Unit information: Issues in the Study of Religion in 2022/23

Unit name	Issues in the Study of Religion
Unit code	THRS10031
Credit points	20
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Balserak
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	none
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	none
Units you may not take alongside this one
School/department	Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Unit Information

In this unit students will engage with a number of issues central to the study of religion and theology, such as the environment, gender, orientalism, pluralism, secularism and fundamentalism. Taking relevant chapters from John R. Hinnels, The Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion (2009; also available as an ebook) as the starting point, unit tutors will address a range of key issues relating to religion that feature prominently in news stories, current affairs and political debates.

Your learning on this unit

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to meet the following ILOs:

1. demonstrate a general knowledge and understanding of and sensitivity to the major issues involved in the study of religion today;
2. demonstrate a broad understanding of the theoretical ideas that inform scholarly research into ancient and modern religious behaviours and structures;
3. analyse and evaluate a variety of perceptions of modern religions;
4. identify and evaluate pertinent evidence/data in order to illustrate/demonstrate a cogent argument appropriate to level C/4.
5. demonstrate an independent approach to designing, researching and completing a level-I project;
6. Make useful contributions to academic discussions.

How you will learn

Classes will involve a combination of long- and short-form lectures, class discussion, investigative activities, and practical activities. Students will be expected to engage with readings and participate on a weekly basis. This will be further supported with drop-in sessions and self-directed exercises with tutor and peer feedback.

How you will be assessed

1 x 1000 word portfolio (formative) [ILOs 1-5]

1 x 2000 word essay (90%) (summative) [ILOs 1-5]

Contribution mark (summative) (10%) [ILO 6]

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. THRS10031).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.