Master of Society, Law and Religion

Master of Society, Law and Religion

The Master of Society, Law and Religion is designed to provide students with an advanced understanding of crime, public response to crime and, specifically, criminal justice in Europe and beyond. The programme focuses recent developments in criminological theory and their implications for national and international policy-making.

About the programme

The programme aims at enabling students to gain a solid and critical knowledge on key issues such as the place of religion in the public sphere, the debate on secularism, the role of the State vis-à-vis religion, church and relationships, human rights and religion, European and international law and religion, and domestic and international politics of religious freedom. Taught at the Faculty of Canon Law, the programme is particularly sensitive to the autonomy of religions, religious self-government, and religious laws.

While all students receive a basic training in the law of the Roman Catholic Church, the programme embraces the law of other christian communities, and includes classes in Islamic law. 

The programme can be taken as a self-standing programme or as a gateway to the Master of Canon Law. This initial master's program can be followed on a full-time or part-time basis. In order to facilitate students wishing combine education with employment or social engagement, the programme allows for distance learning and spreading of examinations. The large choice of subjects from different faculties enables students to tailor their educational experience, to their interests, needs and projects.

Career perspectives

Religion is increasingly acknowledged as a crucial factor in areas such as politics and the economy, social and corporate management, culture, employment, education, health care, international cooperation, and conflict resolution.

Candidates for positions in these areas, in the private or public sector, as well as those already employed, will benefit from gaining a topical knowledge in the field.

Graduates can further develop their education at the Faculty of Canon Law through by moving on to the Master in Canon Law or the doctoral programme in Society, Law and Religion.

With the apostolic constitution Veritatis Gaudium, new opportunities were created for people who are open for a more condensed training in canon law. In the future they will be able to take on certain tasks for the ecclesiastical courts.