Religious and Cultural Studies is a field of study integrating Judeo-Christianity & African Traditional Religion. In keeping with the philosophy of the University of Nigeria, the programme emphasizes the application of religious truth to the cultural environment of Africa. Students are exposed to the basic theological positions of Islam and other world religions with emphasis on Christianity and this enables man to understand his environment and hence able to master his destiny.

 

OBJECTIVES

The general objectives of the programme are to provide students with adequate knowledge, attitudes, values and skills generic to religious and cultural studies. Specifically the programme is drawn to provide students with basic methods of:

  1. Interpreting the Bible and Christian tradition from an African perspective;
  2. Explaining ethical relationship in a multi-religious society like Nigeria;
  3. Delineating impartial approach towards the handling of religious concepts;
  4. Resolving conflict from religious and Afro-cultural standpoints;
  5. Handling problems and challenges of religious belief in a science–oriented environment;
  6. Explaining the resilience and challenges of African Traditional Religious and Cultural belief in a Christian-dominated environment.

 

SCOPE

Religious and Cultural Studies Programme harnesses appropriate knowledge to incorporating students penchant and interest in the quality as well as cordial human relationship in a multi-religious and morally decadent society. It acquaints students with core contents of Christianity, African Traditional Religion and cultural practices, the basic content of Islam and Eastern Religions. The programme lasts for one year. The Programme is carefully structured to reflect adequately those required areas of knowledge, strengthening the rudiments of Judeo-Christianity and African Traditional Religion. Students are expected to learn the dynamics of religion in a multi-religio-cultural environment as Nigeria. Basic ethical demands in Afro-cultural environment are stressed. In the final year the programme is designed to apply Christian and African Traditional Religious beliefs to conflict resolution. The problems of Early Christianity and the resilience of African Cultural practices are highlighted.

 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

 

  1. PGD Programme
  1. Candidates with Bachelors Degree in areas other than religion.
  2. Holders of 3rd class degree in Religion of reputable Universities in Nigeria are eligible to apply.
  3. Candidates with Bachelor of Divinity are eligible to apply.

 

  1. M.A. Programme

All candidates must possess the minimum of five Ordinary Level Credit Passes which must include English Language and any four of the Arts and Social Science subjects.

 

Candidates must possess a good Bachelors degree in Religion and its variants (e.g. Religious Studies, Religious and Cultural Studies, Religious Management and Cultural Studies, Islamic or Christian Religious Studies, Theology, etc.), not lower than a Second Class Lower division, from a recognized university.

 

All candidates shall be subjected to a selection process.

 

  1. Ph.D Programme

 

Candidate must possess a good Master’s degree in Religion or its variants from a recognized university, with a CGPA not below 3.5 on a five-point scale. Candidates who did not make up to 3.5 will be required to required to register for the M.Phil/Ph.D programme. Such candidates must present two seminars and a research proposal for grading and must score a minimum CGPA of 3.5 before proceeding to the Ph.D, otherwise the M.Phil Degree should be awarded upon the submission of thesis. This thesis should be examined following the procedure of a Ph.D Thesis.

 

 

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION: M.A.AND PH.D

 

  1. Biblical Studies: Old Testament
  2. Biblical Studies: New Testament
  • Church History
  1. African Traditional Religion
  2. Religion and Society
  3. Religion and Conflict Resolution

 

DURATION OF PROGRAMMES

 

PGD

Maximum and minimum duration of Postgraduate Diploma programme shall be:

  1. Full – Time:      Two semesters minimum; four semesters maximum
  2. Sandwich: Two contacts minimum; four semesters maximum (long vacation)

 

MA

  1. a) The Full-timeA. programme would run a minimum of three semesters, and a maximum of four semesters.
  2. b) The part timeA. programme would run for a minimum of six semesters and maximum of eight semesters

 

PhD

  1. a) The Full-timeD. programme would run for a minimum of six semesters, and a maximum of eight semesters.
  2. b) The part timeD. programme would run for eight semesters and maximum of ten semesters

 

Requirements for graduation

 

M.A. Programme

  1. I) To be awarded the M.A. degree a student must have taken and passed the prescribed number of compulsory and required courses selected from the approved list, and totaling 30 units as follows:

 

Core courses                                       24 units

Thesis/Dissertation                               6 units

Total                                                    30 units

  1. II) In all cases, M. A. students must write and submit to the department a dissertation duly supervised by a lecturer in the department whose qualifications are not below the Ph.D. Such a dissertation must be defended before an external examiner nominated by the department and appointed by Senate for that purpose.

 

Ph.D. Programme

To graduate, all the Ph.D. candidates must take and pass all the requisite courses as prescribed in the Ph.D course list below totaling 27 units as follows:

Core Courses                          18 units

Thesis                                      9 units

Total                                        27 units

 

Every Ph.D. candidate must submit a thesis on a chosen and approved topic, supervised by a member of staff whose qualification is not below the Ph.D, and who is not lower than Senior Lecturer in rank.

 

The Ph.D. thesis must be defended before an external examiner dully nominated for that purpose and appointed by Senate.