THEOREL 211 : Religion, Gender and Sexuality

Arts

2020 Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Considers how gender and sexuality are articulated and debated within contemporary religious communities. Topics covered may include: gender and sexuality in religious texts and traditions; women in religion; sexualities and religion; gender, sexuality, and religion in popular culture; feminist, gender and queer theories in the study of religion; gender violence and religion; HIV/AIDS and religion.

Course Overview

This course will introduce students to the articulation and understanding of gender, sexuality and religion, focusing in particular on current issues and debates surrounding gender and sexuality as they are expressed within religious theologies, texts and communities. Students will consider the different meanings and significances of the terms gender and sexuality and the various ways that these are understood within religious traditions. While the historical development of these meanings and significances will be explored, particular attention will be paid to contemporary engagements of religious communities and institutions with issues of gender and sexuality and the ways that these are played out and discussed in religious groups, religious writings, as well as in secular politics, the media and popular culture.


Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I Restriction: THEOREL 311

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Develop and demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of gender and sexuality and some of the ways that these concepts are articulated and understood within a number of religious traditions, texts and communities. (Capability 1.1)
  2. Discover the historical development of beliefs and theologies surrounding gender and sexuality within a number of religious traditions, texts and communities. (Capability 1.1)
  3. Develop and demonstrate a good understanding of some contemporary issues surrounding gender and sexuality within religious traditions, texts and communities, particularly any debates or controversies surrounding these issues. (Capability 2.3)
  4. Be able to engage critically with different methodological approaches to researching gender and sexuality within religious studies. (Capability 2.1)
  5. Develop and demonstrate skills in composing an engaging, well-written and well-argued essay. (Capability 4.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Reflective diary 30% Individual Coursework
Worksheet 30% Individual Coursework
Essay 40% Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures per week, a 1-hour tutorial, and on average, 5 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 2 hours of work on assignments each week.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page (https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894), which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 25/06/2020 12:51 p.m.