This program equips suitably qualified men and women to serve the churches as religious educators.
Contact persons: Gabriel Bar Sawme, gabriel.barsawme@sanktignatios.org / Daniel Öhrwall, daniel.ohrvall@sanktignatios.org
Director of Studies: Johan Andersson, johan.andersson@ehs.se
Length: 2 or 3 years (full-time), 120 ECTS credits
Type of instruction: On-campus learning
Study Pace: Full-time
Teaching Hours: Daytime, certain weekends and evenings
Language of Instruction: English
Location: Campus Södertälje and Campus Bromma, Stockholm
How to apply? Apply through www.universityadmissions.se or www.antagning.se (from March 15)
Why study the Religious Educator Program?
A religious educator is a teacher and theologian who plays a key role in the life of the church and in its future development. An educator inspires and stimulates clergy and laity to deepen their understanding and to relate their faith to the world outside the church. Therefore, a religious educator must have an in-depth understanding of the church’s tradition, as well as the tools which will allow him or her to communicate that understanding to others. This course provides students with these competencies and skills.
In collaboration with Stockholm School of Theology (University College Stockholm) Sankt Ignatios College offers its students graduate academic programs of the highest quality in the department of Eastern Christian Studies of Stockholm School of Theology. Students are able to combine their academic studies there with practical and Church tradition-based courses from the Sankt Ignatios Folkhögskola professional program, and are thus able to combine practice and theory, and engage their own church traditions with wider Christian and Orthodox perspectives. In this way they are well prepared to facilitate the education and Christian formation of parish members and engage in dialogue with other communities.
Graduates of this program receive a theological education at master’s level in the Department of Eastern Christian Studies at Stockholm School of Theology (Sankt Ignatios College, Stockholm School of Theology). In addition, they learn how to create a safe and stimulating learning environment within a Church congregation or a diocese, and how to encourage participation in the life of the church by clergy and lay members. The successful student will be well equipped to help the church to meet the pedagogical and formational challenges it faces today.
Program objectives
The Program aims to provide the students with the necessary knowledge, insight and pedagogical skills to enable them to serve in parishes and diocesan contexts as educators, trainers and theological resources.
Program outcomes
Graduates of this program will possess an in-depth understanding of their church’s tradition within the context of the wider history of the church and the Eastern Christian churches, be able to read and expound the apostolic scriptures and understand and make accessible the Church’s theology. They will also have an understanding of the way people learn, and of teaching and pedagogical techniques and skills. They will have training and experience of working within parish educational settings and of encouraging parishes and diocese to engage in study and reflection.
Structure of the program
Participants in this program study at Sankt Ignatios College, at both the university and folhögskola level.
At the university level, students complete a master’s degree within the Department of Eastern Christian Studies of Stockholm School of Theology. The program can be taken over two years for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in a theological or a biblical subject or over three years for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in a subject within the humanities other than theology.
At the folkhögskola level students also take courses in languages or in pedagogics.
Program Requirements
To be eligible to be admitted to either program, an applicant must either have a bachelor’s degree in theology/religious studies, comprising 180 ECTS credits, or a degree in another subject as part of which they have taken religious studies or theological courses worth at least 60 credits, including a thesis of at least 15 credits.
At least 15 credits should be in Eastern Christian studies or an equivalent subject area within religious studies studied at an advanced level (i.e., 3rd year courses of a three-year bachelor’s degree program, 3rd year and 4th year courses of a four-year bachelor’s degree program). Students with other relevant subjects or an equivalent degree from an educational institution outside of Sweden may be admitted on the basis of individual assessment and examination. Students may also be admitted to later parts of the program (61-120 ECTS credits) on the basis of a special application, provided that the relevant prerequisites have been met. For more information about such special application please contact the Director of Studies.
English language proficiency: the English proficiency requirement for academic studies at Sankt Ignatios is equivalent to the English 6 course in Swedish upper secondary school. Students from outside Sweden, or students who cannot verify proficiency in English, are required to take an internationally recognized test (e. g. TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent). More information about the required score on internationally recognized English tests can be found at English language requirements (universityadmissions.se); see section Meeting the English requirements with an English test.
Cost of study
The program is tuition-free for citizens of Sweden, citizens of an EU / EEA country or of Switzerland who hold a valid Swedish residence permit. Students coming from countries other than those listed above are required to pay tuition fees. See Fees&Finance
As a new student at EHS, you automatically become a member of SEHS – the Student Union at Enskilda Högskolan Stockholm. Membership is free. If you want to leave the union, you can write an email to sehs@ehs.se and we will cancel your membership. Read more about the student union’s work: Membership in the Student Union.
Career prospects
The combined coursework will lead to a Master of Theology degree in Eastern Christian Studies (120 university credits) and a Religious Educator professional qualification issued by Sankt Ignatios College. Those who pass the course will be qualified to work within the churches as educators, facilitators and theologians. Successful completion of the program serves as the basis for research at the doctoral level. Further, the high quality of education and training involved in all Sankt Ignatios degree programs means that students are qualified to seek employment in many different fields other than theology.