A rigorous and critical understanding of religion is crucial to appreciating both Eastern and Western cultures, past and present. It is especially important within a multi-religious society such as the UK. Many employers value graduates with such a background.
The Department of Theology and Religious Studies aims to provide excellence in teaching and learning within a stimulating research environment. We aim to produce high-quality graduates with an advanced understanding of religions and the methodologies employed in construing and analysing religions. In addition, the transferable skills that you will be taught will equip you for future achievements in many professional or further research fields.
Our overarching aim is to provide excellent research-based teaching and learning in Theology and Religious Studies. You should possess a strong commitment to the importance of the subject and a willingness to pursue it seriously and critically. We accept about 40 students a year for Single and Joint Honours Programmes in either Theology and Politics, Theology and Sociology or Philosophy and Theology. You will receive high-quality teaching in core and optional areas to facilitate an informed, critical and methodologically complex understanding of religions in societies, past and present.The department's high standards in research were recognised by the last national Research Selectivity exercise. This strength in research is reflected in its teaching.
A wide variety of teaching methods are used, including lectures, seminars, and individual tutorials, and use is made of audio-visual material and internet facilities.
The department is relatively small and contact between staff and students is informal and friendly. There is a staff-student committee which discusses issues of concern to students. You have a personal tutor with whom you can discuss your academic progress and any other individual concerns.
At the end of the first year, there are sessional examinations which must be passed for entry into the second year. Units taken in the second and third year form the basis for final degree classification. These units are assessed by a combination of examination and coursework. Coursework, which may include a third-year dissertation, comprises a minimum of 50% of the total classification mark.
Our programme is not specifically vocational. The normal range of career opportunities open to Arts graduates is open to our students. Some do become priests or ministers, but more become teachers or go into social work, the media or management; 40% of all graduate vacancies are open to applicants from any discipline.