Bachelor Master Doctorate

Interreligious Studies

Abstract

Contrary to certain expectations, religion is not disappearing from modern societies. Quite the opposite: the religious sphere is becoming diversified and is the subject of keen social debate. The bachelor programme «Interreligious Studies» is ideal for anyone wishing to take an informed part in these debates. It combines aspects of religious studies, theology and sociology. It presents different religions, describes their evolution and helps establish an interreligious and intercultural dialogue. This study programme lasts three years as a Bachelor of Arts in Interreligious Studies, then two additional years as a Master of Arts in Interreligious Studies. The programme can be taken entirely in German or entirely in French. It can also be taken bilingually.

  • Show the study programme profile

    Profile of the study programme

    This bachelor programme gives access to fundamental knowledge to provide an understanding of different religions and their history, beliefs and practices. It addresses questions of interreligious dialogue, interreligious ethics and related challenges in society. In addition to a broad choice of elective courses, the master programme in Interreligious Studies focuses on issues of politics and religion as well as new forms of spirituality, and examines in greater depth the themes of interreligious conflicts and dialogue. This study programme is run by the Faculty of Theology, but is interfaculty and interdisciplinary

    Fribourg profile
    Small study groups and a welcoming atmosphere combined with a high standard of teaching are what characterise the Interreligious Studies programme in Fribourg. One advantage for this course which is spread across several faculties is that distances are short and teaching staff accessible. This means students can adapt their studies to suit their needs. Students from different cultures and ideological contexts come together and their different perspectives are mutually enriching. The teaching is geared toward information, personal reflection and mutual exchange.

    Career openings
    This programme opens up career prospects for the following target groups among others:
    – Specialists needing intercultural skills of a religious nature, for example professionals working in civil administration, the media, NGOs or the intercultural domain;
    – Theologians seeking to specialise in important social and political domains, whether within or outside the church;
    – Mediators involved in different interreligious/intercultural fields;
    – Teachers (see Teacher Education for Baccalaureate Schools).

Studies organisation

Structure of studies

120 ECTS credits + 60 ECTS credits in one or two minor study programmes freely chosen, 6 semesters

Curriculum

https://studies.unifr.ch/go/26 (French)
https://studies.unifr.ch/go/27 (German)

Admission

The following Swiss school-leaving certificates grant admission to bachelor programmes at the University of Fribourg:

  • Swiss academic Maturity Certificate
  • Federal vocational or specialised Baccalaureate + supplementary examination of the Swiss Maturity Commission (passerelle)
  • Bachelor Degree from a Swiss university, from an accredited Swiss university of applied sciences (HES/FH) or from a Swiss university of teacher education (HEP/PH)

A complete list of all further recognised Swiss school-leaving certificates is to be found on the webpages of swissuniversities (in French and German only): https://studies.unifr.ch/go/fr-admission-swisscertificates; https://studies.unifr.ch/go/de-admission-swisscertificates
Foreign upper secondary school-leaving certificates are recognised only if they correspond substantially to the Swiss Maturity Certificate. They must qualify as general education. Foreign school-leaving certificates are considered to be general education if, among other things, the last three years of schooling include at least six general education subjects, independent from each other, in accordance with the following list:

  1. Language of instruction (at the school)
  2. Second language (a foreign language)
  3. Mathematics
  4. Natural sciences (biology or chemistry or physics)
  5. Humanities and social sciences (geography or history or economics/law)
  6. Elective (computer sciences or philosophy or an additional language or an additional subject from category 4 or 5)

The general admission requirements to the bachelor programmes at the University of Fribourg for holders of foreign school-leaving certificates as well as the admission requirements for individual countries are to be found on the webpages of swissuniversities: https://studies.unifr.ch/go/en-admission-countries
In addition, applicants with foreign school-leaving certificates must present proof of sufficient language skills in French or German.
All guidelines are available at (only in French and German): https://studies.unifr.ch/go/adm-guidelines

The assessment of foreign school-leaving certificates is based on the «Recommendations for the Assessment of Foreign Upper Secondary School-Leaving Certificates» adopted by the Chamber of universities of swissuniversities on 21.11.2024 (https://studies.unifr.ch/go/swissuniversities24fr; https://studies.unifr.ch/go/swissuniversities24de). The admission requirements are valid for the respective academic year. The Rectorat of the University of Fribourg reserves the right to change these requirements at any time.

Alternatives

Also offered as a minor study programme (60/30 ECTS credits).

Minor study programmes to be chosen

Key points

Degree conferred

Bachelor of Arts in Interreligious Studies

Languages of study

Possibility to study in French, in German or in French and German.

Options

Option of an award bearing the distinction «Bilingual curriculum, French/German».

Commencement of studies

Commencement of studies in the Autumn Semester (September) or in the Spring Semester (February)

Access to further studies

Master

Contact

Faculty of Theology
Dean's Office
decanat-theol@unifr.ch
http://studies.unifr.ch/go/fr-theology (French)
http://studies.unifr.ch/go/de-theology (German)

Apply for admission

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