The programme allows students to deepen their critical understanding of the relevance and role of religion in the contemporary world. It explores the variety of ways that religious practices, beliefs and traditions inform, encourage, contest, disrupt, or otherwise influence contemporary social, political and cultural life. Students will be able to learn about the importance of religions to phenomena such as protest movements, revolutions, nationalism, terrorism, global development, climate change, gender, sexuality and race discrimination, migration and diaspora.
One of the core modules critically interrogates the concept of ‘religion’ in the context of different theories of politics, policy and social change, engaging with hotly debated and contested topics such as secularisation and ‘post-secularism’, religious identity and representation, and religion and the public sphere. Contextual case studies include issues such as religious representation in the UK; apocalyptic belief in the USA; religion and climate emergency; Pentecostalism in Africa; religious nationalism in India; Islamism in the Middle East. The module draws upon expertise across the School, including theological, philosophical, sociological and anthropological approaches, drawing upon the distinctive research strengths of Religious Studies and Theology at Leeds.
The second core module prepares students for undertaking independent research on aspects of religion, society and public life. It will introduce various methodological approaches to the study of religion, and help students think through questions of research design, such as the planning of the research process, the choice of relevant research methods, and the ethical issues in academic research.
There are various module offerings that make the programme distinctive: the possibility of learning to design and execute field research with training in methods for the study of religion; the possibility of studying religion in the context of a local organization via an external placement module; the opportunity to undertake fieldwork or ethnographic research as part of a dissertation or one-to-one tuition. Via a ‘Special Options’ module, students can also enrol in a range of research-led and subject specific final year undergraduate modules in Religious Studies and Theology, allowing them to benefit from the full breadth and depth of our offering. The programme will appeal to a broad range of people with a keen interest in the place of religions and theology in their social, political, ethical and cultural dimensions. Students may wish to use the programme as a stepping stone to further research; as a preparatory degree for work in the voluntary, advocacy, NGO, or policy sector; or to further their knowledge and literacy in this important area.
MA Religion students can attend the research seminars of our Centre for Religion and Public Life where scholars from across the world share their work.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates are required to study 180 credits
All candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRHS5400M | Religion, Politics and Society | 30 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
| THEO5372M | Studying Religion: Research Process, Methods and Ethics | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| THEO5580M | Dissertation | 60 | 1 Oct to 30 Sep (12mth) | PFP |
Candidates will take their remaining credits from the list of OPTIONAL modules
Basket A: Candidates must take 30 credits from Basket A
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THEO5371M | Theology and Public Life | 30 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| THEO5420M | Research Project (Theology and Religious Studies) | 30 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| THEO5620M | Special Options in Theology and Religious Studies | 30 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates who study either of THEO5420M or THEO5620M in semester 1, may NOT also take the same module in semester 2.
Basket B: Candidates must take 30 credits from Basket B
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRHS5000M | External Placement | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| THEO5120M | Religion, Gender and Sexuality | 30 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| THEO5420M | Research Project (Theology and Religious Studies) | 30 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| THEO5620M | Special Options in Theology and Religious Studies | 30 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Last updated: 06/05/2025 16:42:32
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