Masters in Interreligious Studies

From examining the terminology used by different religions to experiencing faith communities other than your own, our students are immersed in a collective – rather than comparative – application of theological education – strengthened by interfaith dialogue with faculty and peers.

You will graduate with confidence in your knowledge of the foundational concepts of Abrahamic religions and the role of faith in local, social, and political contexts, as well as advanced-level research experience that enables you to articulate this understanding in professional roles across fields that apply faith as a means to care for others.

Program Structure

The MA in Interreligious Studies (MAIRS) is a 36-credit-hour academic graduate degree curriculum built around the engagement of students from different religious traditions who study the various topics and disciplines of religion and develop skills in religious performance. Students complete core interreligious coursework, choose a specialization and complete a final capstone project or thesis.

Students choose one of three specializations:

Interreligious Studies
Islamic Studies
Ministerial Studies (Please select this specialization if you are interested in the Cooperative M.Div. pathway)

Language Proficiency in reading scriptural texts, such as Hebrew, New Testament Greek, or Qur’anic Arabic is highly recommended for students in the Ministerial Studies specialization or the Islamic Studies specialization.

The MAIRS curriculum is built around the engagement of students from different religious traditions who study the various topics and disciplines of religion, and who develop skills in religious performance. These four courses serve as the basis of the MAIRS curriculum and experience.

MAIRS Core Requirments

Gateway Course (3 credits)

The gateway course to the degree, and one shared by the MA in Peacebuilding is DI-550: Introduction to Interreligious Studies, an intersectional, integrative course that promotes deep understanding of worldviews different from one’s own. The course integrates theory and practice in exploring how diverse individuals and groups understand “religion” and how those with differing understandings relate to one another.

Co-Taught Seminary (6 credits)

Students will choose two of the following:

RS-525: American Religious Realities
IP-611: Peace, Justice and Violence in the Sacred Texts
TH-513: The Faiths as Formal Realities

Specialization (24 credits)

Students will choose one of the following specializations:

Interreligious Studies

Students select 8 elective courses in consultation with their advisor.

Islamic Studies
- 4 courses in Foundational Fields
- 2 courses in Beliefs and Practices
- 1 course in Religious Pluralism
- 1 elective in any of the areas above, or a course in the Arabic language.
Ministerial Studies
- 2 courses in Scripture
- 2 courses in Arts of Ministry
- 2 courses in Foundations of the Christian Faith
- 2 courses in Beliefs and Practices
Students who choose the Ministerial Studies specialization may join our Cooperative Master of Divinity program. Cooperative Master of Divinity students learn together with colleagues from other religious traditions, developing knowledge and building skills for ministry in a multifaith world, before moving on to complete degrees at Yale Divinity School, Boston University School of Theology, Drew Theological School or Chicago Theological Seminary’s online program.

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Final Requirement (3 credits)

Students will select between a final project or thesis. Completion of a thesis is strongly recommended for students considering further graduate study, particularly a Ph.D., at any point in their future. Students in the Ministerial Studies specialization who intend to transfer to one of our partner schools to complete the M.Div. will take an additional elective instead of completing a final requirement.
1. Articulate your own worldview or religious belief system while empathically and respectfully engaging people whose worldviews, religious practices, and religious beliefs differ from your own
2. Demonstrate fluency in the foundational concepts, insights and methods of Interreligious Studies and the application of those methods within contemporary multifaith settings.
  
  Explain and use important theoretical approaches to religious studies.
  
  Provide clear and empathic restatements of the beliefs and perspectives of several religious traditions.
  
  Illustrate how religions help people promote peace or harm, both within and between communities.
3. At the level needed to take part in substantive dialogue, demonstrate knowledge of the roles of the scriptures and sacred texts of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
  
  Identify the scriptures and sacred texts of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, including their major divisions and parts.
  
  Explain and differentiate between various methods of historical and contemporary scriptural interpretation by adherents, paying attention to both the differences within and differences between religions.
4. At the level needed to take part in substantive study, demonstrate knowledge of the theological and legal traditions within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
  
  Identify and explain the major tenets and religious worldviews of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
  
  Describe the major branches of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and the theological and/or legal differences between them.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of the current state of religious pluralism of the United States.
  
  List and describe the major religious communities in the United States, noting the specific contributions of each major religious community to a religiously plural America.
  
  Be able to explain how religious identity in the US plays a part in intersectional identities that may also include dimensions such as race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual identity.
6. Express your ideas and perspectives clearly in oral and written communication.
  
  Write sustained, coherent arguments or explanations in clear academic English, with well-formed sentences and paragraphs.
  
  Create or deliver clear, engaging, and succinct presentations that may utilize visual, written, and spoken elements.
7. Conduct research on the Masters’ level in the field of Interreligious Studies.
  
  Use responsible research methods in selecting and interpreting sources.
  
  Develop an extended line of inquiry or argument, in relation to a defined topic, at the high level expected of a Masters’ thesis or project.
  
  Utilize a full range of university library resources for the purposes of research and properly cite these sources.
Application Requirements

Rolling admissions (June 15 for international students) for the Fall Semester; to be considered for financial aid, separate Applications for Financial Assistance must be completed and submitted to the Financial Aid Office.

Rolling admissions (November 1 for international students) for the Spring Semester.
All completed applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee.
1. Prior Education: Complete official transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate institutions must be submitted to the Admission's Office. Applicants are required to present transcripts in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. A bachelor’s degree (or its educational equivalent) at a high level of achievement from an accredited institution is a prerequisite for admissions. Admission is granted only on the basis of the terms stated in the Hartford International University Catalogue and in the admission letter. In certain circumstances, a limited number of highly qualified students without the requisite Bachelor’s Degree will be considered for admission.
  
  NOTE: Admitted students with non-U.S. transcripts will be required to submit evaluated transcripts completed by a credential evaluation service. You do not need to have your transcript evaluated unless you have been admitted. Your admission will be provisional until an evaluated transcript is received and reviewed. We must receive your evaluated transcripts within three weeks of the date on your admission letter. We recommend Spantran as the most economical option for transcript evaluation. HIU will be notified directly when the transcript evaluations are completed.
2. Statement of Purpose: Each Statement of Purpose is unique and is meant to be an expression of the individuals that write them. We want to know what is important to you, what has shaped you, and, ultimately, who you are. You have the opportunity to tell us about the aspects of your character and experience that help us understand why you are a good match with this program. We also want to know how you would both gain from and contribute to our unique environment. The Statement of Purpose should be four to five pages (typed, double-spaced) and should reflect on:
  - your goals in seeking theological education and the life experiences or values that have led you to do so
  - the reasons you have chosen HIU in particular
  - your educational/ vocational goals
  - your perceived strengths and potential areas for development.
3. References: Three letters of recommendation. At least one letter must be from a faculty member of an institution from which the applicant has earned a degree or another person who can speak to the applicant’s potential for graduate level or a person from the applicant’s religious community or work place who can speak to the applicant’s potential for graduate level study.
4. English Language Proficiency: Students who are not native English speakers or who have not had English as a primary language of instruction in their academic studies, are required to submit scores of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test (DET) examination and achieve a minimum score of 80 on the internet version of TOEFL or 550 on the paper based total; 6.5 on the IELTS; or 110 on the DET.
5. Transfer Credit: Applicants who have previously taken graduate level courses in religion from an accredited institution may be eligible for up to 9 credits of transfer credit. Requests concerning transfer credit should be made at the time of application.

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Where Your Journey May Lead

MA in Interreligious Studies Career Paths

Social Service Ministry

Start a Non-Profit or NGO

Teaching Religion in Private Schools

Pathway in Ministry

Pathway into Chaplaincy

Courses you may take

Here is a small sample of courses students in the program take. To view the entire course listing, use the link below.

As part of the MAIRS curriculum, this course facilitates an understanding of the scope of America’s religious diversity: the nature of its current complexity and factors contributing to its emergence; the mutually influencing interactions between religious communities (their convictions, practices, and structures); and the American contextual trends, such as immigration, political issues, and social drivers like race, ethnicity, or gender.

The Value of Experience

two Hartford International students in orange scarves

Research & Projects

Our students have used their capstone projects to create interfaith clergy networks and research projects to examine questions of religion in contemporary society like “When Did Black Lives Begin to Matter? Race Dynamics and American Muslims” and “Spiritual Connections Between Christians and Muslims in a Hospital Chaplaincy Context.”

Faculty

Our faculty bring years of academic and practical experience teaching and serving different faith communities across the globe. They are award-winning authors, scholars of religion, and passionate leaders in interreligious and religious relations, as well as higher education. They have spoken to their research on international stages, emphasizing sociological contexts, gender, and religion in the modern world.

Alumni

With a foundation in interreligious thought, dialogue and critical thinking, our alumni are set on a path to many fields such as social justice, policy, human rights, foreign diplomacy, community organization, social work, nonprofit leadership and psychology – in addition to traditional religious roles.

The People Who Thrive Here

Our MA in Interreligious Studies is built by faculty and designed for students inspired by their faith – and its personal importance – along with a devotion to overcome our differences and nurture the human spirit that brings us together. They see faiths of all kinds as a means to connect with and care for others.

Dr. Hossein Kamaly, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies

Muslim women and their strength are the focus of Dr. Hossein Kamaly, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies book, A History of Islam in 21 Women. A compilation of 21 profiles of strong Muslim women who made their marks in history – when first published in 2019, A New York Times review referred to the women included as “a feisty and intrepid bunch.”

Kyra E. Jenney

Kyra is the Department Head of History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences at Choate Rosemary Hall, a private, college-preparatory boarding school for grades 9-12. She says, “We seek to employ interdisciplinary and individualized approaches to learning and to create spaces for students to develop the reflective practices of critical thinking, identity cultivation, and cultural humility.”

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum ‘2000

President Emerita of Spelman College, a nationally recognized authority on racial issues in America, a thought leader in higher education, and a licensed clinical psychologist – while earning her MA in Religious Studies at Hartford International, she developed the idea for and wrote her best-selling book, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations about Race.

Rochelle Bayless ‘13

While completing her degree at Hartford International, she wrote a master’s thesis called A Theology of Food as Acts of Grace. After graduating, Rochelle used her thesis as the blueprint for Grace Café in Danville, KY, which addresses hunger and food insecurity by serving people without regard for their ability to pay.

Opportunities & Highlights

Theological Consortium

Hartford International students can take classes through the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium, a consortium of seminaries and theological schools including Boston College, Boston University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Harvard Divinity School, Hebrew College, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary, and St. John’s Seminary & Theological Institute.

A Pioneer for Muslim-Christian Relations

The Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations is the country’s oldest center for such study, opening in 1973.

Accreditation

United States and Canada, the New England Commission of Higher Education and approved by the Office for Financial and Academic Affairs for Higher Education of the State of Connecticut.

Admission Information

Tuition and Fees Financial Aid International Students

Take the Next Step

Broaden your perspective. Deepen your ability to make a difference. Hartford International University programs prepare religious leaders and peacemakers who go beyond their own beliefs to embrace people of all faiths.

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Master of Arts in Interreligious Studies

Program Structure

Students choose one of three specializations:

Gateway Course (3 credits)

Co-Taught Seminary (6 credits)

Specialization (24 credits)

Interreligious Studies

Islamic Studies

Ministerial Studies

Final Requirement (3 credits)

Application Requirements