Global Justice, Religion and Culture (MA)

Our world faces pressing questions of global justice in relation to armed conflict, human migration, economic inequality and environmental change. To understand and address these issues, no single disciplinary perspective suffices. The MA in Global Justice, Religion and Culture is an exciting unique program that offers you a crucial interdisciplinary space for reflection on how religion intersects with these global issues.

Alongside questions of policy, the program fosters critical analysis of cultural and religious processes as well as their political implications in a globalizing world.

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Diverse faculty knowledge and expertise.

Transformative learning environment.

Prepares you for life after university.

Program Details

All students in the MA in Global Justice, Religion and Culture begin with two semesters of coursework. This requires the completion of two core theory courses (GJRC693 in fall and GJRC694 in winter), a Colloquium requirement (GJRC690 spread over fall and winter), and 1.5 credits in GJRC elective courses.

Thereafter, each student will follow one of four program options:

Enhance Your Academic Experience

Prepare to Move into Professional Arenas

Our faculty, drawn from Laurier’s departments of Religion and Culture and Global Studies, are specialists in disciplines across the social sciences and humanities and conduct research around the world. We bring our diverse knowledge and expertise into the classroom and to our student supervision to foster transformative learning and the spirit of free inquiry.

The interdisciplinary nature of the Master of Arts (MA) in Global Justice, Religion and Culture program prepares you to move into professional arenas within and outside of academia, such as:

  • International relations and public policy
  • Interreligious dialogue and peace-building
  • Refugee and migrant resettlement
  • Institutional human rights and diversity policy
  • Journalism and communications
  • Programming on multiculturalism and community development

We encourage you to interrogate conventions and develop new modes of ethical engagement. In doing so, we seek to cultivate the critical skills and the knowledge that you need to succeed both within and beyond the university.

We also offer a PhD in Religious Studies.

Gain Teaching Experience

Domestic students in the GJRC program are automatically given the opportunity to work as Teaching Assistants (TAs). This opportunity is optional. Being a TA involves grading assignments/test/exams, leading small-group tutorial discussions, clarifying concepts for students, and acting as a role model and mentor. The position is challenging, enriching, and provides the opportunity to build a whole slate of skills for future employment in business, government, and the non-profit sector.

For example, TAs problem-solve, contribute to tutorial design—in collaboration with professors—and build emotional intelligence through interactions with their students, cohorts, and faculty. GJRC students, therefore, develop skills in:

  • public speaking
  • decision-making and problem-solving
  • planning
  • conceptualizing
  • organizing and prioritizing
  • mentoring students
  • leading and motivating
  • setting goals and objectives

Course Offerings

Required Courses for All Three Program Options

  • GJRC693: Religions and Cultures in Global Contexts (0.5 Credits)
  • GJRC694: Global Justice in an Unjust World (0.5 Credits)
  • GJRC690: Colloquium (Takes places over fall and winter term. 0.25 credits each term)

The Colloquium requirement (GJRC690) is completed over the fall and winter terms. There are various possibilities by which to fulfil the requirement, including:

  • Attendance at scholarly and public events
  • Participation in GJRC-sponsored workshops on research and writing
  • Completion of a teaching practicum
  • Attendance at professionalization workshops
  • Organizing a graduate student conference
  • Completion of a mini-internship (e.g. volunteering with an approved NGO)

Credit for the Colloquium is on pass/fail basis, and includes submission of written reflections on each event/workshop/internship, etc.

Required Capstone Course

For Thesis Option:

  • GJRC699: Thesis (1.0 Credits)

For 12-Month and 16-Month Internship Options:

  • GJRC697: Internship Project (1.0 Credits)

For 12-Month MRP Option:

  • GJRC698: Major Research Project (1.0 Credits)

Electives for All Three Program Options

Note: not all elective courses are offered each year.

  • GJRC622: Textual Studies (0.5 Credits) / GJRC627: Secularism (0.5 Credits)
  • GJRC631: Ethical Encounters (0.5 Credits)
  • GJRC632: Religion and Society (0.5 Credits)
    • Transcultural Experiences (0.5 Credits)
    • Religion, Peace & Conflict (0.5 Credits)
  • GJRC640: Language, Ideology, and Religion (0.5 Credits)
  • GJRC641: Religion and Politics in Global Context (0.5 Credits)
  • GJRC642: Religion and Post-Colonial Thought (0.5 Credits)
  • GJRC643: Islam and Muslims in the Contemporary World (0.5 Credits)
  • GJRC644: Interpreting Asian Religions and Cultures (0.5 Credits)
  • GJRC650: Special Topics in Global Justice
    • Armed Conflict and International Humanitarian Law (0.5 Credits)
    • Conflicts in African States (0.5 Credits)
    • People Walking: The Art and Soul of Pilgrimage (0.5 Credits)
    • Intercultural Ecologies of Justice (0.5 Credits)
  • GJRC660: Narratives of/about Violence (0.5 Credits)
  • GJRC661: Dialogue and Critique in an Age of Terror (0.5 Credits)
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"My year-long master’s program at Laurier was one of the most exciting and exhilarating experiences of my life. I gained true and lasting friendships, engaged in mentorship with world-class academics, had a fulfilling extracurricular life, and was able to truly explore my academic interests in well-curated and engaging classes."

Shifa Abbas (GJRC MA '19)

Admissions

Take the first step in your graduate education and apply to one of our graduate programs. Follow our three-step admission process — we’ll walk you through how to apply and prepare for your first day as a graduate student.

  • Start: Fall (September)
  • Format: Full-time
  • Application deadline: Jan. 15 (first consideration), Mar. 30 (international applicants) or July 30 (domestic applicants). Applications will be accepted until the program is full.

Your Next Steps

Questions? Contact Meena Sharify-Funk, graduate coordinator, at msharifyfunk@wlu.ca or 548.889.5144. For general inquiries, contact Kirsten Pries at kpries@wlu.ca or 548.889.5141.

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"[The] professionalization component allowed me to gain experience in networking and organizing. This included coordinating and hosting a conference with two high-profile keynote speakers and panels in which students were able to present their work."

Fatima Chakroun, (RCGJ MA '19)

Waterloo Campus

This program is available on Laurier's Waterloo campus.

Laurier Waterloo is where tradition, innovation and incredible school spirit collide.

The Waterloo campus spans one large city block, ensuring you’re close to your classes, favourite study spots, student services and favourite coffee shops. Laurier is a leading force in research among Canadian universities, and many of our research centres and institutes are housed in Waterloo.

We offer the guidance and support you need to thrive academically and personally throughout your degree.

Discover Laurier Waterloo for yourself: 

Tuition and Funding

Regardless of the type of graduate degree program you intend to pursue, financial planning is important. At Laurier, we want to provide you with as much information as possible about a variety of scholarship and funding opportunities and equip you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

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Careers

The MA in Global Justice, Religion and Culture would be a particularly good fit for candidates who contemplate pursuing further graduate studies (e.g. doctoral studies or professional programs in public policy or social work) or seeking employment in the NGO sector (e.g. nonprofit advocacy and organization: community development, refugee settlement, arts and culture) or education or journalism sectors.

Our graduates have gone on to work in education, research, business and social services. Examples of jobs held by our graduates include:

  • international student application coordinator
  • NGO case worker
  • multiculturalism policy analyst
  • heritage planning specialist
  • immigration program assistant

Your Path to Post-Degree Success

ASPIRE is Laurier's professional skills development training program for graduate students. The program helps you craft an individualized, extracurricular learning plan tailored to your professional journey and entry to the workplace.

Faculty

Learn about the interests of our faculty members. If you are looking for more information about this program, have questions, or want to set up a meeting, contact a member of our team

Abderrahman Beggar
Professor

Kevin Burrell
Associate Professor
Undergraduate Advisor

Timothy Donais
Associate Professor

Carol B. Duncan
Professor
3M National Teaching Fellow

John Boye Ejobowah
Associate Professor

Erich Fox Tree
Associate Professor
Chair, Department of Religion and Culture

Alex Latta
Associate Professor

Ashley Lebner
Associate Professor

Jason Neelis
Associate Professor

Edmund Pries
Professor

Meena Sharify-Funk
Professor
MA Coordinator and PhD Director

Stacey Wilson Forsberg
Associate Professor

Ali Hassan Zaidi
Associate Professor

Jasmin Zine
Professor