Program and courses Christianity and Society
Analyze and reflect on current theological and societal issues in these multidisciplinary contexts, by high-level philosophical questioning, debating and writing clear academic papers.
Program structure
This one-year program consists of 60 credits (ECTS), of which:
- 7 courses (42 ECTS)
- Master’s thesis, including seminar (18 ECTS)
Classes start at the end of August. This Master’s program can be taken part-time (EU only), which will take two years.
Program content
Courses
You will follow these seven courses (42 ECTS in total):
Full-time program
Fall semester (End of August – January)
- Christian Theology: Fundamental Issues and Contemporary Questions
- Catholic Social Thought in Contemporary Society
- Sources and History of Social Thought
- Christianity in Dialogue with the Economic World
- Research and Hermeneutics
Spring semester (End of January – June)
- Christianity in Dialogue with the World Religions
- Religion in a Digital World
- Thesis phase (see below, ‘Master’s thesis, including seminar’).
You have the option of swapping one 'In Dialogue' course for a MA elective of your choice.
Part-time program
Fall semester (year 1) (End of August – January)
- Christian Theology: Fundamental Issues and Contemporary Questions
- Catholic Social Thought in Contemporary Society
- Sources and History of Social Thought
Spring semester (year 1) (End of January – June)
- Christianity in Dialogue with the World Religions
- Religion in a Digital World
Fall semester (year 2) (End of August – January)
- Christianity in Dialogue with the Economic World
- Research and Hermeneutics
You have the option of swapping one 'In Dialogue' course for an MA elective of your choice.
Spring semester (year 2) (End of January – June)
Thesis phase (see below, ‘Master’s thesis, including seminar’).
Master's thesis, including seminar
Your Master’s thesis phase consists of the following two parts of 18 ECTS in total:
- Thesis Seminar Christianity and Society (3 ECTS, preparation for your Master's thesis)
- Thesis Master Christianity and Society (15 ECTS)
Examples of Master's thesis subjects are:
- Charity, Prudence and Dignity: Roman Catholic and Lutheran Perspectives
on the Refugee Crisis - An Evaluation of the Role of Religion in the Democratic Quest for a Secular State in Nigeria
- Church and Gender in the First Three Centuries
You will find a detailed description of the courses and required literature in our course catalog.
Please note: programs are subject to change. We advise you to look up the current program in OSIRIS Student at the start of the year.
Do you want to know more about this Master’s program?
Find out more during one of our events
Extend your master with an internship
You can also apply for an Extended Master's Program. An Extended Master's Program adds an extra semester to your regular Master’s program during which you get the chance to gain relevant work and research experience and enhance your professional skills or academic knowledge.
Extended Master's Program: internship (+6 months)
This internship in the Master’s program in Christianity and Society is a research internship in the context of the Master’s thesis. The research question must be practice-oriented and designed in such a way that the results of the research will benefit the internship provider.
The research question of the thesis must comply with the final attainment goals that have been set for the Master’s thesis.
After completing the Extended Master's Program successfully, you will receive an Extended Master's Certificate.
Short overview of the Extended Master's Program in practice
The workload of the research internship is equivalent to 30 ECTS. Twice a month you will meet the internship supervisor for a feedback/coaching session.
- Are you a full time student?
Your internship should consist of two days (16 hours) a week in the second semester, and two and a half days (20 hours) a week in the third semester. The rest of the week, students follow courses and write their internship report and master’s thesis. - Are you a part time student?
You will start your internship in March/April of the second year. You will only have courses on Wednesdays. The duration of your internship will be 12 months.
An Extended Master's Program provides you with several benefits:
- Gain work experience within a professional field relevant to the Master Christianity and Society, which gives you a competitive edge in the labor market.
- During coaching sessions we will encourage your professional development: you will learn to reflect on your preferences, strengths and there is plenty of room for self-improvement.
- Expand your professional network: the Extended Master's Program will provide you with a good connection to the labor market. An overview of Extended Master's Program partners will soon be available.
Admission and application
- You cannot directly apply for the Extended Master's Program. You will have to be enrolled in the Master’s program in Christianity and Society to apply for the option.
- At the start of the Master’s program in Christianity and Society (early September) the option for the Extended Master's Program will be introduced during an information meeting in September. In this meeting you will receive all information on the application procedure, application deadline, and the structure of the program and traineeship to enable you to choose this Extended Master's Program or the regular Master’s program in Christianity and Society.
For more information about the Extended Master's Program Christianity and Society, please contact Stefan Mangnus via e-mail at S.j.mangnus@tilburguniversity.edu.
Short overview of the Christianity and Society program
- This program provides a broad perspective on religion and society, including theological, sociological, economical, juridical and philosophical questions.
- Small classes (on average 5-10 students) with a lot of individual attention and personal contact with fellow students and teachers.
- International classroom with students from various countries, religions, and academic backgrounds, ensuring a lively and balanced dialogue.
- Lower tuition fees than other Master’s programs at Tilburg University.
Partial scholarships are available to encourage students from all economic backgrounds to participate in this graduate program.
Would you like to know more about this program?
Download a personalized brochure or contact Katrien, our education representative. She will answer your questions and can connect you with current students, advisors, and teachers.
Interested in the MA Christianity and Society?
Check your eligibility and the deadlines for application