Course of Study
The Master of Arts in Intercultural Theology is a two-year, full-time program conducted in English, requiring the completion of 120 ECTS credits. Starting in the Winter Semester 2025-2026, the program will be fully based in Göttingen, where students will reside for the duration of their studies.
[Details on accommodation options and the revised curriculum will be announced shortly. Students who began the program before the Winter Semester of 2025 will have the option to complete their studies under the previous regulations. Where required courses are no longer available, suitable alternatives will be offered on an individual basis.]
Since the Winter Semester of 2009 and continuing until the Summer Semester of 2025, the program has been offered in cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences for Intercultural Theology in Hermannsburg. During this time, students typically spent the first semester, and in some cases, both the first and second semesters, living and studying on the Hermannsburg campus while commuting to Göttingen several times a week. This phase of the program focused on cultural diversity within Christianity and its interactions with other religions while also covering intercultural communication, basic German, and ancient languages such as Arabic, Greek, and Hebrew.
In the second year, students begin developing their research projects and conducting fieldwork. In previous years, many students engaged in international research fieldwork through Erasmus partnerships in countries across Europe or at partner institutions in locations such as India, Ethiopia, Korea, Japan, the USA, Ghana, Lebanon, Armenia, Estonia, Indonesia, Tanzania, China, and Belarus, among others. Alternatively, some choose to conduct their fieldwork within Germany.
The Master’s thesis typically begins in February of the third semester, based on the research conducted during the semester, allowing students 20 weeks to complete their writing. Successful completion results in the award of the title “Master of Arts in Intercultural Theology.”
Program Structure (2009-2025)
1. Winter semester
- M.IntTheol.01: Processes of Translation, Inculturation, and Intercultural Communication
- M.IntTheol.02: Christianity in an Intercultural Perspective
- M.IntTheol.03: Cross-Culture I
- M.IntTheol.04: Language Instruction – German
- M.IntTheol.14:Theories of Religions (14.01), Concepts of Healing and Salvation in Ancient Religions (Paganism, Judaism, Christianity) (14.02), The early Christians in a World Full of God: Cultural Encounter and Religious Debate (14.03), Ethical Expertise in the Horizon of Religion (14.05), Literacy and Education in Religion (14.06), Concepts and Theories of Religious Counselling (14.07), Importance of Law and Legislation in Religions (14.08), Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Europe (14.09)
- M.IntTheol.06: Arabic, Biblical Hebrew, New Testament Greek, Latin
Elective Courses (at the Faculty of Theology, University of Göttingen)
Optional Language Courses
2. Summer semester
- M.IntTheol.05: Religions, Churches and Theology in Europe and the Western World
- M.IntTheol.07: Religions, Churches and Theology in Africa
- M.IntTheol.08a: Religions, Churches and Theology in Asia and the Middle East
- M.IntTheol.09a: Cross-Culture II
3. Winter semester
- M.IntTheol.10: Theology in Context
- M.IntTheol.11: Cross-Culture III
- M.IntTheol.15: Professional Perspectives in Intercultural Theology
4. Summer semester
- M.IntTheol.16: Research in Intercultural Theology (Final Module)
Forms of Assessment
- Written and oral examinations
- Reports and presentations
- Master's thesis