THEOREL 319 : Theory and Method in Religious Studies

Arts

2021 Semester One (1213) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines key theories and methods used in the multidisciplinary study of religion. Although dedicated to social-scientific theories of religion, it also covers textual, historical, feminist/queer, and psychological theories. It will provide students with a critical understanding of the diversity of approaches used in the field and raise awareness about the possibilities for framing their own research.

Course Overview

This course examines some key theories and methods that are used in the multidisciplinary study of religion and will demonstrate the range of possibilities as practiced by staff (textual, historical, social-scientific, feminist/queer, psychological).
How do scholars determine what constitutes religion? What counts as data in the study of religion? How is this data collected, analysed, and interpreted? What is religious experience and how does one study it? How do institutional expressions of religion change over time? How does the understanding of “religion” vary from culture to culture or even between individuals and groups within one society? Is religion in decline today or simply changing form? How does one study the role of religion in popular culture? What role does religion play in shaping the values and political culture of a society?
These fundamental questions and others will be addressed through lectures, readings, and discussion of some classical and contemporary theories, as well as key debates that have shaped the discipline of religious studies. The semester will be divided into modules that focus on specific theories and approaches to the study of religion. The aim is to provide students with a critical understanding of the diversity of methods and theories used in the field, and to raise student awareness about the possibilities for framing their own studies, which will help prepare them for independent research in the BA Hons and postgraduate research programmes. It will serve as a capstone course for THEOREL majors and as a useful elective for other students considering postgraduate studies.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II from the BA Schedule

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
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 an understanding of the diverse ways in which religion has been defined and studied across multiple disciplines. (Capability 1.1)
  2. Conduct a literature review for a research question related to one or more aspect of religion in society and culture. (Capability 2.1)
  3. Communicate clearly how one or more theories can explain and contribute to our understanding of the multiple roles religion plays in society. (Capability 2.1 and 4.1)
  4. Be able to outline a methodological approach to address one research question related to the study of a particular aspect of religion (institutional, textual, historical, cultural, behavioural) . (Capability 3.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Tutorial Participation 10% Individual Coursework
In-class test 20% Individual Test
Essay 1 30% Individual Coursework
Essay 2 40% Individual Coursework

Next offered

Semester 1 2022

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, a 1 hour tutorial, 5 hours of reading and thinking about the content and around 2 hours of work per week on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the test.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

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.

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 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.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

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 22/12/2020 04:46 p.m.