This MA in Religious Studies with a focus on Islam is designed to prepare Christians for ministry in an increasingly diverse religious world. The North East Christian University (NECU) in Dimapur (Nagaland), India, through the Centre for Advanced Religious Studies (CARS) accredits this programme. OCRPL partners with NECU/ CARS to offer an affordable MA degree in a flexible online format. This is particularly suitable for those in ministry, those who cannot take large amounts of time off work or those who are unable to relocate for a duration of study.

The degree is recognised by the University Grants Commission* (UGC) and registered under the Nagaland Government Act 2012 (Act No.4 of 2013), North East Christian University, Nagaland, India.

*UGC is a statutory Organization of the Government of India by an Act of Parliament in 1956, for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of teaching, examination and research in university education.

Programme Details

The MA programme is an online programme that combines both synchronous and asynchronous learning. Students will attend the online lectures or listen to the pre-recorded lectures and engage with the study/reading material. Students will be engaged in a self-directed learning process and be responsible for their study schedule apart from regular weekly seminars and scheduled meetings with their tutor/supervisor. 

The purpose of this MA programme is to help students to understand religions, particularly Christianity and Islam, and their diverse traditions, cultures and interpretations. A special focus is on to the history of Christian-Muslim relations and in understanding theological differences between Islam and Christianity. By the conclusion of the programme, students will be able to critically engage with religious, historical and socio-cultural dimensions of Islam, and evaluate its implications for the Church and Christian mission today.  

Why MA at OCRPL?

• You can study from anywhere in the world without major disruption to your work and ministry (provided you have access to stable Internet).

• Upon successful completion, you will receive a validated degree from a recognised University.

• If eligible for a scholarship, you will receive a degree at a reduced cost (up to 50%).

• You learn from world experts in the field religious studies.

• You become a part of a global network of leaders and scholars.

• You gain research expertise and other transferrable skills, and grow professionally in the process.

• You may want to continue your education and apply for PhD afterward.

• You gain training in critical thinking, writing and researching, and acquire other transferrable skills.

Who is this course designed for?

The programme aimed at Christians who want to receive an MA degree from an internationally recognised university while remaining in their ministry setting.

Examples may be,

• A Christian leader who has significant experience in church who will gain useful expertise for ongoing Christian work in the field of religion and culture.

• Church ministers guiding their constituency in their relations to a majority religion who wish to upgrade their competencies and credentials.

• People involved in the public square, such as Christian development agencies, or individuals working in the fields of religion, politics or Christian ethics.

How is the course delivered?

As the programme is delivered entirely on-line, OCRPL provides a support system to the students wherever they are. All MA course material is available through OCRPL Learning Management System (LMS). Students learn as they participate in lectures and tutorial sessions, work on their reading assignments and write essays. OCRPL uses Turnitin to monitor students’ submission as well as to detect a degree of plagiarism in their work. There is also mid-term examination (quizzes) and a final exam that will determine the outcome of the course. OCRPL monitors attendance and students will not be allowed to sit the final exam if their attendance is less than 75%.

Applicant Requirements

Standard Entry:

• A university Bachelor’s degree from any discipline, second class (minimum 50% marks; average B grade) or equivalent.

Non-standard Entry:

• A Bachelor’s theological degree with at least second class (minimum 50% marks; average B grade) or equivalent, awarded by recognised accrediting and degree awarding bodies in India and or from other countries.

• A successful candidate will need some additional credits in the form of preparatory courses offered by NECU/CARS.

Language Requirements:

• Applicants must be sufficiently proficient in English to complete the programme of study. English proficiency of candidates may be achieved through:

• Successful completion of a full bachelor’s or master’s degree from a recognised and accredited university where the medium of instruction is English.

All eligible students will be required to take an online entrance exam that will evaluate the students’ knowledge of religions and their reading and writing skills.

Costs and Financing Options

Fees

The estimated fees for the entire programme is as follows:

These costs include the NECU Admission Fee and Examination Fee. The fees will be paid to OCRPL and OCRPL will then arrange to pay to NECU on behalf of the students.

Additional fees may be incurred for graduation, registration and residential sessions if a student wants to visit the university (not required by the University).

This course is heavily subsidised to make theological education accessible and affordable. Hence, we request prospective students to pay the fees on time. Students are expected to pay at least 50% of the semester fees before the course starts. They can pay remaining fees in instalments before the completion of each semester. Any delay in payment may affect the progress of studies.

Partial scholarships from OCRPL and its partnering agencies may be available to selected students. Please see or request for a scholarship application and for eligibility here.

Programme Credits

The programme consists of 15 taught courses (72 credits all-together) and a thesis (8 credits). The two-year programme is divided into four semesters with courses amounting to 20 credits per semester.

Timetable

Duration of the Programme

For normal entry, the duration of the MA in Religious Studies programme is two years, consisting of four semesters of five months each. The first and third semesters begin in July and run until November, and the second and the fourth semesters run from January until May.

For those who are not qualified for normal entry, extra course credits are required which can be done either before or during the programme.

Programme Breakdown

The programme consists of (1) Coursework and (2) Thesis or research component:

1. Coursework: By the end of the two years (four semesters), students will take 15 core courses (72 credits). During each course, they will have online lectures (live and recorded), group discussions and tutorials, workshops, reading and writing assignments. Students’ academic progress is assessed via weekly reading assignments and discussion sessions/tutorials, as well as mid-term assessment (quizzes and essay) and a final exam at the end of the course.

2. Thesis: Students are also required to write an MA thesis (8 credits) at the end of the programme. Students start working on their thesis proposal and then the thesis itself in the fourth semester. A multi-disciplinary approach will also be encouraged. The thesis should be around 10,000-12,000 words. Research skills will be taught in the first year so that the student is familiar with the writing and research methods required. A research guide/subject expert will supervise each student.

Post Graduate Research and Study Skills – 5 credits

This course is designed to help new students develop good study habits and critical thinking skills in order to enhance academic studies. It will also enable students to read, comprehend and respond effectively to various types of literary texts. Students will learn to appreciate and critique pieces of writing, exploring issues raised in theological and academic texts.
Introduction to World Religions – 5 credits
The Introduction to Major World Religions course is a broad overview of the dominant religions across the globe. The course introduces learners to the field of religious studies and presents each of the major world religions before examining in greater depth the essence, origins, history, features and functions of the various religions. Through this, the course seeks to help the learners understand these religions in their contexts and motivate them to investigate further for an in-depth understanding. As a result, learners will then have a greater understanding of the similarities and differences between these religions and their relation to Jesus, His message and His church. Students will then better understand people with other religious beliefs, thus strengthening their public engagement, ministry and personal perception.

Understanding the Bible for Theology and Ministry – 5 credits

Understanding the Bible for Theology and Ministry is a detailed course which examines the significance and meaning of the Bible, its interpretation, and the implication that it has for today’s context. The course teaches some important guidelines in the exegesis of Biblical passages, showing how to understand a passage as it was originally read and providing practical insight into transferring the meaning of Scripture to a contemporary context. Ultimately, Understanding the Bible for Theology and Ministry enables learners to better understand what God is saying through His Word, thus giving the course significant and rewarding long-term effects.

Introduction to Quranic Arabic – 5 credits

This is a foundation in Qur’anic Arabic, enabling the students to read and write the Arabic script, to transliterate Arabic words, to learn the Arabic vocabularies and grammar, and to create a base to enable further advanced study of the language.

Research methodology in the study of religion – 5 credits

Students will be introduced to Ninian Smart and his ‘Seven Dimensions of Religion.’ They will learn and critically examine the following approaches to the study of religion: Historical approach, Textual approach, Sociological approach, Anthropological approach, Phenomenology of religion, Philosophical and Theological approaches, Confessional approach/ Christian approach to the study of religion, and Empathetic approach.

Introduction to Islam – 5 credits

This course serves as an introduction to Islam, one of the main world religions. It provides an overview of major themes in Islamic studies: a brief history of Islam; beliefs and practices; sources of Islam and diversity in Islam. It also has a comparative element, encouraging students to reflect on Islam and Christianity.

Introduction to Indigenous Religions – 5 credits

This course will help students understand the origin, developments, and major characteristics of Indigenous Religions, and to know their values and ongoing influences on various societies and cultures. Furthermore, this course will assist students in discerning the various contemporary issues and challenges they pose to inter-religious harmony and peaceful coexistence, with the aim of helping to create meaningful engagements with indigenous religion adherents with gospel principles and Christian commitment.

Understanding Christian Theology in the Context of Other Religions – 5 credits

In this course, the students will learn the value of a careful and systematic study of Christian doctrine to discern how to live, think, and relate with other faiths/religions. It will provide a good understanding of Christian doctrine, such as revelation, Scripture, God, Church, etc. – in relation with other faiths, especially with the prevalent faith in their context.

History of Islam from pre-Islamic Arabia to the Present Day – 5 credits

The course provides a survey of Islamic history starting from pre-historic Arabia and the life of Muhammad until Islam in our present day.

Living Islam: introduction to Islamic practices and beliefs – 5 credits

This is an introductory course for Islamic beliefs and practices in Islam. Students will learn about key articles of belief in Islam such as God, angels, books, prophets, the Day of Resurrection and predestination. In addition, students will also study other tenets of Islamic faith such as tawid (oneness of God), shirk (partnership/ idolatry) and bid‘ah (innovation).
They will learn about Islamic practices, also known as the Five Pillars of Islam, Creed, Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving and Pilgrimage. Special attention is given to the Islamic law – Shariah, and the “spiritual struggle” also known as Jihad. This course concludes with a discussion on family life in Islam, the position of women, and slavery.

Islamic scripture and tradition (Qur’an, hadith and tafsir) – 5 credits

This course is designed to introduce students to the foundational sources of Islam – the Qur’an and hadith, as well as the science of interpretation of the Qur’an – tafsir. By reading the primary texts and supplementing with secondary literature for historical context, considering theology and development of ideas, students will gain an advanced understanding on how Muslims approach and interpret their Scripture and Traditions.
Students will explore the structure and format of the Qur’an, its content and main themes, its style and literary features, and its position and function in the life of Muslims and Islamic society. This course provides a critical examination of the historical origin and compilation of the Qur’an.

Diversity in Islam – 5 credits

A course introduces students to the diversity of Islam with emphasis on the following categories: (1) classical; (2) Sufi; folk; (3) modern/ reformed/ radical. Students will also cover the geographical diversity of Muslim communities across the world including a phenomenon that is often described as a ‘globalized Islam’.

Academic writing and proposal writing – 2 credits

This course serves as further preparation and training in academic writing. It is particularly focused on thesis proposals and the thesis itself. It helps students to design a research proposal, which they must submit and defend at the conclusion of the course.

History of Christian-Muslim encounters – 5 credits

This course explores the main themes in Christian-Muslim encounters from the time of Muhammed until today. It covers a wide variety of historical precedencies and contexts. Special attention is placed on early and medieval encounters as well as more recent examples such as Nostra Aetate and Common Word documents. Students will also discuss the modern-day initiatives such as Christian-Muslim dialogue and Scripture reasoning and the reality of persecution of Christians in the Muslim-majority countries.

Theological themes in Christian-Muslim encounters – 5 credits

This course provides an overview of historical and present day theological engagement between Christian and Muslims. The students will have an opportunity to discuss topics such as the concept of God in Islam and Christianity, prophethood, Scripture and revelation as well as salvation and redemption.

Mini-Thesis – 8 credits

Completing a thesis is a requirement for each student (8 credits). Thesis writing starts in the second year from the first semester onwards. Each student will select a topic related to his or her area of interest. A multi-disciplinary approach will also be encouraged.
The thesis should be around 10,000-12,000 words (20-25 pages). Research skills will be taught in the first year, so that the student will have become familiar with the writing and research methods required. A research guide/subject expert will supervise each student.

Application dates:

Applications for the master’s programme are open until the 30th June of every year. Late submissions may be considered at the discretion of the OCRPL and NECU Academic Committees.

Current deadline: 30^th June 2023.

How to apply:

Please make sure you include the following with this application form (scanned copies are acceptable).

• A passport-sized photograph.

• Academic qualification record starting from matriculation, with all supporting documents (pass certificates and mark sheets).

• Letter of recommendation from your church.

• Personal testimony (about 750 words).

• Reference letter from a referee or spiritual leader.

• Ministry experience reports.

Application fee:

There is no application fee for applying to OCRPL. However, NECU will charge an application and examination fee which is incorporated within the course fee.

Partial scholarship (up to 50% of tuition cost) is available only for selected candidates from the Global South. Please see the scholarship application here [Please insert a hyperlink here]

The Application Process

1. Candidates apply online and submittal required documents.

2. OCRPL considers application, contacts referees independently for their recommendations, and selects suitable candidates for an interview.

3. Eligible students will have an online entrance exam using Zoom.

4. OCRPL arranges a further Zoom interview with eligible and qualified candidates post entrance examination.

5. If the interview is successful, OCRPL offers a candidate a conditional offer.

6. Students sign Student Contract and Student Fee Notice prior to the beginning of the programme.

7. Students pay the fee as stipulated and agreed.

Admission decisions are based on a composite of information including:

• Your previous academic performance.

• The strategic location of your institution.

• Comments from referees.

• Interview process and outcome.