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Course options

  • Qualification

    MA - Master of Arts

  • Location

    University of Wales Trinity Saint David

  • Study mode

    Distance / Online

  • Start date

    01-OCT-24, 01-FEB-25

  • Duration

    4 years

Course summary

Cultural Astronomy and Astrology (MA) is a unique course which deals with the ways in which human beings attribute meaning to the planets, stars and sky, and construct cosmologies which provide the basis for culture and society.

The course is taught within:

  • The Sophia Centre for the Study of Cosmology in Culture
  • The Institute of Education and the Humanities

Why Cultural Astronomy and Astrology?

We are all creatures of the universe: every atom in our bodies has passed through three stars – we are literally star dust. For thousands of years human beings have speculated about their physical, emotional and psychic connections with the sky, stars and planets, and the results manifest across beliefs and behaviour, from spirituality and the sacred to creativity and the arts, and from politics to architecture.

Cultural Astronomy is the study of the application of beliefs about the stars to all aspects of human culture. It includes the new discipline of archaeoastronomy: the study of astronomical alignments, orientation and symbolism in ancient and modern architecture. Astrology also exists in some form in most cultures. In the MA we examine the relationship between astrological, astronomical and cosmological beliefs and practices, and society, politics, religion and the arts, past and present.

Course Overview

Awards: Flexible Learning

The MA is awarded for completion of six taught modules and a dissertation. Many students wish to study the whole MA. But we have a range of options for those who don’t. For example:

  • Cultural Astronomy and Astrology (Postgraduate Diploma): take six modules
  • Cultural Astronomy and Astrology (Postgraduate Certificate): take three modules
  • Occasional Student: take one or two modules

The Occasional Student option is ideal for students who either have a very specialized interest or wish to test their commitments. Recently Occasional Students have studied just our Introduction module, or the History of Astrology, or Skyscapes, Cosmology and Archaeology. Some students begin with the Certificate and then progress to the Diploma or MA. If you apply for the Certificate or Diploma it is a simple matter to upgrade to the MA on the successful completion of the required modules.

Career Opportunities

Most of our students take the MA as an end in itself because they love the subject. Some go on to study for PhDs, either with us or at other universities.

The relationship between all academic work and non-academic employment is always based on potential employers’ appreciation of the generic skills acquired in MA study. Typically, these include critical thinking, communication skills, time-management and the ability to take on and complete independent projects.

The latter quality is particularly prized by many employers. Some of our graduates stay in education either as research students or as teachers: one graduate is teaching at undergraduate level while another, a school teacher, was awarded a promotion and pay rise on her graduation.

Tuition fees

Students living in United States
(International fees)

Information not available

Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

University information

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

  • University League Table

    118th

  • Campus address

    University of Wales Trinity Saint David, College Road, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, SA31 3EP, Wales

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