Program Overview

Program Overview

The Exploring World Religions course is a module that explores religions from around the world, providing tools for the academic study of religion. Each week, a new faith is introduced, and wider questions surrounding sacred texts, religious practices, religious authority, and identity are discussed.

Learning and Teaching

The module is taught online, incorporating recorded lectures and online seminars and workshops involving class discussion and group work on specific topics relating to the module. Resources are available to students via Learning Central.

Syllabus

• What is Religious Studies?
• Practising and Studying Religion
• An Introduction to Greek and Roman Religious Traditions
• An Introduction to Early Christianity
• An Introduction to Islam
• An Introduction to Buddhism
• An Introduction to Jainism
• An Introduction to Hinduism
• New Religious Movements and Contemporary Religion

Coursework and Assessment

The course has three short pieces of assessed work, totaling around 1500 words, designed to help students develop skills and approaches needed to study religions successfully.

Assessment Components

• The first piece allows students to practice putting their ideas into words in an academic form.
• The second helps students develop their skills of source analysis.
• The third gives students the opportunity to write a short essay.

Reading Suggestions

• Bowie, F. The Anthropology of Religion: An Introduction (Oxford, 2000; second edition: 2006)
• Corrywright, D. and Morgan, P. Get set for Religious Studies (Edinburgh, 2006)
• Rodrigues, H. and Harding, J, S. Introduction to the Study of Religion (Oxford, 2009)

Library and Computing Facilities

Students on this course are entitled to join and use the University's library and computing facilities.

Accessibility

The University aims to provide a confidential advice and support service for any student with a long-term medical condition, disability, or specific learning difficulty, offering various forms of support and arrangements for accessible courses and assessments.

Part-time Courses for Adults

The University offers part-time courses in humanities, languages, business, computing, politics and law, science and environment, and social studies.