4023 - Master of 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
• a capacity to contribute to informed analyses in the public sphere
• strong skills in research and writing.

Students complete two level-four core units (24 points) and 24 points of electives and a research project (24 points). Students must complete a maximum of 48 points of level four coursework units and at least 24 points of level five units.

Core units

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

Electives

Select 24 points of electives from the following:

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

Research project

• SHM5000(A) Research project part 1 and SHM5000(B) Research project part 2

Students who undertake the 24 point research project option and achieve at least a distinction are eligible to apply for a higher degree by research.

Students who have completed studies in this course to the value of:

• 24 points may apply to exit with a related graduate certificate
• 48 points may apply to exit with a related graduate diploma.

Students will also exit the masters with the appropriate award if they do not maintain the required academic level.

Master of 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.