.A. course Christianity and Culture are required to substitute the Dogmatics foundation module for one of the elective modules.
Ethics and Social Action
II. Compulsory modules in Ethics and Social Action
The core subject matter in Ethics and Social Action is covered by the following five modules (48 CP):
- fundamentals of theological and philosophical ethics
- fundamentals of diaconal studies
- general and applied ethics
- welfare state, clerical social work and public welfare
- academic essay (on ethics and social action)
These modules extend and deepen the basic knowledge of Ethics and Diaconal Studies acquired in the B.A. course Christianity and Culture.
III. Elective modules in Ethics and Social Action
Students are required to choose two modules (16 CP) from the following offerings. They impart specialist knowledge of the selected option from a variety of perspectives and/or supplementary knowledge from neighbouring disciplines.
- church and religion in Europe
- counselling and spiritual care
- management and clerical social work in organisation
- fundamentals of Christianity past and present
- religion and education
- integrative research module I
- integrative research module II
Students admitted to the M.A. course Christianity and Culture on the basis of completion of a B.A. degree course the content of which is not largely identical with that of the Heidelberg B.A. course Christianity and Culture are required to substitute the Ethics and Social Action foundation module for one of the elective modules.
Religious Studies / Intercultural Theology
II. Compulsory modules in Religious Studies / Intercultural Theology
The core subject matter in Religious Studies / Intercultural Theology is covered by the following five modules (48 CP):
- global religious history and comparative religious studies
- sources in the original I
- intercultural theology
- research module: applied theories and methods in religious studies
- academic essay (on religious studies/intercultural theology)
These modules extend and deepen the basic knowledge of Religious Studies / Intercultural Theology acquired in the B.A. course Christianity and Culture.
III. Elective modules in Religious Studies / Intercultural Theology
Students are required to choose two modules (16 CP) from the following offerings. They impart specialist knowledge of the selected option from a variety of perspectives and/or supplementary knowledge from neighbouring disciplines.
- sources in the original II
- sources in the original III
- methods in empirical social research
- ecumenical theology
- history of Christianity
- in-depth religious studies module
- integrative research module I
- integrative research module II
Students admitted to the M.A. course Christianity and Culture on the basis of completion of a B.A. degree course the content of which is not largely identical with that of the Heidelberg B.A. course Christianity and Culture are required to substitute the Religious Studies / Intercultural Theology foundation module for one of the elective modules.
Subsidiary (minor) subject
In this course 20 CP are acquired in a subsidiary (minor) subject. Here is a list of all subsidiary subjects on offer.
The M.A. course Christianity and Culture can also be taken as a subsidiary (minor) subject accounting for 20 CP.
Formal requirements
Access
Access to the course is restricted. You will find the Admission Regulations here.
Prospective students from Germany
Prospective students from Germany can enrol without prior application at the Central University Administration building by the beginning of the lecture period. To matriculate, they are required to show a written statement of admission issued by the representative of the Master’s programme they wish to attend, confirming that the requirements set out in the Admission Regulations have been met. Please apply to the Faculty of Theology for further information on how to proceed.
International prospective students
Prospective students from other countries must apply in writing, so that their previous academic record can be verified. The deadline for international applicants is 15 June for the winter semester and 15 November for the summer semester. Applications must be addressed directly to the International Relations Office. Please use the M.A. application form here and enclose the necessary documents.
Further information
Current information on procedure
Study and examination regulations
Examination regulations M.A. (16 July 2009, last updated: 07 February 2013)
Examination regulations M.A. (16 July 2009, last updated: 25 March 2015)
Module Handbook
Please click here to find the latest Module Handbook.
Examinations board
Issues arising in connection with examinations, credit transfer and academic credential recognition are dealt with by the relevant examinations board/office. For more information, consult the academic advisor(s) indicated below.
Fees
Tuition fees at Heidelberg University are payable at the beginning of each semester.
Academic advisor
Dr. Dirk Schwiderski
Kisselgasse 1, Office 123
Office hours in term time: Mondays and Tuesdays 11.00 am-11.30 am
phone: +49 (0)6221 543394
e-mail: dirk.schwiderski@wts.uni-heidelberg.de
Contact
Dean of the Faculty of Theology
Hauptstraße 231
D-69117 Heidelberg
Administration
Franziska Röthig
phone.: +49 (0)6221-54-3334
fax: +49 (0)6221-54-3372
e-mail: dekanat@theologie.uni-heidelberg.de
Internet: www.uni-heidelberg.de/fakultaeten/theologie/fakultaet/
Location
Student representation
Internet: /www.uni-heidelberg.de/fakultaeten/theologie/fachschaft/
