INTRODUCTION
This programme is carefully designed to apply Theological & Religious theories and principles to interrogate and confront problems, challenges and dilemmas that arise in everyday life, academic and professional contexts. The programme is designed to contribute important skills, knowledge and values in humanities that are responsive to social, economic and political needs of the twenty first century.
PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES
PLO1. Explore the beliefs, doctrines, teachings and practices of African Religion, Christianity and Islam respectively.
PLO2. Explain major contemporary issues and trends in African Religion, Christianity and Islam respectively.
PLO3. Analyze religion as a phenomenon for interpreting and understanding contemporary issues in society.
PLO4. Demonstrate the contribution of religion in socio-economic and political development of society.
PLO5. Implement requisite skills to conduct research within African Religion, Christianity and Islam respectively.
PLO6. Apply skills, values and knowledge acquired through the study of religion for a teaching career in colleges and universities.
RATIONALE OF THE PROGRAM
Life in the twenty first century poses many novel and dynamic challenges but also opportunities, which require key skills and values and competencies. The MA (Religious Studies) programme is a market driven course that is more competitive and responsive to the changing needs of the students and the society taking cognizance of this fact, the programme is designed to enhance key competencies, skills and values that are responsive to the global challenges facing humanity in the contemporary society in line with the relevant theological perspective. They include: climate change, violence, pandemics, terrorism, among others.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for admission to the Master of Arts (Religious Studies) programme the applicant should have attained at least:
Minimum requirement
The common regulations for all Master Degrees in the University shall apply.
To qualify for admission to the Master of Arts (Religious Studies) programme, the applicant should have attained a minimum of Bachelor of Education, Second Class Honours (Upper Division) degree in Religious Studies or Bachelor of Arts with specialization in Religious Studies or Theology from any recognized institution of higher learning. A student should specialize in any of the following three areas:
African Religion
Christianity
Islam
Alternative requirement
Lower second class in Religious Studies at undergraduate level with a two year post-graduation relevant working experience.
MODE AND STRUCTURE OF DELIVERY
The mode of delivery of this programme will be blended learning, which involves both face-to face interactions and online teaching through Kusoma online teaching platform. The online learning will include e-tivities, discussion forums, chats, quizzes and assignments.
PROGRAMME DURATION
The programme takes two academic years.
Year 1: Course work
Semester 1 (5 units)- Total number of contact hours-195
Semester 2 (4 units)- Total number of contact hours-195
Year 2: Research
Development of research proposal, research, data analysis and Thesis writing
Duration of the Programme
| Programme | 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Duration in Years | Total Lecture hours | Course Units per semester |
| 1.聽聽聽聽聽 M.A (Religious Studies) | 1 Year 6 months (18 Months) | 390 | 5 |
CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS
List of the core and elective courses of the programme
School Common Course
AMC 800 Research Methodology (39 hours)
Departmental Common Courses
ARE 800 Theory and Method in the Study of Religion (39 hours)
ARE 801 Phenomenology of Religion (39 hours)
SPECIALIZATIONS
I: African Religion
Core Courses
ARE 802 African Religious Worldview (39 hours)
ARE 803 Sources of African Religion and Culture (39 hours)
Electives
ARE 804 Rites of Passage in African Religion (39 hours)
ARE 805 Ethics and Morality in African Religion (39 hours)
ARE 806 Religion and Customary Law in Africa (39 hours)
ARE 807 Religious Specialists in African Religion (39 hours)
ARE 808 African Religion and Political movements (39 hours)
ARE 809 African Religion, Witchcraft and Magic (39 hours)
ARE 810 African Religion in Literary Works (39 hours)
ARE 811 Gender in African Religion and Culture (39 hours)
ARE 812 African Religion and Other Religions (39 hours)
ARE 813 Continuity and Change in African Religion and Culture (39 hours)
ARE 814 Rituals and Ceremonies in African Religion (39 hours)
ARE 815 African Religion in the Diaspora (39 hours)
ARE 816 History of African Religion (39 hours)
ARE 817 Seminar Paper (39 hours)
II: Christianity
Core Courses
ARE 837 World Christianity I – From Apostolic Origins to 1453(39 hours)
ARE 838 World Christianity II – From 1453 ACE to the Present (39 hours)
Electives
ARE 817 Seminar Paper (39 hours)
ARE 828 Methods of Biblical Textual Studies (39 hours)
ARE 829 Christian Initiation and Rites (39 hours)
ARE 830 Christian Worship (39 hours)
ARE 831 Theological Methods (39 hours)
ARE 832 Intertestamental Period (39 hours)
ARE 833 Pauline Theology (39 hours)
ARE 834 Johannine Theology (39 hours)
ARE 835 Apocalyptic Literature and Eschatology (39 hours)
ARE 836 Deuteronomic History (39 hours)
ARE 840 Contemporary Theology (39 hours)
ARE 841 Christianity and Society (39 hours)
ARE 842 Gender and Theology (39 hours)
ARE 843 Theology and Ecology (39 hours)
ARE 854 The Synoptic Gospels (39 hours)
III: Islam
Core Courses
ARE 844 Study of the Glorious Qur鈥檃n (39 hours)
ARE 845 Study of Hadith and Sunnah (39 hours)
Electives
ARE 802 African Religious Worldview (39 hours)
ARE 817 Seminar Paper (39 hours)
ARE 846 Theology and Principles of Fiqh (39 hours)
ARE 847 Modern Trends in Islam (39 hours)
ARE 848 Social Structure in Islam and its Practices (39 hours)
ARE 849 Philosophical Movements in Islam (39 hours)
ARE 850 Dynamic changes in Islam in the 19th and 20th centuries (39 hours)
ARE 851 Islam in East Africa (39 hours)
ARE 852 Muslim Thought and Practice (39 hours)
ARE 853 Introduction to Qur鈥檃nic Arabic (39 hours)
ARE 854 Sharia and Sufism (39 hours)
ARE 855 Women in Muslim Communities (39 hours)
Description of thesis/dissertation/Project (as applicable)
A thesis is a long essay or dissertation involving original research by a candidate in partial fulfillment for the award of a postgraduate degree
The Master of Arts (Religious Studies) thesis will be in a field or area of choice of the student with the guidance of the postgraduate studies committee and supervisors. The thesis will be an in-depth investigation of a Religious/Theological issue that contributes to knowledge in the area and demonstrate relevance to the society. The student will be assigned two supervisors in the in the field of study to guide in the development of the proposal and the thesis.
A thesis will include at least the following areas: the topic, literature review, theoretical framework, methodology, key findings and recommendations.
The thesis goes through several phases to ensure relevance and quality. The phases include: concept paper presentation to the postgraduate studies committee; proposal presentation to the department with a discussant from school of Law, Arts and Social Sciences; thesis examination by two internal examiners and one external examiner; oral examination of thesis by a panel which includes the chairman who is the Executive Dean of the School, three examiners, two board members, two supervisors and a representative of senate.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Lecturing at university and other tertiary institutions
Human rights organizations
Nongovernmental organizations
Civil service
Research Organizations
Social political activism
Administrative jobs with the Ministry of Education
TUITION AND FEE STRUCTURE
Payments of application fees
All applicants will pay a non-refundable fee as stipulated in the application form
Masters (East Africans)=KSh 3000
Masters International students
USD 50
Tuition and Fee Structure:
Full Time ;Fees ksh.246,000= Per year
Digital Learning ksh.246,000 Per year
Continuing Education Program ksh.246,000 Per year
Non East Africans ksh.307,500 Per year
WHY CHOOSE THIS PROGRAMME AT KENYATTA UNIVERSITY?
吃瓜头条 is a centre of excellence in teaching, learning and research, boasting of cutting edge facilities, equipment and research materials to facilitate and enhance the quality of teaching, learning and research
The Master of Arts programme in Religious Studies is well aligned with the currents trends in the field and is taught by highly qualified faculty who also committed to help the student complete the programme within the stipulated time.