The goal of the Religious Studies major is to provide students with in-depth knowledge, professional skills and other activities related to their religion. This major helps students after graduation to be able to perform basic tasks and tasks related to religion and religious work. Another important development direction is that students, after graduation, can participate in teaching and research at schools and institutes in the field of religious studies and can continue studying at higher levels.
Workshop "The Worldly Spirit of Vietnamese Buddhist Women Past and Present", 2024
The basic areas of knowledge of Religious Studies include:+ General theoretical knowledge of religious studies
+ Specific religions and beliefs in the world and Vietnam such as Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism, etc. and the endogenous, indigenous religious and belief systems of Vietnam
+ Religion and social life: the relationship between religion and other areas of social life, the role of religion in social life, trends of movement and change of beliefs, religions, etc.
+ Religious and belief work: Party's viewpoints, State policies on religious and belief work; Law on religious and belief; State management of religious and belief activities; Professional skills in religious and belief work...
+ Applied religious studies: applying religion in life such as religious meditation, religious calligraphy, religious art, etc.
Basic subjects of the industry:- General religious studies; Festivals in beliefs and religions in Vietnam; Southern and Northern Buddhism in Vietnam; Protestantism and Mormonism in Vietnam; Introduction to Catholicism, Islam, Baha'i; Brahmanism in Vietnam; Confucianism and Taoism in Vietnam;
- Types of Vietnamese (Kinh) beliefs in Vietnam; Beliefs of ethnic minorities in Vietnam; Religion in the context of globalization and current social issues; Religious culture and community spiritual tourism; New religious phenomena in the world and Vietnam;
- Philosophy of religion and comparative religious studies; Law on beliefs, religions and religious work; History of religious organizations and religious ecclesiology; Management of religious and belief heritage in Vietnam; State management of religious and belief activities in Vietnam;
- Implementing religious policies in ethnic minority areas and identifying exploitation of religion; Professional skills in religious work, Art of religious studies...
The University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi is the first unit in the country to build and train the Religious Studies program at all three levels: bachelor, master, doctorate. The Religious Studies training program is organized at the Faculty of Anthropology and Religious Studies - a unit with a long history and reputation in training and scientific research.
In the current context of integration, the Faculty of Anthropology and Religious Studies focuses on promoting and expanding cooperation with domestic partners such as: Institute of Ethnic and Religious Studies (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences), Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Ministry of Home Affairs (Government Committee for Religious Affairs, Departments of Home Affairs at all levels), Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees at all levels, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City National University, Institute of Traditional and Development Studies; People's Security Academy, etc.
The Faculty of Anthropology and Religious Studies has an open cooperative relationship with religious organizations in Vietnam: Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Vietnam Catholic Church, Vietnam Evangelical Church, Cao Dai Tien Thien Church, Cao Dai Minh Chon Dao Church, Cao Dai Tay Ninh Church, Hoa Hao Buddhist Church, Al Noor Mosque Management Board in Hanoi...
In addition, the Faculty also expands cooperative relations with foreign partners: Sun Yat-sen University (China), Moscow State University (Russia),...
The Faculty has closely coordinated with domestic partners in teaching and scientific research activities, creating an in-depth practical and internship environment for learners.
Scientific exchange with speaker Tulku Gankar Rinpoche, Abbot of GUYTO Tantric Monastery, India
Practical Activities of Religious Studies Students at National Archives Center IV
Wide open job opportunitiesOn February 18, 2025, the establishment of the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions shows the attention of the Party and State in religious and belief work, the need for a team of cadres working in religious and belief work nationwide. This opens up many more good job opportunities for students majoring in Religious Studies.
Graduates of Religious Studies can do jobs such as:
+ Professional activities related to religious and belief work at State management agencies such as the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions, the Committee for Mass Mobilization, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions of provinces, the Fatherland Front at all levels... and other socio-political organizations;
+ Research and teach Religious Studies in research and training institutions on religious studies and fields related to religious studies.
+ Working in the Party and State's policy-making agencies, in agencies and organizations of the political system, and in socio-economic organizations;
+ Carry out management and conservation of heritage, culture and beliefs in localities; work related to art, religious architecture...; specialist in coordination and management of government and non-government projects on cultural, social, religious and belief development.
+ Have the opportunity to study at higher levels (master's, doctorate) to become scientists, work at Centers/Institutes/Research facilities on religion such as: Institute of Ethnology and Religious Studies, Institute of Vietnamese Cultural Studies, Center for Culture and Belief, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, Academy of Security,...
Scientific workshop "Promoting the role of the Vietnam Catholic Solidarity Committee in the new period"
