Overview
The Master in Interreligious Dialogue:-is entirely available online-has a clear focus on the world’s main religions and their fundamentals -prepares its students for in-depth knowledge of the interrelations between different cultural and religious contexts -gives the opportunity to dialogue with people of diverse religious beliefs -stands out for the international stature of its Professors -guarantees a personal tutor, who provides regular feedback on written work, and guidance about the Master’s programs -offers the opportunity to receive scholarships and join projects promoted by the Master’s Professor After a long developmental process, which has also seen the success of the MOOC (MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSE) Religions from the Inside: Improving Interreligious Dialogue, the Re.Te. ("Religions and Theology")
Institute of the Lugano Faculty of Theology now offers an English-language master’s degree dedicated to promoting interreligious dialogue: The Master of Arts in Interreligious Dialogue. Science, Philosophy and Theology of Religions.
The purpose of this new master’s degree is to deepen the knowledge of the world’s main religions and, above all, to shape and stimulate the conduct of interreligious dialogue. To achieve this goal, the Re.Te. Institute offers top-level teachers from around the world and representatives from the world’s main religions.
The degree is divided into four semesters, fully available on the Institute's Moodle Platform.
The first semester features the lessons of the MOOC Religions from the Inside: Improving Interreligious Dialogue. In these lessons, representatives of the world’s main religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism) present the foundations of their respective faith. They demonstrate how their religion, when seen from the inside and considered on fundamental principles, allows the religious human being to be open peacefully to other humans, to the world and the sphere of the divine. These videos are introduced by a presentation that shows that interreligious dialogue, in the contemporary context, is not only possible but necessary, something that has to be pursued from an ethical point of view.
The first semester concludes with a series of in-depth studies conducted from the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic perspectives about violence in religion and how it can arise.
The remaining three semesters, each containing 5 lesson modules composed of other videos, respectively deepen the themes of Religious Experience in the History and in the Contemporary World, discuss Main Questions in World Religions, and offer concrete examples to go towards an Interreligious Dialogue. The video lessons are presented by internationally known teachers and they are all recorded; none of them will be in synchronous or live streamed so that students from all over the world can follow the classes.
Each course concludes with an exam taken online and based on the bibliography indicated.
The exams are in written form, essay format, with questions proposed by the teacher. With the successful completion of all exams, a research portfolio, and final thesis, students will obtain a total of 120 ECTS and achieve the title of Master of Arts in interreligious dialogue: Science, Philosophy and Theology of Religions.
Programme Structure
First-year programme
Semester Course
First
- Interreligious dialogue from the inside
- Jewish Tradition and the Interreligious dialogue
- Christian Tradition and the Interreligious dialogue
- Muslim Tradition and the Interreligious Dialogue
- Buddhist Tradition and the Interreligious Dialogue
- Hindu Tradition and the Interreligious Dialogue
- Religions and Violence I
- Religions and Violence II
- Religions and Violence III
- Second
- Main Trends in the Judaism
- Main Trends in the Christianity
- Main Trends in the Islam
- Main Trends in the Buddhism
- Christianity and Eastern religions
Second-year programme
Semester Course
First
- Religions and Geo-politics
- Religions and Law
- Religions and Human Nature
- Women and Religions
- Religions and Philosophy
Second
- Theology of Religions
- Ethics and Religions
- Silence and Dialogue in Judaism, Christianity, Islam
- Intercultural Dialogue
- Theory and Practice of the Interreligious Dialogue
Key information
Duration
- Part-time
- 24 months
Start dates & application deadlines
- Starting
- Apply before , International
- Apply before , EEA/EU
-
Language
Credits
Delivered
Disciplines
Religious Studies & Theology Christian Studies Islamic StudiesAcademic requirements
We are not aware of any academic requirements for this programme.
English requirements
Other requirements
General requirements
The Master is open to all those who have completed studies in Humanities (Bachelor, BSc Degree, Other Diploma).
For those who have not completed literary, philosophical or theological studies, admission to the Master's degree is based on the candidate's CV and covering letter.
Tuition Fee
-
International
2050 EUR/yearTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 2050 EUR per year during 24 months. -
National
2050 EUR/yearTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 2050 EUR per year during 24 months.
- Tuition fees for the Master's degrees amount to CHF 1'100 per semester.It's possible to pay in instalments
Tuition fees are payable at the beginning of each term
Funding
Studyportals Tip: Students can search online for independent or external scholarships that can help fund their studies. Check the scholarships to see whether you are eligible to apply. Many scholarships are either merit-based or needs-based.