Department of Religion Dunton Tower 2121 Telephone: 788-2100 The Department Chair of the Department: J.G. Ramisch Departmental Supervisor of Graduate Studies: J.P. Dourley The Department of Religion offers programs of study leading to the degree of the Master of Arts. Master of Arts Admission Requirements The minimum requirement for admission to the master's program is an honours bachelor's degree in religion (or the equivalent) with at least high honours standing. Applicants who do not hold an honours degree in religion (or the equivalent) will be required to register in a qualifying-year program before proceeding to the master's program. The regulations governing the qualifying year are outlined in the general section of this calendar. Program Requirements The student will choose a program of study concentrating on one of the following major areas: comparative religion, with special emphasis on one of the major traditions; biblical and ancient near eastern studies; and modern religious thought and culture. Candidates must follow either a thesis or non-thesis program. The specific requirements are as follows: Thesis Program * Seminars equivalent to one full course in major area * Seminars equivalent to one full course, selected from one or both of the other areas * Tutorial in major area for one-course credit * Thesis (equivalent to two full courses) on a topic in major area, which must be defended at an oral examination Non-Thesis Program * Seminars equivalent to three full courses; of these, at least two half-course seminars must be from the major area, at least two from a second area, and at least one from the remaining area * Comprehensive reading course in major area * One additional course in major area The student's program will be worked out in consultation with, and with the approval of, the department's supervisor of graduate studies and its committee on graduate studies. The prescribed program will take into account the student's background and special interests, as well as the research interests and competence of the staff. Deadlines Thesis Proposal: In the case of the thesis program, full-time students will normally submit their thesis proposal to the thesis proposal board by the end of the first month of their second term in the M.A. program. Thesis: The candidate will inform the thesis supervisor two weeks in advance of the date on which he intends to submit copies of his thesis. The date of the defence will be set upon submission of the thesis and will take place no sooner than two weeks after the date of submission. This assumes a minimum of four weeks between the candidate's statement of intent and the defence. Language Requirements The student will be required to acquire, or to demonstrate that he/she already has, a reading knowledge of whatever language is essential to his/her research. Students are advised to consult the departmental handbook for further regulations. Graduate Courses* * Religion 34.512T2, S2 Tutorial in Comparative Religion * Religion 34.513F1, W1, S1 Directed Studies in Comparative Religion Seminar for additional study in this area. * Religion 34.520F1 Seminar in Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies Topic for 1994-95: Critical Theory and the Bible An exploration of trends in biblical scholarship influenced by current literary theory and the philosophy of language. Selected biblical texts from Deuteronomy through 2 Kings are interpreted according to these new approaches. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as 34.486A, for which additional credit is precluded. (Also offered as Comparative Literary Studies 17.582) * Religion 34.521W1 Seminar in Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies Topic for 1994-95: Jews and Christians in the Roman World A study of the political, social and cultural context of early Judaism and early Christianity. Emphasis will be placed on how the Romans viewed Jews and Christians and how Jews and Christians accommodated themselves to Roman rule. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as 34.486B, for which additional credit is precluded. * Religion 34.522T2,S2 Tutorial in Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies * Religion 34.523F1, W1, S1 Directed Studies in Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies Seminar for additional study in this area. * Religion 34.530F1 Seminar in Modern Religious Thought and Culture Topic for 1994-95: The Impact of Feminist Research on the Study of Religion The seminar will explore the diverse contributions feminist theory and practice have made to the study of religion during the past two decades. From early questions about content and focus, to later more fundamental paradigm shifts in method and theory, feminist work will be examined, and the impact it has had upon the sub-disciplines of religious studies will be assessed. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as 34.488B, for which additional credit is precluded. * Religion 34.531W1 Seminar in Modern Religious Thought and Culture Topic for 1994-95: Jung's Answer to Job The course will use Jung's late work, Answer to Job, to develop the religious and philosophical implications of Jung's understanding of the psyche and its relation to alternative western religiosities manifest in mysticism, alchemy, gnosis and in his thought on quaternity and synchronicity. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as 34.488B, for which additional credit is precluded. * Religion 34.532T2, S2 Tutorial in Modern Religious Thought and Culture * Religion 34.533F1, W1, S1 Directed Studies in Modern Religious Thought and Culture Seminar for additional study in this area. * Religion 34.590T2, S2 M.A. Comprehensive Reading Not open to students pursuing a thesis program. * Religion 34.599F4, W4, S4 M.A. Thesis Courses Not Offered in 1994-95 34.510 Seminar in Comparative Religion 34.511 Seminar in Comparative Religion