There are no texts which have had the influence and impact of the Bible, at least in Western culture.

Location:

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Religious Studies

Program Overview

Program Description:

For more than sixty years Sheffield has provided an internationally recognised facility for teaching and research in Biblical Studies, welcoming participation from members of faith and non-faith communities.

Our MA in Biblical Research offers you the opportunity to deepen your grounding in the field to prepare for further advanced research at the MPhil/PhD level. It is a flexible programme, and you will be encouraged to develop your skills portfolio, tailored to personal interests and the requirements necessary for your future success.

There are no texts which have had the influence and impact of the Bible, at least in Western culture. Detailed and sustained use of the Bible is found in art, literature, pop music, cinema, liturgy, opera, philosophy, theology, politics, science, in virtually all modes of human discourse.

When continental philosophers such as Giorgio Agamben, Alain Badiou, and Slavoj Žižek seek to understand our cultural heritage, it is the biblical texts to which they turn. These texts have been formative in constructions of gender, ethnicity, religion, and class. In other words, the Bible and biblical texts are deeply embedded in our cultural contexts.

The MA in Bible, Culture, and Society encourages a focus on the influence and interpretation of the Bible in the modern world. The course will equip you with the latest skills in cultural studies, critical theory and literary analysis, and their applications in biblical studies. You will also study the reception history of biblical texts.

Course contents

As with all our MA programmes, this is an innovative Masters degree that allows you to specialise in your preferred area of Biblical Studies. Inspired by Sheffield's cutting-edge approaches to the Bible in the modern world, the syllabus is flexible and wide-ranging with options as diverse as biblical archaeology, theology, postcolonialism, and literary interpretation.

This MA is suitable as a pathway from BA study to further research, but it is also accessible for those who wish to pursue a particular interest without committing to longer-term research.

We welcome applications from mature students.

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

We are pleased to offer the Sheffield Scholarship 2016 to all US students commencing a Taught Masters programme in September 2016. The scholarships are: • £2,000 if your tuition fees are between £14,500 and £16,500 • £2,500 for each student paying fees of £16,501 and upwards We also offer scholarships of 50% of the course fee which will be offered on the basis of academic merit.