Master of Arts Religious Studies and Specialization Medieval and Renaissance Studies

The Department of Classics and Religious Studies offers programs of study leading to the degrees of Master of Arts (MA) in Religious Studies and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Religious Studies.

Objectives and Methods

The Department of Classics and Religious Studies (sector: Religious Studies) focuses on the study of the religious phenomenon through teaching and research in the same manner and on the same level as any other category of facts accessible to human experience and observation.

The disciplines that play a role in the study of religions are primarily of a historical, sociological, psychological and anthropological nature. Such a study must take into account the plurality of religious traditions and expressions in society and examine the relationships among them.

Research on the meaning of religious phenomena is accomplished through analysis and comparison of the various means of religious expression, both in the past and present. No tradition is considered normative.

Areas of Research

The programs focus on religions in Canada, including Amerindian and Inuit traditions, and on religions in the comparative cultural context as well as religions in the Graeco-Roman World. The comparative cultural approach provides an opportunity to explore religious phenomena across different religious traditions expressly within their specific cultural contexts. The program favours the methods of anthropology, history, psychology and sociology.

The Department participates in collaborative programs in Women’s Studies and in Medieval and Renaissance Studies at the MA level. For more information on these programs, see "Apply now."

The collaborative master’s in Medieval and Renaissance Studies (MDV) has two goals:

• To offer at the graduate level a multi-disciplinary education in Medieval and Renaissance Studies;
• To teach students the theoretical approaches and methods of research specific to the study of the period.

The specialization in Medieval and Renaissance Studies is intended for students who wish to enrich their training by including to their main program an interdisciplinary component in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Besides a thesis or a major research paper on a topic related to the medieval and Renaissance period, the specific requirements of the collaborative program include two core courses in medieval studies (MDV), one of which will count as a partial requirement in the main discipline.

The programs are governed by the academic regulations in effect for graduate studies.

For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the specific requirements webpage.

Applicants who hold a bachelor with honours in Religious Studies or the equivalent with at least second-class standing may be admitted to the master's program. Those who do not have an honours degree in religious studies may be admitted to a qualifying year during which they complete the requirements normally included in the honours program. The qualifying year comprises a minimum of five courses equivalent to selected compulsory courses of the honours program at the University of Ottawa.

Official applications for admission should be submitted by the deadlines in effect for graduate studies. Applications received after a deadline will be considered only if positions are available.

As part of their application, applicants must submit a statement (1-2 pages) describing their research interests.

All applicants must be able to understand speak, and write either English or French proficiently . Applicants whose first language is neither English nor French must provide proof of proficiency in one or the other. The list of acceptable tests is indicated in the “Admission” section of the general regulations in effect for graduate studies.

In accordance with the University of Ottawa regulation, assignments, examinations, research papers and theses can be produced in either English or French.