Head of Department: PROF. Haithm Zinhom Morsy
Program Overview: This program aims to prepare students and provide them with knowledge in the field of the study of religion. It targets graduates of the humanities and social sciences, education, tolerance and coexistence, economics and management, communications and public relations, and other related fields, who are interested in deepening their understanding of religions.
Graduates of the program will acquire skills in cultural communication, social scientific research, and an understanding of interconnected human values, which are needed by companies, governmental, and semi-governmental organizations in an increasingly multicultural work environment. Furthermore, this program highlights the degree of religious diversity, coexistence, and tolerance in the UAE, with more than 200 nationalities of various religions and sects coexisting in the country, including many of their places of worship. All of this helps support government initiatives to promote religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the UAE.
Mohammed bin Zayed University for Humanities
College of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research
Master of Study of Religions Academic Plan – 36 credit hours
| Course number | Course name | Credit hours | Prerequisite | Format | Course number | Course name | Credit hours | Prerequisite | Format |
| First year | |||||||||
| Chapter One | Chapter Two | ||||||||
| REL602 | Religions of the ancient world | 3 | None | In-class | REL601 | Philosophy of religion | 3 | None | In-class |
| REL603 | Abrahamic Religions 1 (Islam) | 3 | None | In-class | REL604 | Abrahamic Religions 2 (Judaism and Christianity) | 3 | None | In-class |
| REL605 | Asian Religions1: Hinduism: Buddhism, Sikhism | 3 | None | remote | REL613 | Sociology of Religion | 3 | None | In-class |
| REL607 | Research Methods in Religious Studies | 3 | None | In-class | Elective course | 3 | |||
| Second year | |||||||||
| Elective course | 3 | remote | REL691 | Thesis | REL607 | ||||
| REL691 | Thesis | REL607 | |||||||
Mohammed bin Zayed University for Humanities
College of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research
Study Plan MA in Study of Religions – 36 Credit Hours
| Course number | Course name | Credit hours | Prerequisite | Format |
| First: Required courses (21) credit hours | ||||
| REL601 | Philosophy of religion | 3 | None | In-class |
| REL603 | Abrahamic Religions 1 (Islam) | 3 | None | In-class |
| REL605 | Asian Religions1- Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism | 3 | None | remote |
| REL607 | Research Methods in Religious Studies | 3 | None | In-class |
| REL602 | Religions of the ancient world | 3 | None | In-class |
| REL613 | Sociology of Religion | 3 | None | In-class |
| REL604 | Abrahamic Religions 2 (Judaism and Christianity) | 3 | None | In-class |
| Second: Elective courses (6) credit hours | ||||
| REL608 | Orientalism: Visions and Methods | 3 | None | In-class |
| REL609 | Islam in the World (Europe – Persia – East Asia – Africa) | 3 | None | In-class |
| REL611 | Indigenous Religions | 3 | None | In-class |
| REL606 | Asian Religions 2 – Confucianism, Shinto, and Taoism | 3 | None | remote |
| REL612 | Interfaith Dialogue Theory and Practice | 3 | None | In-class |
| Third: Thesis (9) credit hours | ||||
| REL691 | Thesis | 9 | REL607 | |
Upon completing this program, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of concepts in the field of religious studies.
2. Distinguish common denominators between world religions, thus promoting the values of tolerance and coexistence.
3. Demonstrate the ability to understand cultural communication with adherents of other religions.
4. Develop logical arguments in the study of religions using evidence.
5. Build a scholastic character capable of assuming responsibility.
6. Apply scientific research methods and tools in the study of religions.
7. Write an original scientific research paper that contributes to deepening knowledge in the study of religions worthy of acceptance in a peer-reviewed publication.