Unit information: Sex, Marriage, and Deviance in the Medieval and Early Modern Eras in 2021/22

Unit name	Sex, Marriage, and Deviance in the Medieval and Early Modern Eras
Unit code	THRS30077
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Balserak
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit explores aspects of Western understandings of human relationships: marriage, family, sex, divorce, celibacy, and social notions of ‘deviance’ and the ramifications of all of these ideas. It examines sex as conceived of by the church, the law, and civil society in Medieval and Early Modern Europe. In considering views and practices which deviated from what was deemed appropriate, this unit will explore issues related to cross-dressing, gender, homosexuality and the like, and will examine how such conduct was dealt with by both church and state.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate critical understanding of the sexual lives of Early Modern Europeans;
2. Articulate in-depth understanding of the religious, cultural and institutional contexts informing this;
3. Analyse and evaluate competing perceptions of this topic;
4. Identify and evaluate pertinent evidence/data in order to formulate thoughtful and sophisticated questions and arguments;
5. Demonstrate skills in the research, reading and presentation (in writing) of complex materials on these discussions, appropriate to level H/6
6. Communicate understanding of a topic in an informal or conversational style.

Teaching Information

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.

Assessment Information

1 x 2000 words portfolio (formative) [ILOs 1-5] 1 x 3000-word summative essay (100%) [ILOs 1-5]

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. THRS30077).

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.