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Religious Studies at CERES

Many German universities offer degrees in religious studies – each with a slightly different profile in this subject. The degree in religious studies at Bochum is run by CERES, the Center for Religious Studies. Under the umbrella of this institute, religious studies are combined with many other cultural and social science disciplines and thus offer you a sound degree. By studying at one of the largest universities in Germany you can therefore benefit from the expertise of a particularly large number of subjects.

 Religious studies at Ruhr University thus offer you a solid overview of

• epochs and cultures in the history of religions,
• religious content and forms in the present day,
• the cultural and societal significance of religion.

Religious elements in art and popular culture, religions locally, pluralisation processes and new religious phenomena can just as easily become your fields of research as can questions relating to the history of religions.

Study profile for the BA programme

 At Ruhr University you can study religion as a two-subject Bachelor in which the degree is composed of two major areas:

• material religious studies in which you focus on individual religions and their historical development and
• systematic religious studies which deal comparatively with issues relating to religion as part of a wider cultural and societal context.

The two sub-categories of the Bachelor degree form one conceptional whole: in empiric and comparitive modules the skills of both areas are combined to their mutual benefit.

In concrete terms, the degree programme is divided into the following modules:

In the material field:

• Ancient Near Eastern history and ancient religious history
• Jewish religious history
• Christian religious history
• Islamic religious history
• Indian religious history and history of religions originating in India
• East Asian religious history

You select four of these modules to complete during the course of your degree. Additionally, there are the following compulsory modules in this area

• General history of religions and consolidation
• Language module to acquire basic knowledge of a language relevant to the study of the history of religions.

In the systematic field:

• Foundation in religious studies
• Foundation course in systematics and comparative studies
• Foundation course in historical transformation processes
• Foundation course in theories, approaches and methods

These four modules are compulsory. The latter module includes an internship in a company or organisation, or, if preferred, a research training project. This gives you the opportunity to put your religious studies knowledge into practice in real tasks or areas of work whilst still studying. If you are particularly interested in the practical components of the degree – or on where your degree can take you after university – why not take a look at our section on “RS in practice”.

Further information

You can start your degree at Bochum University in either the summer or winter semester.

More detailed information on all formalities can be found in the Study and Examination Regulations for the BA programme in religious studies at Ruhr University Bochum. But the study advisors of the programme are also happy to answer to any further questions.