Religion
Head: Kenneth MacKendrick
Grad Chair: Elizabeth Alexandrin (UM) & Carlos Colorado (UW)
Campus Address/General Office: 326 Fletcher Argue
Telephone: 204-474-9151
Fax: 204-474-7601
Email Address: Religion@umanitoba.ca
Website: umanitoba.ca/arts/religion

Religion Program Information

The Department of Religion offers a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy in Religion. The M.A. program is a Joint Program in co-operation with the Department of Religion and Culture at the University of Winnipeg. 

Joint Master's Program

The University of Manitoba and The University of Winnipeg together offer the Joint Master's program, with courses and thesis direction (if applicable) offered at both institutions. Students of a JMP are admitted by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at the University of Manitoba. Graduates of Joint Master’s programs receive a joint-institution parchment. Students in the JMP may elect to attend the convocation of either of the two participating universities. The programs are governed by the Joint Discipline Committee (JDC) at the department/unit level, consisting of faculty members of both institutions.

Admission Information

Admission to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Application and Admission Procedures are found in the Academic Guide.

Admission requirements for Master’s students are found in the Master’s Degrees General Regulations section of the Guide.

Religion M.A. Admission Requirements

In addition to the minimum admission requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this calendar, a four-year B.A. (Honours) degree in Religion is the normal preparation for the M.A. program. Applicants without sufficient background for direct admission to the Joint Master's Program may be recommended to the Pre-Master's Program.

Pre-Master's Option

This unit offers a Pre-Master’s program of study. The Pre-Master’s program of study is intended to bring a student’s background up to the equivalent of the required 4-year degree in the major department/unit, and to provide the student with any necessary prerequisites for courses to be taken in the Master’s program. Completing the Pre-Master’s program does not guarantee acceptance to the Master’s program.

Application Information

Students should complete and submit their online application with supporting documentation by the date indicated on the Religion M.A. program of study page.

Degree Requirements 

Two types of programs are available:

Thesis Route

1. Student must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework in Religion at the 7000-level, offered through the U of M or the U of W, or a combination thereof.
2. Students in the JMP program must demonstrate competence in a second language relevant to their program of study.
3. Oral Examination of thesis.

Coursework-based Route

1. Students who choose this route must complete a minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework offered through the U of M or the U of W, or a combination thereof. Of the required 24 credit hours, at least 18 credit hours must be in Religion at the 7000-level. Up to 6 credit hours at the 7000-level may be taken in another Department.
2. Students in the JMP program must demonstrate competence in a second language relevant to their program of study.
3. Students are required to present and defend an original paper.

Language Requirement: Students must demonstrate competence in a second language that is relevant to their program of study. The language requirement is satisfied by the successful completion of a language translation exam or the successful completion of 6 credit hours of coursework in the selected language that is beyond the 1000-level.

Expected Time to Graduate: 2 years

Progression Chart

Thesis Route

Coursework-based/Comprehensive Route

Certain programs of study within religion may require courses outside the Department of Religion.

Registration Information

Students should familiarize themselves with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies ‘GRAD’ courses applicable to their program. If you have questions about which GRAD course(s) to register in, please consult your home department/unit.

To obtain written approval for courses before registration, all students in the Religion Joint Master’s Program must meet either the chair of the Joint Discipline Committee, Religion, or with the department head or designate. All Ph.D. students must meet first with the head, Department of Religion. Course additions and withdrawals must be approved in the same way.

Regulations

Students must meet the requirements as outlined in both Supplementary Regulation and BFAR documents as approved by Senate.

Supplementary Regulations

Individual units may require specific requirements above and beyond those of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and students should consult unit supplementary regulations for these specific regulations. 

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR)

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR) represent the core academic requirements a graduate student must acquire in order to gain, and demonstrate acquisition of, essential knowledge and skills.

All students must successfully complete:

• GRAD 7300 prior to applying to any ethics boards which are appropriate to the student’s research or within the student’s first year, whichever comes first; and
• GRAD 7500 within the first term of registration;

unless these courses have been completed previously, as per Mandatory Academic Integrity Course and Mandatory Research Integrity Online Course.

Students must also meet additional BFAR requirements that may be specified for their program.

General Regulations

All students must:

• maintain a minimum degree grade point average of 3.0 with no grade below C+,
• meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum course requirements, and
• meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum time requirements (in terms of time in program and lapse or expiration of credit of courses).

Courses

Religion