Prospectus

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Introducting to Religious Studies

Course
2020-2021

Admission requirements

None.

Description

This course introduces students to religious studies, conceived as an interdisciplinary programme in which knowledge is gathered on the basis of historical and social scientific research about religions and religious phenomena in different cultures in the past and present, with the aim of gaining more insight into the development, function, meaning and practice of religion or aspects thereof. In addition to the history of the field, core concepts, themes, theories, insights, research questions and methods that currently play a role in modern religious studies are discussed from a problem-oriented perspective.

Course objectives

Students who complete this course will:

  • Gain a deeper understanding of the issues involved in defining and studying religion;

  • Understand how different perspectives on religion are shaped by their historical context;

  • Improve their skills in written English.

Timetable

Rooster Religiewetenschappen Rooster Kerncurriculum

Mode of instruction

Lecture

Assessment method

Assessment

Mid-term paper after block 1 (40%) and final paper after block 2 (60%).

Weighting

The final mark for the course is determined through a weighted average of the grades given for these assignments. Resit Students producing unsatisfactory work for either the mid-term or final paper will be asked to submit new pieces on different topics for the resit. Feedback Assignments will be graded via Brightspace.

Reading list

Hillary Rodrigues and John S. Harding, 2009, Introduction to the Study of Religion. London: Routledge.

Further literature will be provided during the course.

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.

General information about uSis is available on the

[website](https://www.student.universiteitleiden.nl/en/administrative-matters/registration--de-

registration/course-and-exam-enrolment/course-and-exam-enrolment/humanities#tab-2).

Registration Studeren à la carte en Contractonderwijs

Registration [Studeren à la carte](https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/other-modes-of-

study/contract-and-non-examination-courses/a-la-carte-education).

Registration [Contractonderwijs](https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/other-modes-of-

study/contract-and-non-examination-courses/contract-teaching).

Contact

Dr C. J. Pearce

Remarks