Module: SRE5001-20 Living Religion

Level: 5

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Paul Reid-Bowen

Module Tutor Contact Details: p.reid-bowen@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

This core module looks at religions in practice, with particular reference to the United Kingdom. A central feature is that it enables you to carry out fieldwork in a religious community chosen from a number of diverse communities with whom we have established partnerships. Profiles of these communities can be found on the ‘Living Religion’ website. The module introduces you to both theoretical and practical aspects of conducting fieldwork with human participants including ethical and legal considerations, as well as considering the value of ethnographic and qualitative methods within the context of other approaches to studying religion. This leads to the one-week placement in a religious community.

The module aims to:

• Examine in detail the life and work of a religious community using participant observation and interviews;

• Focus on ethnographic and qualitative approaches as key methodological tools in carrying out fieldwork in a religious community;

• Discuss theoretical and practical aspects of conducting fieldwork with human participants by paying attention to ethical and legal considerations; and

• Relate Study of Religions to contemporary developments in society and assess its relevance for future employment.

2.Outline syllabus

This module will centre on the one-week placement in a religious community. Preparation for this will cover an introduction to ethical and legal issues, data capture and data analysis, concentrating on ethnographic and qualitative approaches. There will also be discussion of the status of religion in the context of the equality and diversity agenda, and an opportunity to relate subject skills and knowledge to possible careers.

3.Teaching and learning activities

Teaching will take place through a series of two-hour interactive workshops, combining tutor-led and student-led elements. Tutor-led workshops and include research training in preparation for the one-week placement. The placement is normally residential, but may be non-residential dependent on student circumstances, and usually occurs in the spring term. Student-led workshops discuss the placement experience and lead to the poster presentations. These are supplemented by tutorials to assist in planning assessed work.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Skills audit with career profile (2,000 words)

• % Weighting: 40%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Poster presentation with reflective commentary (3,000 words equiv.)

• % Weighting: 60%