Master's Programme Catholic Religious Education
As of winter semester 2021/2021 this programme is no longer open to new entrants. For information on the succeeding master’s programme please consult this page »
| Faculty | Faculty of Catholic Theology |
| Duration / ECTS-Credits | 4 semesters / 120 ECTS-Credits |
| Academic Degree |
Master of Arts (MA) |
| Qualification Level |
Master (Second Cycle) ISCED-11: Level 7, EQF/NQF: Level 7 |
| ISCED-F | 0114 Teacher Training with Subject Sepcialisation |
| Mode of Study | Full-Time |
| Study Code |
UC 066 793 |
| Curriculum | Information on the Curriculum (2009W)* |
| Language of Instruction | German |
| Admission Requirements |
Relevant bachelor's degree or equivalent Language Certificates |
* Information on the Curriculum (2009W)
The complete version of the curriculum reflects the currently valid version of the curriculum. It is for informational purposes only and is not legally binding. The legally binding version of the curriculum, including any amendments, may be found in the University of Innsbruck Bulletins.
In order to determine which version of the curriculum is applicable in your case, see the Catalogue of Studies,
available at: https://lfuonline.uibk.ac.at/public/lfuonline_meinestudien.studienblatt
Section: Current Curriculum version.
University of Innsbruck Bulletins » (Click to open all University of Innsbruck Bulletins)
- English version of the Curriculum (from October 1st 2019)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin June 2019, Issue 67, No. 598 (modification of the curriculum)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletlin September 28 2018, Issue 69, No. 695 (Equivalence list)
- English version of the Curriculum (from October 1st 2018)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin May 28th 2018, Issue 46, No. 408 (modification of the curriculum)
- English version of the Curriculum (from October 1st 2015)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin August 19th 2015, Issue 81, No. 577 (Equivalence list)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin August 5th 2015, Issue 80, No. 557 (amendment of the curriculum)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin May 7th 2015, Issue 35, No. 398 (modification of the curriculum)
- English version of the Curriculum (from December 18th 2013)
- Curriculum/Consolidated version (from December 18th 2013)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin December 18th 2013, Issue 7, No. 83 (amendment of the curriculum)
- Curriculum/Consolidated version (from October 1st 2012)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin May 31st 2012, Issue 29, No. 310 (modification of the curriculum)
- English version of the Curriculum
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin February 13th 2009, Issue 23, No. 129
Requirements
Relevant bachelor's degrees at the University of Innsbruck:
Criteria for the determination of equalence:
Admission to the master's degree programme may also be possible if a student has completed a bachelor's degree in a relevant related field. As part of the determination of equivalence, the following core areas of the completed bachelor's degree programme will be assessed:
- 18 ECTS-Credits in the core area Philosophy
- 26 ECTS-Credits in the core area Historical Theology (Old and New Testament, Church History, Liturgical Studies)
- 22 ECTS-Credits in the core area Systematical Theology (Fundamental Theology, Dogmatic Theology, Moral Theology, Christian Social Thought)
- 18 ECTS-Credits in the core area Practical Theology (Church History, Pastoral Theology, Catechetics/Religious Pedagogy)
- 10 ECTS-Credits in the core area Didactics and Teaching Practice Secondary School or Communicative Formation, Counceling and Pastoral Care
- 15 ECTS-Credits in the core area Didactics and Teaching Practice
- 15 ECTS-Credits in the core area Pedagogical Basics
In the event that equivalence has been established in principle but with certain qualifications missing for full equivalence, supplemental examinations may be required. These examinations must be completed during the master degree programme.
Recommended Course Sequence
The exemplary course sequence given below is recommended for full-time students beginning their study programme in the winter semester. The table shows one possible course sequence for the bachelor's programme and is not compulsory. Delays resulting from repeated examinations are not taken into account.
The standard duration of the study programme is 4 semesters or 120 ECTS-Credits, whereby according to the Universities Act of 2002, a workload of 1,500 (real) hours per academic year must be fulfilled, corresponding to 60 ECTS-Credits (one ECTS-Credit is equivalent to a workload of 25 hours).
11.0 ECTS-Credits: Philosophy and Religious Studies (a, b, c and e)
7.5 ECTS-Credits: Exegesis of the Old Testament
3.5 ECTS-Credits: Exegesis of the New Testament (a)
2.0 ECTS-Credits: Systematic Theology: Special Issues I (b)
3.0 ECTS-Credits: Practical Theology: Special Issues I (c)
2.0 ECTS-Credits: Ministry of the Word - Catechesis - Pastoral Care (b)
1.5 ECTS-Credits: Philosophy and Religious Studies (d)
4.0 ECTS-Credits: Exegesis of the New Testament (b)
2.5 ECTS-Credits: Judaism
5.5 ECTS-Credits: Systematic Theology: Special Issues I (a and c)
4.0 ECTS-Credits: Historical Theology: Special Issues (c)
4.5 ECTS-Credits: Practical Theology: Special Issues I (a and b)
5.5 ECTS-Credits: Ministry of the Word - Catechesis - Pastoral Care (aand c)
3.5 ECTS-Credits: Didactics and Pedagogics of Religion (a)
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Systematic Theology: Special Issues II
8.5 ECTS-Credits: Historical Theology: Special Issues (a, band d)
2.0 ECTS-Credits: Didactics and Pedagogics of Religion (b)
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Elective Module Secondary Schools
oder Communicative Education, Counselling and Pastoral Care: Special Issues
2.0 ECTS-Credits: Didactics and Pedagogics of Religion (c)
25.0 ECTS-Credits: Master's Thesis
2.5 ECTS-Credits: Master's Thesis Defense
Qualification Profile and Skills
The Master's Programme Catholic Religious Education offers an extensive education in theology and the pedagogy of religion with special emphasis on religious education of adolescents or adults, counselling and pastoral care. It promotes a theological and multi-perspective view of education and pastoral care, didactics, and guidance and it enhances the communicative and interdisciplinary competencies of its graduates. Thus, it prepares for professions within the church, but also in society at large, that demand a complete theological academic training in connection with an education in the pedagogy of religion or in pastoral care. If the required modules of subject didactics in secondary schools and of teaching practice are fulfilled, it also provides the qualifications for the Teacher Training Programme for Catholic Religion without a second subject for all types of schools.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Graduates are able to elaborate, evaluate and implement scientific developments in the fields of theology and philosophy and to apply them in interdisciplinary contexts. They possess scientifically well-founded theoretical and methodical problem-solving skills in different fields of education, pastoral care and counselling and to apply them in interdisciplinary contexts of human and social sciences.
Future Prospects: Occupational Profiles and Career Opportunities
The Master’s Programme in Catholic Religious Education qualifies for a wide range of occupational fields:
- teaching religious education at compulsory schools, general and vocational lower and higher secondary schools within the European Union and in comparable school and education systems worldwide;
- executive work in pastoral fields of activity (parish, pastoral care in hospitals, youth work etc.);
- executive work in social and charitable institutions;
- public relations and media;
- career in science within the framework of the PhD programme of the Faculty of Catholic Theology (Doctoral Programme) with a topic in religious education.
Excerpts from the feedback of graduates
„Although detours led me to study Religious Education, in retrospect I would choose it again! I learnt a lot both in my Bachelor’s and Master’s programme- not just in terms of specialist knowledge, but for my life, for my world-view.“
„For me, it is literally a very holistic study programme that has given me insights into other disciplines such as psychology, sociology, political science, education, economics, philosophy and history.“
„I have always felt comfortable at the faculty and the personal ambiance there accompanied me throughout my studies. In particular during seminars, we were given the freedom to test other ways and methods. I could always integrate my creativity and other talents!“
„Through this study programme, I was able to grow, develop and reflect on essential questions of life."
Christa Plank, graduate of the Master’s Programme in 2020
"You can immerse yourself in this study as a whole person. It deals with the big questions of life, with many different positions and arguments, and in one's own head the question keeps coming up: what do I actually believe? Through this study I was able to grow as a person and ground myself in my life and my faith. At the same time, it is also always about the question of what role faith and religion still play today and how this faith can be lived and communicated in the most diverse contexts."
Lea Eppacher
Postgraduate and further Studies at the University of Innsbruck
Supplementary Programme Programme
Within the scope of the Study Programme, a Supplementary Programme corresponding to 45 ECTS-Credits may be passed. Admission to the Supplementary Programme requires the admission to or the having passed of one of the selected Study Programmes. Detailed information: https://www.uibk.ac.at/studium/angebot/es-entrepreneurship/
Information about examination regulations, assessment and grading
Examination regulations
The examination regulation is an integral part of the curriculum, detailed information can be found under the paragraph examination regulations.
Description of the applied grading system (including the grade distribution table) »
The grade distribution table is a statistical representation of the distribution of all successfully completed examinations in a given programme of study or subject (based on all registered students for the programme or subject). The grade distribution table is updated in regular intervals.
| Austrian grading scheme |
Definition |
%-age |
||
| 1 | EXCELLENT: Outstanding performance |
60.2 |
 |
= 100% |
|
2 |
GOOD: Generally good, but with some errors |
28.4 |
||
| 3 | SATISFACTORY: Generally sound work with a number of substantial errors |
8.5 |
||
| 4 | SUFFICIENT: Performance meets the minimum criteria |
2.9 |
||
| 5 | INSUFFICIENT: Substantial improvement necessary; requirement of further work |
December 2021
Overall classification of the qualification
Not applicable
Explanation: An overall classification (mit Auszeichnung bestanden/pass with distinction, bestanden/pass, nicht bestanden/fail) – is awarded only for examinations that conclude a programme of study and consist of more than one subject (an examination of this type is not specified in the curriculum of this programme of study).
Information about the Programme (in German only)
Defensio dates
Winter semester 2023/2024:
Di, 3 October 2023 (deadline for registration Di, 12 September 2023)
Di, 24 October 2023 (deadline for registration Di, 03 October 2023)
Di, 30 January 2024 (deadline for registration Di, 09 January 2024)
Summer semester 2024:
Di, 5 March 2024 (deadline for registration Di, 13 February 2024)
Di, 19 March 2024 (deadline for registration Di, 27 February 2024)
Di, 25 June 2024 (deadline for registration Di, 04 June 2024)
Winter semester 2024/2025
• Di, 8. October 2024 (deadline for registration: Di, 17. September 2024)
• Di, 22. October 2024 (deadline for registration: Di, 1. October 2024)
• Di, 28. January 2025 (deadline for registration: Di, 7. January 2025)
Summer semester 2025
• Di, 4. March 2025 (deadline for registration: Di, 11. February 2025)
• Di, 25. March 2025 (deadline for registration: Di, 4. March 2025)
• Di, 24. June 2025 (deadline for registration: Di, 3. June 2025)
Forms (in German only)
- Examination Records
- Application for the Master's Thesis
- Assessment of the compulsory module: Preparation of the Master’s Thesis
- Cover sheet for the Master's Thesis
- Declaration of Academic Honesty
- To block a Master's Thesis
- Recognition of exams AND Supplementary Sheet
- Application for Admission to the third and fourth repetition of a course examination
Contact and Information
Examination Office
Standort Universitätsstraße 15 
Associate Dean of Studies
Mag. Dr. Maria Anna Juen
Dean of Studies
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Liborius Olaf Lumma