36 UC/10-PhD,MA,BA(Hons)BA,GradDipArts,CertArts/3
UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Template 2: Qualification Change Template 2010
Proposal Description
R
Purpose of the proposal:
To discontinue Religious Studies (RELS) as a separate subject at undergraduate level; as both a major and minor from
Semester 2, 2011. This includes the Certificate in Arts and Graduate Diploma in Arts. To discontinue RELS as a subject
in the BA(Hon). RELS will continue as a subject for MA (thesis) and PhD (thesis) subject for students currently enrolled
in the MA and PhD but after 2010 no new students will be enrolled in RELS at MA & PhD level. It is envisaged that all
students will have completed by 31 December 2015.
Justification:
The decision is made as a response to staffing and management decisions. The study and teaching of religion will
continue; but from within new disciplinary homes. The existing RELS staff will be formally relocated and integrated into
Anthropology and Sociology. RELS has a long (40 year plus) history at Canterbury, but restructuring, management and
staffing decisions have meant that two staff have kept a full programme (to PhD level) going for 5 years, while
undertaking unsustainable workloads. This decision, not taken lightly, means that the study and teaching of religion can
continue, but the staff involved can undertake their core academic business in a manner that is sustainable.
Calendar Form
Degree Regulations
p.205: Remove the major and minor entries for RELS and replace with:
Religious Studies
Religious Studies will not be offered as a major for new students from 1 January 2010. Students enrolled in a Religious
Studies major prior to 2010 may complete their major as required providing they complete this by 10 July 2011. Consult
with the Religious Studies Programme Coordinator for more information.
Religious Studies will not be offered as a minor to new students from 1 January 2011. Students enrolled in a Religious
Studies minor prior to 2011 may complete their minor as required below providing they complete this by 10 July 2011.
Consult with the Religious Studies Programme Coordinator for more information.
pp264-265: Remove all RELS entries, including ARTS 395.
p.277: Remove reference to RELS CertArts
p.297: Remove references to RELS GradDipArts
p.304: Remove reference to RELS BA Honours.
p.313: Master of Arts Religious Studies
Replace entry with
This subject is not open to new enrolments. Students enrolled in the MA Thesis may complete their qualification provided
that they do so by 31 December 2015 and are within the time limits in the MA Regulations.
p.424: Religious Studies*
Add note * This subject is not open to new enrolments. Students enrolled in the PhD may complete their qualification
provided that they do so by 31 December 2015.
pp.777-780: Remove references to all RELS courses except for RELS 327: Special Topic: Religion, Technology and
Postmodernity which will be offered Semester 1 2011 for the final time, This course will not be offered after 2011 as part
of the discontinuation of RELS from Semester 2 2011.