Course Details

A coursework Master of Theology degree requires a high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence and, in some cases, demonstration of the ability to relate knowledge to a range of contexts for professional practice. It must contain a research component at NQF level 9, culminating in the acceptance of a mini-dissertation or other forms of research such as technical reports, creative performances or works, or a series of peer-reviewed articles or other research equivalent outputs.

The MTh programme is a virtual programme that combines both synchronic and asynchronic learning. Students will attend all the lectures online by accessing pre-recorded lectures and engaging with the study/reading material. Every week, students will participate in a Zoom discussion session based on the relevant lecture and attend additional enrichment sessions. Apart from regular weekly seminars and scheduled meetings with a tutor/supervisor, students will be engaged in the self-directed learning process and be responsible for their study schedule.

The purpose of this course is to help students to understand diverse traditions, cultures and interpretations that constitute various Islamic traditions. By the conclusion of the course, students will be able to engage with religious and cultural dimensions of the Islamic world critically and evaluate its implications for the Church and Christian mission today.

At the master’s level, a mini-dissertation must be submitted. The research component of the master’s degree requires a student to demonstrate that he or she has achieved mastery in a specific academic field, acquired a body of advanced-level knowledge, and has applied skills of critical analysis and evaluation to the results of the research. Students awarded a master’s degree should have acquired the intellectual skills to pursue further studies or research in a largely self-directed, independent manner. Importantly, a master’s degree does not require that the student completes original research that makes a novel contribution to the body of knowledge in the field.¹

Why OCRPL?

• You can study from anywhere around 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 world-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 of Islamic 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 a PhD afterwards.

• The course allows students to progress academically and not only get a degree from a reputable university but also gain training in critical thinking, writing, research and other transferrable skills.

Who is this course designed for?

The programme is designed for Christians who want to receive a degree from an internationally recognised university while remaining in their ministry setting. OCRPL is keen to equip future Christian leaders, particularly those who intend to teach Islamic studies and set up Islamic departments in their local universities, colleges or seminaries. The degree is recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and will suit those who want to continue their education at the PhD level.

Examples may be:

• A seminary lecturer from the Global South who seeks a master’s degree in order to teach in the field of religion and culture.

• A mission leader who has significant experience in missions who will gain expertise applicable for ongoing mission work in the field of religion and culture.

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

• People involved in ministry in the public square, such as Christian development, religion, politics or Christian ethics.

How is the course delivered?

As the programme is entirely online, OCRPL provides a support system to the students wherever they are. Each student is assigned a tutor while they are doing coursework, and a supervisor when they work on their thesis. Tutors and supervisors are students’ first point of contact if any issue arises. Students submit monthly reports on their study progress, and bi-annual reports for their sponsoring body and OCRPL.

OCRPL uses Turnitin to monitor students’ submissions and to check their work for plagiarism.

OCRPL monitors attendance. Students are encouraged to catch up and watch the recorded sessions if they miss a session.

Applicant Requirements

Standard Entry

• A candidate wishing to enrol for the master’s programme needs to have a university degree in theology with a second-class honours as a minimum requirement. Possession of a master’s degree in theology or the humanities is preferable.

• A candidate should have an appropriate honours degree, or an equivalent qualification at NQF Level 8 in the same or a relevant field of study.¹

Non-standard Entry

• An applicant holding qualifications other than those stated above shall be considered on his or her merits and in relation to the nature and scope of the programme of work proposed. OCRPL looks for evidence of the candidate’s equivalent ability, research skills, background knowledge and training in relation to the proposed research. Professional experience, publications, written reports or other appropriate evidence of their accomplishment and potential to undertake sound research at postgraduate level are taken into consideration.

Language Requirements

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

• Being a national of a majority English-speaking country.

• A minimum IELTS score in academic English of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.5 in the reading and written components.

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

• Applicants will be asked to provide such evidence as is deemed necessary by OCRPL.

SAQA certificate

If you aim to enrol at the University in Pretoria (UP), you will be required to acquire SAQA clearance first. SAQA is the South African Qualifications Authority that evaluates oversees diplomas and assigns a score for them. A minimum required score for the MTh programme at UP is eight.

Students who have an insufficient score (less than 8) or decide not to have SAQA clearance can consider studying at the OCRPL programme in partnership with Institut Universitaire de Développement International (IUDI), Cameroon.

OCRPL knows which institutions are recognised by SAQA for their qualifications. These are mainly state-recognised universities but do include some other theological training institutions. Before deciding which university to apply for, we would recommend checking first with OCRPL as to whether your institutional qualification at bachelor’s level is on the SAQA list. From our experience with previous candidates, we can also tell you some institutions that are definitely not on SAQA’s list.

Important: The candidates considering U P should apply for SAQA clearance well ahead of time. Getting clearance from SAQA is a lengthy process and fees vary. The candidates will cover the SAQA fees themselves. One can apply for SAQA online: https://www.saqa.org.za/.

Costs and Financing Options

Fees

Fees are invoiced annually. At the start of the programme students are required to pay a registration and admission fee of $150. Students will be invoiced for the rest of the year and may pay in full or by instalments. Students’ study progress is affected or even terminated if the fees are not paid or payment plan not agreed.

Fee Rates

The estimated fees for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 years at UP are as follows:
1st Year: $1,350
2nd Year: $1,350
Total: $2,700

The estimated fees for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 years at IUDI are as follows:
1st Year: $825
2nd Year: $825
Total: $1,650

Partial scholarships from OCRPL and its partnering agencies may be available to select students.

Need more information?

Contact Us

¹ University of Pretoria 2022 General Academic Regulations and Student Rules.

Course Credits

The programme consists of five taught modules followed by a mini-dissertation. The first module is an intensive two-week Research Methodology seminar. Following this, students meet for weekly online sessions (except for the Easter break). Students will complete preparatory readings and submit their reading assignments before each session. At the end of each module, students write an essay (10 pages). OCRPL offers Qur’anic Arabic for Beginners alongside the coursework.

Once students finish with their coursework, they commence writing their mini-dissertation (60-62 pages). Students should submit their dissertation worth 90 credits within a six-month period. On completion of the programme, the student will have achieved 180 credits.

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Course Breakdown (2022)

Course Breakdown (2023)

Duration of the Programme

Normally the duration of the MTh programme is 18-24 months with a two-week online intensive seminar on Research Methodology that counts as a residential conference.

There is a possibility of finishing the whole programme in one year, if the student successfully submits all the assignments and MTh mini-dissertation ahead of schedule.

Module Descriptions

Module 1: Research Methodology (BYB 813) – 20 Credits

Students will learn about Ninian Smart and his Seven Dimensions of Religion. They will learn and critically examine the following approaches to the study of religion (and specifically the study of Islam): Historical approach, textual approach, sociological approach, anthropological approach, phenomenology of religion, philosophical and theological approaches, confessional approach/Christian approach to the study of Islam, and empathetic approach to the study of religions/Islam.

Module 2: Living Islam (BYB 814) – 20 Credits

Islam is the one of the fastest growing religions with more than 1.8 billion followers across the world. Founded by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the seventh century, Islam rapidly spread through military conquest, commerce, and the efforts of missionaries and Sufi mystics. Its current significance goes beyond religion and culture to the spheres of politics, finance, and security, among others. It is thus vital to have a thorough grasp of Islam, its sources, interpretations, and expressions as well to be able to critically evaluate the current implications and impact that this religion and its followers have in the world, and particularly on the Christian community.

This comprehensive course on Islam starts with a module on Living Islam. Students will examine the core beliefs and practices of Islam within their historical and cultural contexts. Understanding the foundational beliefs of Islam should be done in reference to its foundational sources (Qur’an and Hadith) and the role of reason. Islamic practices are explored by looking at the Five Pillars of Islam – Creed, Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving and Pilgrimage. Special attention is given to Islamic law – Shari‘a – and the “spiritual struggle” also known as Jihad. Students will also look into the diversity of Islamic expressions, whether Sufism, Folk Islam, Islamist or other contemporary forms. Students will make have an in-depth examination of Muslim missionary efforts or da‘wa, conversion to Islam and blasphemy laws. This module concludes with a discussion on family life in Islam, the position of women, and slavery in Islam.

Module 3: Hermeneutics (BYB 823) – 10 Credits

This module focuses on the Islamic main sources – the Qur’an and Hadith (tradition) – and Qur’anic interpretation (tafsir). By reading the primary texts and supplementing with secondary literature for historical context, theology and development of ideas, students will gain an advanced understanding on how Muslims approach and interpret their scripture and tradition.

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 module provides a critical examination of the historical origin and compilation of the Qur’an. Particular attention will be given to the Uthmanic recension and textual variants, and Qur’anic codices/collections. Epistemological questions of revelation (wahy) and abrogation (naskh) will be also addressed. The Qur’an will be studied thematically, especially its Biblical subtext, covering narratives about Jesus and Mary, Jews, prophets, Jesus’ death and crucifixion, and the Trinity, among other topics.

This module also covers the Hadith (traditions), the second most authoritative source in Islam. This has been variously classified by Muslims as well as Western scholars such as John Wansbrough and Andrew Rippin. Students will survey the Hadith’s literary genre; historical context and the role Hadith plays in the synthesis of Islamic beliefs and practices. Just as with the Qur’an, particular attention will be given to the critical examination of Hadith origin, historicity of the texts and authorship.

Finally, the module will have several sessions on tafsir or the Qur’anic commentary, an extensive body of literature spanning from the early period of Islam to modern days. Muslims believe that one can understand the Qur’an only through its commentary, and as such it is an important hermeneutical tool in Islamic theology. Students will familiarise themselves with different commentators, classical and modern, and their contribution to Islamic theology and practices. This will be approached critically and examined through the lens of academic scholarship.

Module 4: History of Islam (BYB 815) – 20 Credits

This module covers the history of Islam from its formative period (seventh century) to the rise of European Empires (sixteeth to nineteenth centuries). The formative period is covered in the first four lectures starting with pre-Islamic Arabia and its religious makeup – polytheism, Christianity and Judaism among others. According to Islamic tradition their Prophet declared himself to be a messenger of God who received a revelation from an angel, Gabriel. He started preaching the religion of Islam, meaning “submission”, in his hometown of Mecca and then in the city of Medina. His preaching and ministry are divided into two periods – Meccan and Medinan, with the later period described as increasingly militant and expansionist. The rule of Muhammad’s first four successors is known as the “Rashidun Caliphate” (the rule of the “Rightly guided” caliphs). It was characterised by a rapid expansion but also by internal split that culminated in the schism between Shias and Sunnis, a 1,400-year-old divide that still divides the Muslim community now.

This module covers the period from the pre-Islamic Arabia and early stages of the spread of Islam to the rise of European colonialism in the Muslim world. The module covers different periods and caliphates: expansion under the Umayyads (661-750AD) and the Abbasids (750-1258AD), Umayyads in Cordoba, Spain and the Fatimid Caliphate in North Africa (909-1171), the period under the Seljuk Turks and the Ottoman Empire as well as Mongol invasion and Crusades. The emphasis is on the Christian community/ minority and their experience during this period.

Module 5: Christian-Muslim Encounters (BYB 816) – 20 Credits

Islam in Africa, its historical complexity and diversity, will be discussed in the last module. Students will learn about Islam in its African context, how it was accommodated, developed and spread. An example of this will be the Mali Empire, Kanem-Bornu Empire, and Sokoto Caliphate. Particular attention will be given to Christian-Muslim relations in Africa, and its current dynamics and interactions.

Students will also analyse the role of the reformist movement and its key thinkers such as Jamal Al-Din Al-Afghani, Muhammed Abduh, Abul A’la Maududi, Hasan Al-Banna and Sayyid Qutb, among others. Their legacy and the growth of Islamist movements such as Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Qaeda and others will be discussed. Progressive thinkers in Islam and their role and impact will also be under scrutiny.

Understanding current events and world issues will be difficult without grasping the events that led to them. Encounters in the modern world will be discussed in the context of the Middle East, where conflict in Israel has been the ongoing flashpoint, the Iranian revolution and its legacy as a game-changer, as well as more recent conflicts in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. The second lecture on encounters in the modern world will focus on Islam in the West and the unfolding process of Islamisation, often backed by oil money from Saudi Arabia as well as other Muslim-majority countries.

The final lecture is on Christian-Muslim encounters and dialogue. The rise of inter-faith dialogue and scripture reasoning is a case in point. There is also another aspect of this encounter, and this is to do with persecution of Christians in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, which has intensified in recent decades.

Application dates:

Applications for the 2023 MTh programme may be made from 1 June 2022 to 31 October 2022. Later applications may be considered at the discretion of the OCRPL administration and MTh coordinator.

How to apply:

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

• Copies of all academic qualifications including academic transcripts and accompanying degree certificates.

• A letter from your employer endorsing your study.

• A passport-sized photograph.

• Proof of linguistic proficiency where applicable.

• SAQA certificate (if applicable).

• An essay on Islam as stipulated on the application from.

• Referees’ details.

Application fee:

Upon admission to the programme students pay a registration and admission fee of $150. Students cover the rest of their fees either in full or by instalment according to an arranged payment plan. The student, student’s institution or sponsoring body will be requested to cover the fees for the course.

Partial scholarship (up to 50% of tuition cost) is available only for selected candidates from the Global South. Please download the scholarship application here.

The Application Process

Only for University of Pretoria applicants: If you already have a SAQA clearance (no less than an NQF level 8), please follow the steps below. If you are planning to apply for UP, but do not have SAQA clearance please contact OCRPL for an informal assessment of your qualification first. If all is well, please apply for SAQA as soon as possible: https://www.saqa.org.za/. UP and IUDI applicants:

• Candidates apply online and submit all required documents.

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

• OCRPL arranges a Zoom interview with potential candidates.

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

• OCRPL helps students with registration at UP (only if SAQA clearance is acquired) by 31^st of August 2022; and IUDI (no SAQA clearance required) by 15^th of December 2022.

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

• Students pay registration fee and tuition fee as stipulated and agreed.

Students must pay the registration fee and tuition fee as stipulated and agreed. Admission decisions are based on a composite of information including:

• Your previous academic performance.

• The intention of your institution to offer a MTh Programme in Religion and Culture (with an emphasis on Islamic studies) and your commitment to teach there.

• The strategic location of your institution.

• Your submitted essay on Islam (a critical part of the application).

• Comments from referees.

• Interview process and outcome.