Applied Social Studies (Online)

Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies explores the complex realities of intercultural and interreligious relationships. Participants draw on a wide and interdisciplinary range of scholarship - integrating both emerging and established fields such as World Christianity Studies, Comparative Theology, Intercultural Ethics, Ecumenics, Political Science and Religious Studies. A choice of four module tracks enables students to specialize in one of the fields of study that - together - constitute Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies. Not all of the following modules may be available in any given year. Students are assessed on a total of six modules, three core and three optional, plus dissertation. The course offers four distinctive tracks, within which students may opt for thematic concentrations of optional modules.

The taught modules are organized into four distinct tracks (A,B,C,D), each further subdivided into thematic concentrations. All four tracks share two common obligatory core modules: Translating God(s): Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies

Research and Methods A third obligatory core module defines the substantive concerns of the specific track.

Track A: Christian Ecumenical Theologies

• Track-specific core module: Authority, Tradition, Experience: Ecumenics as Intercultural Theology

Track B: World Christianity and Intercultural Theology

• Track-specific core module: World Christianity and Interreligious Dialogue

Track C: Comparative Theology and Interreligious Studies

• Track-specific core module: Comparative Theology and Interreligious Studies: Meaning and Practice

Track D: Religions and Ethics in a Pluralist World

• Track-specific core module: Religions and Ethics in a Pluralist World

Students are also required to take three optional modules from their chosen track:

Track A: Christian Ecumenical Theologies:Concentration i Faith, Order and Unity

• Nature, Grace and the Triune God
• Developing Doctrine: Identity and Change in Christian Tradition
• Interpreting Ecumenical Ecclesiology

Concentration ii Ecumenical Theology as Intercultural Engagement

• An Ecumenics of Loss: Religion, Modernity and Reconciliation
• Creation, Cosmology and Ecotheology
• Engaging Religious Fundamentalism
• Cross-cultural Ministry and Interreligious Encounter

Track B: World Christianity and Intercultural Theology: Concentration i World Christianity Studies

• Christian Seeds in Hindu Soil: Christianity in South Asia
• The Church in the Shadow of the Mosque: Christianity in the
• World of Islam

Concentration ii Intercultural Theology

• On Being Human: Theological Anthropology in Cross-cultural Perspective

• The Many Faces of Jesus: Christology and Cultures

Concentration iii Cross-cultural Ethics and Ministry

• Comparative/Interreligious Ethics
• Cross-cultural Ministry and Interreligious Encounter

Track C: Comparative Theology and Interreligious Studies: Concentration i Comparative Theology

• Muslim God, Christian God: Islam and Muslim-Christian
• Comparative Theology
• Hindu God, Christian God: Hinduism and Hindu-Christian
• Comparative Theology

Concentration ii Study of Religions’ Interrelations

• Judaism and Jewish-Christian Relations
• Issues in Buddhist-Christian Dialogue

Concentration iii World Christianity in Interreligious Contexts

• Christian Seeds in Hindu Soil: Christianity in South Asia
• The Church in the Shadow of the Mosque:
• Christianity in the World of Islam

Track D: Religions and Ethics in a Pluralist World: Concentration i Peace and International Development

• Conflict Resolution and Nonviolence
• Armed Conflict, Peacebuilding and Development
• Gender, War and Peace
• Creation, Cosmology and Ecotheology
• Northern Ireland: Conflict, Religion and the Politics of Peace

Concentration ii Religion, Ethics and International Relations

• Religions and International Relations
• Ethics in International Affairs
• Human Rights in Theory and Practice
• Comparative/Interreligious Ethics

Teaching takes places in Dublin over two terms. A one term, non-degree course of study is available which is ideal for those on sabbatical, or who prefer a shorter period of study. There is also the option of attending single modules. Modules from the M.Phil. in International Peace Studies and the M.Phil. in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation are also open to students on the M.Phil. in Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies. Students seeking to be assessed for their work on a module in either of the two other programmes must first secure the permission of the relevant course coordinators.

Dissertation:

A research dissertation (15,000 – 20,000 words) to be supervised by an appropriate member of staff and to be submitted by 20 August.

Applicants should normally have a second class honours degree (or equivalent such as a GPA of 3.2) or higher in Theology or Religious Studies or an equivalent degree in a cognate discipline. Students not meeting these criteria may be considered at the discretion of the Dean of Graduate Studies.English language requirements:IELTS: Grade 6.5TOEFL: 88 iBT, 230-computer based, 570 paper based Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English: Grade C Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: Grade C English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 80 (Grade A) TOEFL paper-based test score : 570 TOEFL iBT® test: 88