M.A. Intercultural Theology

PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

The M.A. programme "Intercultural Theology" aims at equipping graduates to foster intercultural, interreligious and interdenominational communication and cooperation. It is offered in close cooperation with the University of Göttingen, one of Germany's leading research universities. The global focus, emphasis on intercultural experience, and the combination of theology and practice, make this programme unique in Europe.

Classes such as "Christianity in Intercultural Perspective", "Religions, Churches, and Theology in the Western World, in Africa, and in the Near East", or "Processes of Translation, Inculturation, and Intercultural Communication" convey basic concepts and techniques in various fields of study. Furthermore, students obtain skills in intercultural communication and get the opportunity to learn relevant languages.

Study focus

The M.A.programme Intercultural Theology aims at equipping graduates to foster intercultural, interreligious and interdenominational communication and cooperation. The programme enables students to conduct in-depth scientific work in regards to theologically responsible practice within intercultural and interreligious communication and education processes. The programme therefore conveys knowledge on structural elements, forms and transformation processes of the Christian message in different cultural contexts. It enables students to anaylse and understand the trans- and intercultural characters and diversity of the cultural form of Christianity. Students will learn to responsibly contextually communicate the Gospel and to reflect the interaction of Christians with people of other religions, as well as analyse the theological, social, political and economical conditions of (inter)cultural transformation processes.

Course of Study

The programme requires two years of full-time study.

In the first semester classes are held at the campus of the University of Applied Sciences in Hermannsburg (FIT) (3 days per week) and at the University in Göttingen (1 day per week). During the first term, students are requested to live at the campus in Hermannsburg, commuting once a week to Göttingen. FIT provides some rooms in a student dorm on Campus.
In the second semester, it is optional for students to live either in Göttingen or Hermannsburg. Classes are held 2 days per week in Hermannsburg and 2 days per week in Göttingen.
The third term is dedicated to a research project that students have to organise and conduct themselves, either in Germany or abroad. The time can be also spent at a partner university or partner institution of Göttingen or Hermannsburg.
The fourth term is spent back in Germany. Based on their research and field work conducted during the previous semester, students write their master thesis.

Commuting between Hermannsburg and Göttingen:

Hermannsburg is located 180 km north of Göttingen.

The train between Unterlüß (nearest train station to Hermannsburg) and Göttingen takes 2:15 hrs one way; the ticket for regional trains in the Federal State of Lower Saxony (“Semesterticket”) is included in the semester fee charged by the University of Göttingen.

Hermannsburg is connected to Unterlüß train station by bus (CeBus 260; approx. 15-20 minutes). The bus ticket for CeBus busses is (unfortunately) not included in the semester ticket and has to be paid separately (3,50 EUR per single ride; it is cheaper to buy 4 tickets at once). Students can also obtain a monthly ticket (approx. 58 EUR) from the bus company.

Language of Instruction

The language of instruction is English.

Requirements

The programme is open to all who hold a Bachelor´s degree in theology, cultural or social anthropology, philology, politics, development studies, or related subjects.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate interest in theology, ecumenism, mission, or religious studies. Given the international diversity of higher education, there are no mandatory requirements; each application will be reviewed individually.

Standard period of study and Start

The period of study is 4 semesters.
The programme beginns in winter semester.

Career Opportunities

The knowledge, competence, and experience students gain during the programme will qualify them for a broad range of occupations. Namely, the programme prepares its students for careers in institutions of mission and ecumenism, development organisations, non-governmental organisations, media, and academia.

More Information

More information regarding the course of study, tuition fees, admission requirements and the application process can be found at the University of Göttingen website.

Following the Symposium, the jubilee volume "Dialogues and Dynamics. Interculturality in Theology and Religious Studies" has been published.

This publication contains texts presented in the symposium held December 5-7, 2019, at the Faculty of Theology in Göttingen on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Master's programme Intercultural Theology (see below).

The contributions address the challenges and consequences of an intercultural approach in academics as well as in the churches and in society.

Since globalisation has significantly changed the face of contemporary Christianity in the 21st century, the task of doing theology has become more complex. The cultural, geographic and denominational varieties of Christianity worldwide challenge the traditional Western face of academic Christian theology and demand new and global forms of theological thinking across lines. Intercultural Theology seeks to embrace these dynamics with a constructive dialogue, opening up new spaces of collaborative thinking and academic reflection.

From 02. to 05. December 2019 the M.A. programme "Intercultural Theology" (ICT), jointly organized by the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen and the University of Applied Sciences for Intercultural Theology Hermannsburg, celebrated its tenth anniversary with a symposium on the topic "Dialogues and Dynamics - Interculturality in Theology and Religious Studies".

The symposium revisited important developments and insights from the past ten years of teaching and learning in the study program. Moreover, scholars, students and alumni of the program discussed the relevance of theology and religious studies from an intercultural perspective. 

You will find concrete information on content of the event in the info box on the right.