Postgraduate Information and Application Process

BA Hons in Religion Studies 2020

The Department of Religion Studies facilitates specialized research in Biblical and Christian Studies. As an honours student you will gage critically with religious thought, practice and texts from various perspectives. The deparment prepares students for academic research, teaching and ministry. The admission requirement is a Bachelor’s degree with Religion, Theology or Biblical Studies as a major OR a relevant qualification on the same level.

An average of 65% in the previous qualification is required. The degree consists of five modules of which two are compulsory: Research Essay and Method and Theory in the Study of Religion. You can do the degree full time in one year or part time over two years.

There are bursaries available for students who study full time. The deadline for Hons AND bursary applications is 31 October 2019. Please apply online at www.uj.ac.za and attach all the required documentation to your application. Even if you do not have your final results of the previous qualification, you still have to apply provisionally by 31 Oct 2019.

Click here for detailed information about the modules that will be presented in 2020

For more information, please contact Ms Charlene Louw (clouw@uj.ac.za).

Postgraduate programme

BA Hons (Religion)

Admission requirements:

Bachelor’s degree with Religion, Theology or Biblical Studies as a major, or an undergraduate degree in Education (BEd or BA Ed), or other relevant qualification on the same level in any of the areas of specialisation listed below.

Note that students with no undergraduate qualification in Religion, Theology or Biblical Studies will be required to do RPL (Recognition of Previous Learning).

An average of 65% in the previous qualification

Brief description of programme:

The Honours programme may be taken with a specific focus in the following areas of specialisation or in combination:

Critical Issues in the Study of Religion: The Divine in Religions; Religions and Science; Method and Theory in the Study of Religion; Liberation Theologies in Religions.

Christianity: The Context of Early Christianity; The Bible as Literature and Text; The Christian Tradition; Christianity and Contemporary Issues; African Theologies and Christianities; Christianity, Gender and Sexuality.

Study of Islam: Studies in Hadith; Islam and Gender; Islamic Spiritual Traditions; Selected Arabic Texts (Tafsir); The Qur’an and its Major Themes; The Shari’ah and Constitutional Democracies; Critical Issues in Contemporary Islam

Africa and Religions: African Spirituality; Ecology and Religions in Africa; Indigenous Religions, Christianity and Islam in Africa; Religion, Decoloniality and Human Rights.

Judaism – Aramaic and Judaica Related Themes: Biblical Texts; Mishnah and Talmud; Targums and Interpretative Texts; Judaism and Contemporary Issues.

Duration of Hons programme: 1-year full time or 2 -years part-time

MA (Biblical Studies) Research

Admission requirements: The minimum requirement for registration as a Master student in Biblical Studies is 65% for a Biblical or Religion Studies Honours or equivalent qualification as well as the general university entrance requirements for the Master’s programme. Greek or Hebrew up to second-year level may be required depending on the field of study and research.

Brief description of programme:

This area encompasses a research dissertation on a theme from the Old Testament (OT) or New Testament (NT) or a combination of themes from the OT and NT. The master’s programme is by nature an advanced study in either the OT or NT building on the knowledge within the fields already obtained on Honours level.

Duration of MA programme: 1-year full time and 2 years part-time

Contact details: Name: Prof L Nortjé-Meyer / Tel: 011 559 2733 / Email: lillynm@uj.ac.za

MA (Semitic Languages and Cultures) Research

Admission requirements: To be admitted to this programme, a BA Honours in Religion or Semitic Languages, or equivalent qualification, is required.

Brief description of programme:

A dissertation where students focus on a topic from the field of Arabic, Islamic Studies, Hebrew (including Jewish Studies) or a cognate Semitic language selected in consultation with the Department must be written under supervision.

Duration of MA programme: 1-year full time and 2 years part-time

Contact details: Prof F Esack / Tel: 011 559 2787 / Email: fesack@uj.ac.za

DLitt et Phil (Biblical and Christian Studies)

Admission requirements: The minimum requirement for registration as a doctoral student in Biblical and Christian Studies is a 65% for a Master’s Degree in Biblical or Christian Studies or equivalent qualification , as well as the general University entrance requirements for the Doctoral programme. Greek or Hebrew up to second-year level may be required depending on the field of study and research.

A doctoral study is assessed on the basis of a doctoral thesis in the traditional format or in the form of a collection of articles and essays. The Faculty Rules and Regulations, approved by Senate, however, determine that an oral defense or Viva Voce forms part of the academic requirements for the qualification. The submission of two pieces of work suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed publication, based on the thesis, is a prerequisite for granting of the degree.

Brief description of programme:

The DLitt et Phil (Biblical and Christian Studies) programme is a research programme, comprising predominantly theoretical work, and normally does not require work-based learning or vocational training. The Doctoral programme is by nature an advanced specialisation in either Old Testament/New Testament (or both), or Christian Studies building on the specialisation level reached on Master’s level.

Duration of programme:

The minimum duration of a doctoral programme is two academic years (part time or full time). The maximum period of registration for a doctoral programme is four years full time or five years part time.

Contact details: Name: Prof L Nortjé-Meyer / Tel: 011 559 2733 / Email: lillynm@uj.ac.za

DLitt et Phil (Study of Islam)

Admission requirements: To be admitted to this programme, students must fulfil the Department’s admission requirements and prove adequate knowledge of research methodology. Supplementary oral examinations is required.

Brief description of programme:

A thesis is completed on a topic chosen with the Department and written under supervision. Students focus on a topic from the field of Arabic, Islamic Studies, Hebrew (including Jewish Studies) or a cognate Semitic Language. Four seminars and a Doctoral defense (of either the proposal or the thesis) are required in accordance with the general regulations of the Faculty of Humanities.

Duration of programme: The minimum duration of a doctoral programme is two academic years (part time or full time). The maximum period of registration for a doctoral programme is four years full time or five years part time.

Contact details: Name: Prof F Esack / Tel: 011 559 2787 / Email: fesack@uj.ac.za