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Religion, Philosophy and Ethics
- BA (Hons) Religion, Philosophy and Ethics (Single Award)*
- BA/BSc (Hons) Philosophy and Ethics (Combined Award)
- BA/BSc (Hons) Study of Religions (Combined Award)
* Single Honours course subject to approval.
This course is designed to explore responses to ultimate questions and crucial issues facing humanity, drawing upon the disciplines of Religious Studies, Philosophy and Ethics. The approach taken is global, contemporary and applied.
Religion, Philosophy and Ethics is offered as a single honours specialised award, or you may study either the Philosophy and Ethics route or the Study of Religions route within the programme as part of a Combined degree in combination with other subjects – popular combinations include History, English, Creative Writing, Sociology, Psychology, and Education.
Course Structure and Content
The religious traditions studied are diverse, including major traditions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam or Christianity, and the less well known such as newer religious movements.
Included in the programme are contemporary developments such as Paganism and Goddess spirituality. We range from the local, such as religions in Bath and Glastonbury, to the global, such as Japanese Religions. Crucial to the study of religions is direct encounter and experiential learning, and the course includes visits and a one-week placement in a religious community.
Philosophies studied include South and East Asian philosophies as well as Western approaches. Gender and sexuality are important issues in both religion and philosophy. Within ethics the emphasis is on applied ethics, addressing contemporary concerns such as environmental ethics, war and conflict and medical ethics. Ethical issues are explored from both religious and secular/humanist perspectives. There are opportunities to follow up your own interests or career plans in a variety of special projects, employment related placements and a dissertation.
Year 1
In Year 1, we offer two core modules. One introduces philosophical and ethical enquiry, providing you with the tools of philosophical and ethical analysis, and critically examining core concepts in epistemology, metaphysics and ethics. The other explores the meaning of religion and spirituality, examines a variety of methods of studying religions and spiritualities, and illustrates these from a variety of contemporary traditions, from Druidry to the Bahá'í faith. There is also a field visit to Glastonbury.
Single Honours students take both of these core courses; those on the Combined Degree take either the introduction to study of religions or the introduction to philosophy and ethics. There is also an optional module in Global religions and philosophies, looking at major traditions and movements, and key thinkers.
- Beyond Belief: Introduction to the Study of Religions and Spiritualities (core module);
- Truth and Value: Introduction to Philosophical and Ethical Enquiry (core module);
- Global Religions and Philosophies;
- Philosophy and Thinking in Schools;
- Heritage and Applied History;
- The Business of Heritage;
- Medieval and Renaissance Worlds.
Year 2
The core module in the second year focuses on philosophy in Indian and Chinese traditions. Optional modules include ethics within religious and humanist traditions (on topics such as medical ethics, and social justice); philosophy, religions and the environment; in depth study of major religious traditions including Global Christianity, Life and Liberation in the Hindu tradition, Saints and Soldiers in Sikhism, and the history and teachings of Buddhism.
There is also a Special Project in which you can explore topics of your choice, engage in a placement or project relevant to employment, or take part in a summer school in another country such as Korea.
- Darshana, Dharma and Dao: Philosophy in the Indian and Chinese Traditions (core module);
- Exploring Global Christianity;
- Power, Duty and Desire: Life and Liberation in the Hindu Tradition;
- Ethics, Religion and Humanism: Contemporary Moral Dilemmas;
- Religion and Heritage;
- Film and Philosophy;
- Special Project;
- Buddhism: Historical and Doctrinal Developments;
- Saints and Soldiers: Mysticism, Militancy and Modernity in the Sikh Tradition;
- Philosophy, Religions and the Environment.
Year 3
In the third year, Single Honours students and those on the Combined Degree with a Study of Religions focus undertake a fieldwork placement with a religious community such as a Buddhist monastery, a Christian convent, the Hare Krishnas or the Salvation Army.
Other options include a philosophical module on the meaning of human existence, encompassing such topics as absurdity and purpose, identity and mortality; a module on religion, philosophy and gender; advanced study of pagan, new and alternative religions; and modules studying the Bhagavad Gita, the Muslim World, Culture and Counter-culture, Religion and Education internationally, Buddhism, and religion, culture and society in Japan.
There is also a special Research Project which could focus on Applied Ethics, a Dissertation which allows for in-depth concentration on a topic of your choice, or an employment related project.
- Studying Religions in the Contemporary World (core module);
- Dissertation;
- Employment related placement (alternative to Dissertation);
- Buddhism in Practice;
- Religion, Philosophy and Gender;
- Life and Meaning;
- Advanced Special Project;
- The Song of the Lord: Hinduism, Religion, Scripture and the Bhagavad-Gita;
- Spiritual Revolution: Pagan, New and Alternative Religions in the 21st Century;
- Religion, Culture and Society in Japan;
- The Muslim World
- Without Fear or Favour: National and International Perspectives on Religion, Culture and Education;
- Culture and Counterculture: from Orientalism to the ‘Hippy Trail’.
Teaching Methods and Resources
We offer excellent teaching with attention to individuals, and staff are active in research and scholarship in their specialist areas. We welcome non-traditional entrants and mature students.
Assessment Methods
Assessment is mainly by coursework such as essays, reports, projects, presentations, on-line discussion board participation, or even the production of a short film, and there are also some timed elements such as critical analyses or examinations.
Career Opportunities
A popular career for our students is teaching Religious Education and/or Citizenship in secondary or primary schools, where there is a shortage of specialists. The combination of studying religions and philosophy is particularly good preparation for this, and one module is specially designed as preparation for a career in education. Others have gone on to further academic study and university teaching.
It is increasingly important for people in a wide range of careers to be able to mix with people from different religious and cultural backgrounds, for example past students have had careers in the police, hospital administration, social work, and journalism. Study of Religions comes in useful when working overseas whether in tourism or other businesses.
Philosophy and Ethics develops many skills valued by employers such as clarity and precision in thinking, the ability to recognise unnoticed assumptions, the expertise to present a strong case, and to see the ethical issues involved in everyday decisions. Graduate careers for which Philosophy is good preparation include: law, civil service, local government, journalism, financial institutions, management, and IT.
Typical Offers
240-280 UCAS Tariff points (eg BCC; BB+AS a).
Student Profile
I chose my course because I have always been interested in the world and in people. I am fascinated by the thoughts, needs, beliefs and knowledge of others who have been brought up outside of Christianity.
I really like the structure of the course because the first year enables you to study in breadth and then in the second year focus more deeply on some of the religions studied in the first year. I was enthralled by the prospect of going on a placement for a week in a religious community as part of the course in second year. I am soon to find out whether I will be going to live with The Community of the Many Names of God or the Hare Krishnas.
The Department has a friendly ethos, with lecturers who are genuinely willing their students to do well and continually supporting them along the way. It is with thanks to this course that my understanding of people in the world is ever expanding and even when the pressure is on with assignments due, I continue to brim with enthusiasm for the knowledge I gain.
Alex Hyde, Year 2 Study of Religions.
