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The University of Winnipeg

Master of Arts in Religion

The Department of Religion & Culture at The University of Winnipeg and the Department of Religion at the University of Manitoba offer a joint Master of Arts program (JMP) in Religion. The JMP in Religion prepares students to undertake advanced study in the interdisciplinary field of religious studies. There are two streams within the JMP in Religion: the Thesis MA and the Course MA. Students completing the Joint MA Program in Religion will receive a joint parchment and may choose to convocate from either of the participating universities.  Two types of programs are available:

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTSThich Nhat Hanh (image courtesy of Carlos Colorado)

Thesis Option: a minimum of 12 credit hours of course work including:

     a)  Major Course - a minimum of 6 credit hours at the 7000-level.

     b)  Ancillary course - a minimum of 6 credit hours at the 7000-level, 5000(UW)/4000(UM) or, in special cases, at the 3000-level.

     c)  A thesis.

Course Option: a minimum of 24 credit hours beyond the level required for admissions to the MA, with at least 6 credit hours to be ordinarily taken from each of the two Departments involved in the Joint Masters Program (JMP) in Religion, at least 18 credit hours to be taken at the 7000-level, and at least 18 credit hours to be taken in Religion.  Students may take 6 credit hours at the 5000(UW)/4000(UM) level or in exceptional circumstances at the 3000-level, and this is usually chosen from an extra-departmental field or ancillary.  Students can, however, elect to take all 24 credit hours from within the two Departments of the JMP in Religion.  Students in the course option must demonstrate competence in a breadth of areas within the study of religion. Students in the course stream will consult the Graduate Chairs to develop a program of study.

Language Requirement: In both the Thesis Option and Course Option, the student is required to demonstrate reading knowledge of a second language.  In the Thesis Option program, this reading knowledge normally must be demonstrated before the thesis proposal is reviewed.

Methodology Requirement: Students must have 6 credit hours in Methodology from a recognized university or college.  A student who does not have this training in methodology will be required to take 6 credits in methodology in addition to normal credit hours required for their program.

Note: University of Winnipeg Religious Studies graduate level courses carry a "GRLST" prefix; University of Manitoba Religion courses bear an "RLGN" prefix.

Admission Requirements

The following are eligible to apply for admission to the program:

· Graduates of the University of Manitoba holding a Honours BA degree in Religion;

· Graduates of The University of Winnipeg holding an Honours or a 4-Year BA in Religion & Culture (Religious Studies);

· Students who hold degrees equivalent to the Honours BA in Religion from other recognized universities or colleges;

· Students who have completed a recognized pre-Master’s program in Religion. 

· Honours BA graduates in other disciplines with a strong background in Religion. (Such students may be admitted at the pre-Master’s level and/or required to complete a program of study to bring them up to the level of a Honours BA degree in Religion.) 

Students who have courses with equivalent content or cognate courses in recognized departments or faculties other than Religion or Religious Studies may be given credit for up to 12 credit hours towards admission. 

To be eligible for admission, applicants must have achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 point scale) in their last 60 credit hours of study and they must have completed a total of 60 credit hours in Religion.  Breadth in preparation is expected as indicated by the description of the Honours or the 4-Year BA in Religion & Culture in the UW Calendar or the Honours BA in Religion in the UM Calendar.

HOW TO APPLY
Please visit http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/religion/grad/index.html for all information regarding the application procedure. Deadline for application is end of January for enrolment in September.

AWARDS AND FINANCIAL AID

Please visit both http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/religion/grad/1593.html and http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/graduate-studies/scholarships-and-awards/index.html for information regarding awards and financial aid.

CONTACT US

Graduate Chair, The University of Winnipeg

Dr. Carlos Colorado, Associate Professor, Department of Religion & Culture

Email: c.colorado@uwinnipeg.ca