2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

THEO2300 Studying Religion in Context

20 creditsClass Size: 100

Module manager: Caroline Starkey
Email: c.starkey@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Semester One- Lecture One: Module Orientation
- Lecture Two: Plug-In One
- Lecture Three: Plug-In One
- Lecture Four: Plug-In One
- Lecture Five: Plug-In Two
- Lecture Six: Plug-In Two
- Lecture Seven: Plug-In Two
- Lecture Eight: Plug-In Three
- Lecture Nine: Plug-In Three
-Lecture Ten: Plug-In Three
- Lecture Eleven: Cross-cutting themes and emerging issues(The Module Leader will attend all lectures and will use this as the basis for a final lecture which pulls together some of the key issues.)

- Seminar One: Reflective Log Orientation, review of current subject awareness
- Seminar Two: What is TRS?
- Seminar Three: Discussion seminar for Plug-In One
- Seminar Four: Global contexts and global challenges in the study of religions
- Seminar Five: Research methods – texts and contexts
- Seminar Six: Discussion seminar for Plug-In Two
- Seminar Seven: Researching Religion – advanced issues in fieldwork.
- Seminar Eight: Case studies – programme knowledge in the world outside the academy (ethics and responsibility)
- Seminar Nine: Discussion seminar for Plug-In Three
- Seminar Ten: Skills Audit
- Seminar Eleven: Reflective Log – preparation for submission and the feedback response process.
(There will be some adaptation of seminar themes in each year depending on the Plug-Ins chosen)

Semester Two
- Week One: Employability. Careers centre/Alumni/Local partners... whole group lecture
- Week Two: Literature search ... whole group lecture
- Week Three: Literature review... whole group lecture
- Week Four: Building a bibliography... whole group lecture
- Week Five: Skills Audit reviewed in group personal tutor meetings
- Week Six: Method and Theory discussion seminar
- Week Seven: Method and Theory presentation seminar
- Week Eight: Method and Theory presentation seminar
- Week Nine: Bibliography discussion seminars
- Week Ten: Bibliography discussion seminars
- Week Eleven: Module review… whole group lecture

Objectives

The Aim of the module is to increase the coherence of, and performance in, the SH and JH BA programme through provision of skills orientated curriculum content.
The related Objectives of the module are:
-To develop programme coherence through provision of teaching in key cross-cutting theoretical and methodological issues and encourage move away from ‘modularised’ perception of the programme
- To develop dissertation and broader level 3 performance through provision of specific training in key academic skills of:
- Literature search
- Literature review
- Development of a research question
- Research methods
- To develop subject identity through small group teaching and discussion of the contemporary relevance of programme content
- To develop graduate employability through reflecting on key subject –specific and general skills for the workplace and increasing awareness of how religion intersects with public life and workplaces.
- To provide a focus for core provision of the UoL’s three curriculum themes of ethics and responsibility, global and cultural insight and employability (http://curriculum.leeds.ac.uk/programme-threads)
- To develop level 2 engagement with personal tutoring, Careers Service, Library and other UoL services
- To continue to develop students’ ability to engage with the feedback process

Learning outcomes
See above.
Specific TRS knowledge outcomes (as opposed to skills outcomes) will be developed knowledge and understanding of three key strands of studying religion in context selected from a range of options. These options may include:
Contexts of the Bible
Theologies in Context
Local Religious Contexts (could include international as well as UK localities)
Religion in a secular/multi-faith context (could include emphasis on issues of government policy)
Researcher in Context
Religion in other Contexts (could include key issues such as religion and gender, religion and development etc)

Skills outcomes
Studying text in context
Identifying role of religion in public life
Fieldwork skills
Literature search
Career and academic skills auditing
Research question development

Syllabus

The module is designed to run over two semesters with the bulk of work for assessment being produced in semester 2. Unless students are taking other term 3 modules they are therefore advised to take only 40 credits in semester 2. The teaching in semester one is based on two hours per week, one hour of lectures and one hour of seminars. Lectures will be delivered by a group of 3 or 4 academic staff (see 'Plug Ins' below). Seminars will be facilitated by a group of postgraduate students who have been suitably trained and will be provided with teaching materials and seminar plans to focus seminar activity. PG tutors are expected to bring their current research experience and expertise to their seminar teaching. The teaching in semester 2 is based on one hour per week which is a combination of whole group lectures, group personal tutorials, and informal discussion groups.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lectures	16	1.00	16.00
Seminar	16	1.00	16.00
Tutorial	1	1.00	1.00
Private study hours			167.00
Total Contact hours			33.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Students will be required to undertake lecture and seminar preparation totalling approximately 3 hours per week in semester one and two hours per week in semester 2 (55 hours of preparation for classes).
Students will spend the remaining time in assessment preparation, skills auditing, and skills training/development based on the skills audit.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Weekly seminars will provide opportunities for seminar tutors to observe and give feedback on student progress. Use of some formative assessment in seminar one (see assessment methods below) will be a key monitoring point. Personal tutor engagement it the skills audit process will provide students with ongoing support for their development.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Reflective log	Reflective log	50.00
In-course Assessment	Skills Task	10.00
Assignment	Annotated Bibliography	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The assessment for this module will be through a reflective log, an annotated bibliography and a skills audit. Resit will be by direct replacement of task.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 20/07/2017

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