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University College Cork

Religion - Study of Religions - Conversion Course

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.

Entry requirements

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 available here.

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements, please find our grades comparison by country here.

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.

Not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.

For more information please contact the International Office.

Duration

Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2 years by day
CKA27 (Full-time), CKA28 (Part-time)

The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 year

The Higher Diploma in Arts shall consist of modules to the value of 60 credits (30 credits each year for the two-year part-time option) taken from a range of existing 2nd and 3rd Arts modules in the relevant subject.

Number of credits

60 credits

Careers or further progression

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.

Further enquiries

Dr. Lidia Guzy
l.guzy@ucc.ie
+ 353 21 490 3773 / 490 2359
http://www.ucc.ie/en/studyofreligions/

Subjects taught

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

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.
https://www.ucc.ie/admin/registrar/modules/

Assessment method

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.

Application date

Applications for academic year 2020/2021 are open.

EU Applicants: UCC operates a rounds closing date system for the majority of postgraduate taught courses, which means offers are made four times a year on a rolling basis. Some courses have one specific closing date, please check your course prospectus page for this information.

The UCC rounds closing dates for postgraduate taught courses are below. Applicants are advised to apply as soon as possible.

Deadline for receipt of full applications:
For all completed applications received by January 10th 2020
Offers will be made by January 24th 2020

For all completed applications received by March 2nd 2020
Offers will be made by March 16th 2020

For all completed applications received by May 1st 2020
Offers will be made by May 15th 2020

For all completed applications received by July 1st 2020
Offer will be made by July 15th 2020

Late applications may be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for any courses that have remaining capacity.

Non-EU Closing Date: 15 June
Non-EU Applicants: Information for Non-EU applicants may be found on the International Office Website https://www.ucc.ie/en/international/