This page provides a list of courses for prospective students (single modules, degrees, or short-courses) in the area of atheism, non-religion and secularity. For details of academics supervising postgraduate work in this area, see also our directory of postgraduate researchers. These supervisors may be interested in supervising new projects in this field or able to provide suggestions and recommendations for potential postgraduates to pursue. Information on new courses and degrees should be addressed to the resource editor Jesper Aagaard Petersen.

Degrees

One-time opportunities such as academic grants, PhD offers and post-doctoral fellowships with short deadlines will be announced on the news page and in out twitter feed.

Pitzer College, part of the Californian Claremont Colleges, offers the Secular Studies program (links to pdf course catalog), administered by Prof. Phil Zuckerman, Dr. Andre Wakefield and others. Secular Studies is “an interdisciplinary program focusing on the manifestations of the secular in societies and cultures, past and present”, and is a combination of courses in sociology, history, psychology, philosophy and STS. Contrary to news reports, it is not a major; nevertheless, the program can be developed into a special major in consultation with Prof. Zuckerman. Details on admission here.

Single modules and short-courses

Boston University, US. ‘STH TT816 Atheisms and Theologies’. Dr. Wesley J. Wildman. “The general aim of this course is learn about varieties of atheism – older “classic atheism,” so-called “new atheism” of recent years, and theologically inspired forms of atheism – and to understand the various theological responses to atheism.” The class is intended for advanced masters students and doctoral candidates. Functions in various contexts within the Division of Religious and Theological Studies. You can find the course syllabus here. See also STH TT956 and the PhD specialization in religion and science.

Lancaster University, UK. ‘PPR351 Modern Religious and Atheistic Thought’ (Level 3, 15 credits), Dr. Gavin Hyman. The course “examines and evaluates some of the most central issues in Enlightenment and post-Enlightenment Western religious and atheistic philosophical debates”, and is a part of the undergraduate degree in Religious Studies with details here. Syllabus forthcoming.

Pitzer College, US. Secular Studies Prof. Phil Zuckerman. Secular Studies is an interdisciplinary program focusing on manifestations of the secular in societies and cultures, past and present. Details on admission here. Syllabus forthcoming.

St. Mary’s University College, Twickenham, UK. ‘RT251 Atheism and Nonreligion’ (Level 2) is offered as a part of the Theology and Religious Studies degree as discussed by Dr. Stephen Bullivant in ‘Teaching Atheism and Nonreligion: Challenges and Opportunities’. Contact details here. Syllabus forthcoming.

Trinity College, Hartford Conn., US. ‘PBPL 342 Secularism and the Problem of Authority‘. Part of the course catalogue in Public Policy and Law. No details or syllabus. Details on admission here.

Trinity College, Hartford Conn., US. ‘RELG 278 Atheism and the Eclipse of Religion‘. Part of the course catalogue in Religion. No details or syllabus. Details on admission here.

University of Warwick, UK. ‘PO383 The Politics of Religion’ (Level 3), Dr. Steven Kettell. Although the focus is wider than atheism and secularity, a large part is dedicated to these subjects. The course is part of the undergraduate degree in Politics and International Studies with details on admission here.

In the past, Elon University in North Carolina and Santa Clara University in California have offered courses on modern atheism, probably in their Sociology, Anthropology or Religious Studies departments, but no information is avaliable from their websites.