Philosophy, Theology and Religions (PhilTeR) University of Lucerne

Overview

Academic programs in philosophy often proceed as if God didn’t exist, and do not consider the documented growing interest in religion.In those rare cases where religion is indeed considered, only the relationship between philosophy and Christianity is delved into, as if other religions, especially Judaism and Islam, did not exist and played little to no role in the history of philosophy.

Our Online Master's in Philosophy, Theology and Religions (PhilTeR) program, at University of Lucerne, fills these gaps with an international and interreligious online course of graduate study.

What Makes This Program So Special?

 “The assumption that we live in a secularized world is false. The world today, with some exceptions, is as furiously religious as it ever was, and in some places more so than ever.” (Peter Berger)

Interest in religion has arisen sharply in recent decades: according to the data of the Pew Research Center, the percentage of non-believers is set to fall from 16 % to 12.5% by 2060. Nevertheless, academic programs in philosophy are often designed in an agnostic way—as if the question of God’s existence did not matter, to say nothing of the place of the monotheistic religions predicated on his existence. Such programs neglect the growing interest in religion at a global level and particularly among students of philosophy.

Career Prospects

The program imbues students with expertise in philosophy, logic, theology, and cultural history, as well as fundamental methodological skills essential for academic and professional study. The broad range of topics and cultures studied in the program ensures that students are well positioned for any one of several different later career trajectories:

• Academic formation

• Aptitude in interreligious collaboration

• Non-academic professionalization

Graduates of the program will possess competitive credentials for international careers in culture, education, media, politics, public administration, consulting, church and religious services, and NGO work, such as journalism, media & publishing, public relations & marketing, personnel services, political consulting, political and cultural foundations, management consulting, high school philosophy and humanities teaching, archives/museums /libraries, church non-profit and international organizations, social employment, and asylum systems.