Educational aims
To introduce students to human systems of thought and practice, both ‘religious’ and ‘secular’ and to develop key skills in the study of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
On completion of this diploma, you will have knowledge and understanding of:
- what it means to approach both ethical and non-ethical issues philosophically, as understood within the contemporary Western tradition of philosophy
- the distinctiveness and diversity of religious studies (with its various approaches), and its critical and contested nature
- selected classic and contemporary philosophers and their views on various topics, including a variety of ethical questions
- a diverse range of religious phenomena (including different religious traditions) in various contexts
- how to analyse and construct arguments in philosophy and ethics
- a range of concepts, theories and methods relevant to religious studies
- the complex, subtle and sometimes controversial ways in which philosophical and ethical theories, and religious ideas and practices, relate to society and culture both historically and in the present day.
Cognitive skills
On completion of this diploma, you will have developed the ability to:
- analyse, compare and contrast and critically evaluate and apply relevant terms, methods, theories and concepts
- synthesise, understand or critically evaluate primary and secondary sources and formulate your own views about the problems discussed
- plan and execute philosophical, ethics and religious studies writing at the appropriate level, including the ability to organise a number of arguments and counter arguments into a coherent essay
- reflect on personal perspectives and assumptions, aspects of learning and development of key skills.
Practical and/or professional skills
On completion of this diploma, you will be able to:
- access, select and research information using your own initiative and deploying a range of digital tools
- plan and manage a programme of work that identifies priorities and consistently meets deadlines with an increasing degree of independence.
- apply knowledge and skills to a range of different contexts, communicating effectively as appropriate to the audience in question and the task in hand
- engage with others effectively and with appropriate sensitivity.
- appreciate and analyse practical and ethical implications for individuals and communities with particular worldviews.
Key skills
On completion of this diploma, you will be able to:
- effectively communicate and synthesise philosophical, ethical and religious studies ideas and arguments using a range of media and in a manner appropriate to different audiences
- work independently, developing an effective information-gathering strategy, ordering the data, and relating them to the analysis of a specific intellectual problem.
Teaching, learning and assessment methods
The modules in this qualification are taught with a blended approach of textbooks, online materials, synchronous and asynchronous online tutorials. All modules involve tutor-marked assignments and either an end-of-module assignment or exam.