Faculty of Philosophy of Moscow State University

Moscow Lomonosovsky Prospekt 27, k. 4, Shuvalovsky building

The Religious

Innovative Master's Program of Moscow State University

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Landscape of Asia

The Religious Landscape of Asia

WORKLOAD: 120 credits
TEACHING LANGUAGE: English

learning conditions

MASTER’S IN: Religious Studies
DURATION: 2 years

TUITION FEE: 534 000 RUB/year (international rate);
383 550 RUB/year (domestic rate)

This Master’s program will take you on a unique journey through the religions of the great and mysterious Asia, introduce you to the values that its peoples seek to express in religious teachings and symbols, to the beliefs and cult practices that originated in ancient times and still define the lives of many people both in the East and in the West at present. Students will deepen and expand their knowledge about the variety of religious experiences and current trends in the development of state-confessional, interreligious, and intercultural interactions in Asian countries.

The program focuses on the history, teaching, traditions, religious and state institutions in Asia, religious experience, philosophy, and anthropology of religions, the influence of religions on spiritual and social life, to arts and everyday culture in the broad region from China and East Asia to South, South-East Asia, and the Middle East. We will discuss different schools of Buddhism, Islam, Taoism, Shinto, Hindu, popular and folk religions, etc., as well as the perception of Asian religions in Western culture and vice versa.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Master’s program is based on the educational standard of Lomonosov Moscow University, which implies compliance with academic ethics, respect for the religious feelings of believers, an interdisciplinary approach, and a combination of classical and topical research strategies of religious studies. The training includes lectures, seminars, and self-study, as well as area studies and teaching practices. Electives, as well as a Master’s Thesis, allow the students to delve into a topic of particular interest. Tests, written tests, essays, and exams are used in the assessment of knowledge. The teachers and staff of the program strive to establish a friendly atmosphere and academically support students from admission to graduation.

BENEFITS

Develop advanced skills in the conceptual understanding of the specifics of the intellectual culture of Asian countries and the trends of changes in the religious landscape in the Asian region in the modern era

Leading scholars of the Moscow State University, professors of the Faculty of Philosophy, the Institute of Asian and African Studies and the of School of Public Administration offer lectures, seminars, and regular contact hours

Expand and develop your skills to confidently navigate modern problems of religious studies and philosophy of religion

Foreign students can take Russian as a second language at no extra cost

Develop the ability to analyze modern government-confessional relations in Asian countries, to assess and predict risks in the field of interethnic and interreligious relations

Research opportunities for extended and in-depth studies of the religious landscape of a particular region, depending on the individual interest of the student

This Master's program will be useful for:

● academic researchers specialising in cultural and religious studies;
● communicators in humanitarian fields, culture, religions, politics with Asia and Middle East;
● civil servants, employees of governmental and private agencies who are responsible for the development of cultural communication with Asia;
● those engaged in NGO activities, employees of state and public organisations working with Asian countries;
● curators, museum workers, managers in cultural and educational institutions, cultural heritage sector, youth cultural centers;
● educators in all tiers of education;
● analysts and researchers for mass media, including print, television, radio, and online media.

CAREERS