PER4033 - Studying Religion

Objectives:

Assessment tasks are designed to enable students to demonstrate the Learning and Employability outcomes for the relevant level of study. Level Learning Outcomes are embedded in the assessment task(s) at that level. This enables a more integrated view of overall student performance at each level.

Content:

This module introduces students to theories and methods utilised in the study of religion, and to the application of these to specific debates in the subject. It includes an overview of significant approaches to the study of religion and the theoretical tools for interpreting and understanding categories of religion, including the “world religions” paradigm, in relation to key issues in the modern world. Students will also have the opportunity to carry out original research by creating and applying two sociological research methods to an agreed-upon topic relevant to the study of religion. These methods would typically be the questionnaire and the interview to understand differences between quantitative and qualitative methods and how these are constructed to produce data.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Lectures, Seminars and Workshops
Hours: 48
Intended Group Size: 30

Guided independent study
Hours: 252

Further details relating to assessment
The Short Essay compares and evaluates two scholarly approaches to, and definitions of, religion.

Presentations can be done individually or in pairs debating a classification of religion issue (e.g. whether x is a religion or not).

The Report would normally include an analysis of the results from using two types of social research methods, graphics to show some of the results, a comparison of the methods employed and, as an appendix, a copy of the questionnaire, and details of the interviews.

Formative Assessment: the Short Essay acts as a diagnostic essay early on in the programme. Presentation topics are negotiated. For the Report, students provide drafts and test out their research methods with peers before the final submission of the Report. Tutorials are available for all assessments.

Assessment:

001 Short essay; 500 words; mid semester 1 10%
002 Presentation; 10 minutes; end of semester 1 40%
003 Report; 2,500 words; end of semester 2 50%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Suzanne Owen
Level - 4
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4YL

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