Religion - Study of Religions

Course Outline
The HDip Arts: Study of Religions gives you an intensive course in the study of religions. The course will appeal to those who have a degree, but have not previously studied religions to degree level.

You'll select modules drawn from the undergraduate course 'Religions and Global Diversity'. Through this programme, you'll have access to research-informed teaching in a variety of religious traditions such Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and East Asian religions and in methods and theories in the academic, cross-cultural study of religions.

The Higher Diploma in Arts shall consist of modules to the value of 60 credits taken from a range of existing 2nd and 3rd Arts modules in the relevant subject.

Over the year, you will study a range of religious traditions and approaches to the study of religions through the following modules: (modules are 10 credits unless otherwise indicated).

Authority and Community in Contemporary Christianities
Christianities in a Global Age
Hinduism and Indian Religions
Indigenous Religions
Islam: historical and contemporary perspectives
Korea's Religious and Philosophical Traditions
Sufism: charisma and devotion in Islam
Contemporary Religions in Ireland
Western Esotericism and New Religious Movements
Religions of East Asia
Buddhism in Practice
Religions and Gender

Dissertation in the Study of Religions: offers supervised research in any area you're specially interested, whether or not it's been covered in the HDip programme.

As a HDip student you can take, with the permission of the department, up to 10 credits of religion-related modules in other departments: e.g. Asian studies, folklore, sociology, history, philosophy, classics, history of art. You can study a language such as Chinese, Japanese or Korean.

Registration with the Teaching Council: For applicants who are taking the Higher Diploma with a view to Teaching Council subject registration, the Higher Diploma is recognised by the Teaching Council for teacher subject registration. In general, if you wish to qualify with Religion as a teaching subject, you are advised to refer to the school curriculum and match the modules to that broad field. Modules are chosen in consultation with the programme coordinator in September.

Students wishing to satisfy Teaching Council requirements will take 60 credits of RG courses (selected in consultation with the Programme Coordinator) plus ED6319.

Many subjects have discipline-specific requirements and you are advised to check the requirements for the subject area by consulting the following:
- Curricular Subject Requirements: Teaching Council: Curriculur Subject Requirements

- Subject Declaration Forms (including a self-assessment checklist of whether you meet the requirements for your subject area): Teaching Council Subject Declaration Forms

Why Choose This Course
UCC's HDip in the Study of Religions is the only course in Ireland to offer research-informed teaching across traditions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and East Asian religions.

Our academic, non-theological approach to religions makes the course suitable for students of all beliefs, unlike traditional theology departments which promote one religion rather than studying all equally.

The calibre of the staff in the department is unequalled in Ireland, making the HDip a popular choice for graduates seeking an intensive encounter with the study of diverse religious traditions.

Placement or Study Abroad Information
HDip students prepared to travel during their HDip year can avail of study-abroad options available through Erasmus (for Europe) and other exchange programmes with UCC's partner universities in e.g. USA, China and Japan.

Modules
Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our book of modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.

University Calendar
You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.

Requirements
It is intended for those who already have a 3 or 4 year primary degree, preferably in the area of Arts or the Sciences, and who wish to study the subject Study of Religions intensively over one academic year.

The Higher Diploma in Arts is a conversion programme and applicants would not normally have studied the relevant subject to Honours Degree level previously.

English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university approved English language requirements.

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland:
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements.

International/non-EU applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure please visit our how to apply pages for international students. In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

For more information please contact the International Office.

How Do I Apply

1. Choose Course
Firstly choose your course. Applicants can apply for up to two courses under one application. Details of taught courses are available on our online prospectus.

2. Apply Online
Once you have chosen your course you can apply online at the online application portal. Applicants will need to apply before the course closing date. There is a non-refundable €50 application fee for all courses apart from the Education - Professional Master of Education - (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training) which has a €100 application fee.

Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Nursing must apply on the PAC website when the programme opens for applications.

3. Gather Supporting Documents
Scanned copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded to the online application portal in support of your application. Applicants may need to produce the original documents if you are accepted onto a course and register at UCC.

- Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC
- Any supplementary items requested for your course.

Please log into the online application portal for more details.

4. Application processing timeline
Our online application portal opens for applications for most courses in early November of each year. Check specific course details.

5. Rounds
For courses that are in the rounds system (Irish and EU applicants), please check the rounds closing dates.

Questions on how to apply?
Please use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.

Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.

Important Note: The Higher Diploma in Arts programme is not a teacher training programme. Graduates must apply for the Professional Master of Education teacher training programme to qualify as a secondary school teacher, please see www.ucc.ie/en/pec01

The closing date for non-EU applications is 15 June.

Assessment
You will be assessed by a variety of methods including essays, presentations, in-class tests, learning journals, fieldwork research reports and (in a small number of cases) exams.

60 credits

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

Additional Teaching Mode Information
The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 year.

Start Date: 7 September 2020

Skills and Careers Information
As societies worldwide become increasingly closely interlinked whilst remaining culturally diverse, understanding people's very different religious beliefs and practices becomes essential for teachers, public sector workers, professionals in NGOs, the media, business, healthcare, human resources, etc.. As well as the enhanced general transferable skills acquired through an Arts/Social Sciences postgraduate programme, the Study of Religions course provides particularly deep insights into different religions and cultures which will help you in any kind of employment involving people. Students successful in the HDip may also apply to enter the department's MA Contemporary Religions, which offers a pathway to research at MPhil/PhD level.