Degree Project, Master of Arts (One Year), Religious Studies and Theology

The course is offered as a freestanding course.

Completed courses of 15 credits in Religious studies and Theology at second cycle level, of relevance for the degree project, or equivalent. Applicants must prove knowledge of English: English 5/English A or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test, for example TOEFL, IELTS.

The course consists in writing an independent and critical scholarly work. The subject and literature for the thesis are chosen in consultation with a supervisor.
Essay writing is linked to an advanced students'seminar where the student, apart from submitting and defending his or her own thesis, will also independently act as opponent to another student's thesis. The student must be active in the seminars and show an
awareness of academic approaches and ways of working with texts. Since the course aims at the completion of a scholarly work of good quality, the emphasis during the course is on the training of skills in academic writing and an ability to clearly communicate complex theoretical material in written form.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding
- independently and critically identify and account for problems in the academic study of religion and theology
- account for central theoretical perspectives in one of the specialisations of the main field, as well as connect these to identified problems

Competence and skills
- demonstrate an advanced ability to discuss the significance of methods in religious studies and theology
- demonstrate the ability to independently identify a scientific problem as well as to apply one or more relevant theories and methods from religious studies and theology for its study
- demonstrate the ability to discuss relationships between theory, method and source material in an independent and critical way
- carry out qualified research assignments with adequate methods and present these in a scholarly work within given time frames
- clearly and perspicuously communicate complex problems and solutions of scholarship

Judgement and approach
- demonstrate the ability to critically and self-reflexively evaluate different theories and methods in relation to subject-specific sources and phenomena as well as in relation to social issues and ethical aspects
- demonstrate advanced ability to critically discuss and evaluate an academically produced text
- demonstrate the ability to analyse and reflect on his or her own learning, as well as to identify the need of additional knowledge and take responsibility for his or her knowledge development.

Teaching is given partly through supervision, partly through seminars.

Attendance is mandatory for some course sessions. Times for these obligatory sessions are specified in the information that students receive at least two weeks before the course begins.

Language of instruction: English
The language of instruction is normally English, but if all students understand Swedish the teacher may use Swedish instead. Students' theses should normally be written in English, but provided that the teacher and the student acting as opponent of the thesis understand Swedish it may be used instead.

The thesis is examined in a thesis seminar. It is compulsory to present one's thesis at a seminar and to act as opponent on another student's thesis.

To receive a passing grade, active participation in the compulsory parts of the course is also required.

Students should retain a copy of their thesis until it is graded.

A student who hands in the thesis after the stipulated time has not the right to have the thesis examined, but may present it at the next regular examination seminar instead.

A student who fails to pass the examination may present the thesis for new examination on no more than four occasions.

If a student who has twice received a failing grade for the same examination component wishes to change examiner ahead of the next examination session, such a request should be made to the department in writing and should be approved by the department unless there are special reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

If a student has received a recommendation from the University of Gothenburg for study support for students with disabilities, the examiner may, where it is compatible with the learning outcomes of the course and provided that no unreasonable resources are required, decide to allow the student to sit an adjusted exam or alternative form of assessment.

In the event that a course has ceased or undergone major changes, students are to be guaranteed at least three examination sessions (including the ordinary examination session) over a period of at least one year, but no more than two years after the course has ceased/been changed.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

To pass with distinction, it is required that the student has shown knowledge and skills in accordance with the aims of the course in a
particularly productive and critically reflective way.

The grade Pass cannot be changed to Failed on the student's request.

A student who have obtained the grade Pass may not participate at re-examination for higher grades.

A student has not the right to revoke a submitted thesis to avoid grading.

The examiner may request supplementary qualifications for the grade Pass. 
The supplementary assignment should in such cases be communicated the student in writing and be handed in within the teacher's stipulated time.

The department is responsible for carrying out course evaluations systematically and regularly and for seeing to it that they are compiled in accordance with the regulations for course evaluations at The Department of literature, history of ideas and religion.