4022 - Graduate Diploma in Interreligious Studies

This course builds on existing academic strengths at Monash University by bringing together scholars working in the fields of Judaic, Christian and Islamic scholarship. The course will coordinate existing research interests of three Centres Australian Centre for the Study of Jewish Civilisation, Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology and Centre for Islam and the Modern World in order to position Monash Arts Faculty as a leading institute in collaborative approaches to interreligious studies.

Students successfully completing this course will be expected to demonstrate:

• a comprehensive and critical understanding of the key institutions, beliefs and practices of Judaism, Christianity and Islam
• familiarity with the major texts and the interpretative methods used to promote, preserve and determine their meaning
• sound knowledge of the historical contexts in which these traditions evolved;
• awareness of the commonalities of the respective traditions
• skills which explain historical and contemporary reasons for conflict between the traditions
• an appreciation of the varieties of religious discourse, such as mystical testimonies, political theology, hermeneutical practices and philosophies of law
• familiarity with challenges brought about by the encounter between tradition and modernity and an appreciation of the internal resources available to address such challenges
• the capacity to engage in a research project.

Students complete two 12-point core units and two 12-point elective units.

Students complete the following core units:

• HYM4175- Interpreting the Bible: Jewish and Christian perspectives
• HYM4260 - Medieval dialogues: Reason, mysticism, society

plus two electives from the following:

• HSY4840 - Text and community in Renaissance Italy
• JWC4020 - Between homeland and Holy Land: Israel in Jewish thought
• JWM5030 - Jewish history and Jewish memory: writing and reading the Jewish past
• RLT4040 - Islamic thought in the modern world
• RLT4100 - Religion and ceremony in Australian society
• RLT4110 - Sustainability and the sacred
• RLT4400 - Medieval women and their world: constructing identities 1100-1450

Students who complete the graduate diploma with a minimum credit average, may apply to enter the Masters of Interreligious Studies.

After successful completion of 24 points, students may apply to exit the program with the related graduate certificate.

Graduate Diploma in Interreligious Studies

* Where more than one award is listed, or in the case of double degrees, where more than one award is listed for one or both components of the double degree, the actual award/s conferred may depend on units/majors/streams/specialisations studied, the level of academic merit achieved (eg in the case of 'with honours' programs), or other factors relevant to the individual student's program of study.