Religion Undergraduate Brochure 2014

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University of Hull,Cottingham Road,Hull, HU6 7RX,United Kingdom

T. +44 (0)1482 346311E. [email protected]

www.hull.ac.uk

Undergraduate study 2014

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The flaming torch is a symbol of education and learning, and can also be interpreted as representing a pioneering spirit.

The white rose was adopted as a device by the first Duke of York, son of Edward III, in 1385 and later became more widely associated with Yorkshire.

The ducal coronet is taken from the coat of arms of the city of Kingston upon Hull, in reference to the Royal Charter granted to the city by King Edward I in 1299.

The fleur de lys is taken from the coats of arms of Lincoln and Lincolnshire, representing their inclusion in the geographical area that the University was established to serve.

The dove, symbolising peace, is taken from the coat of arms of Thomas Robinson Ferens, the University’s foremost original benefactor.

The University of Hull | 1

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Key Facts

Degree course UCAS code Typical offer

Single Honours

Education, Philosophy and Religion XV35 BA/EPR 280–320

Joint Honours

Creative Writing and Religion WV86 BA/CWT 280–320

English and Religion QV3P BA/ER 280–320

French and Religion RV16 BA/FTR 280–320

German and Religion RV26 BA/GTR 280–320

Hispanic Studies and Religion RV46 BA/HSTR 280–320

History and Religion VV1P BA/HR 280–320

Italian and Religion RV36 BA/ITR 280–320

Philosophy and Religion VV56 BA/PhT 280–320

Religion and Film Studies VP63 BA/TF 280–320

Religion and Politics VL62 BA/RP 280–320

Religion and Sociology LV36 BA/ST 280–320

Contents

Religion and Theology at Hull 3

Full-Time BA Degrees 6

Module Outlines 8

Part-Time Courses 9

Admissions and Postgraduate Study 10

Careers 12

Free Elective Scheme 14

What Happens Next? 15

How to Find Us 16

NB: You are not required to take Religious Studies A/AS level; however, if you do take it, a minimum of B or C is normally required, depending on the degree in question.

We also encourage applications from students with qualifications other than A/AS level.

Religion staffPaul Dearey, BA (Trinity College, Dublin), MA (Pittsburgh), teaches systematic theology and Christian ethics.

D R M Mariau, L ès L, M en Phil (Paris), PhD (Aix-en-Prov), teaches Indian religions and philosophy of religion. Research: yoga; Indian theories of meaning.

Fr Jim O’Brien, MA, BD, HDipEd, is the University’s Roman Catholic Chaplain and lectures in New Testament.

A D Ornella, PhD (Graz), teaches religion and media studies.

Admissions contactKay Nock, Admissions CoordinatorFaculty of Arts and Social SciencesUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RX+44 (0)1482 [email protected]/fass

Dates of semestersSemester 129 Sep 2014 – 23 Jan 2015

Semester 22 Feb – 12 June 2015

2 | The University of Hull

Cornucopia sculpture, part of the Hull University Art Collection


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Religion and Theology at Hull

The Star of David

Beverley Minster

This pamphlet is designed to introduce you to the study of Religion at Hull and to the various courses we offer. Whether your interest lies in Religion as a first degree, or in graduate courses or research, or in part-time study, we hope that your initial questions will be answered here. Whatever your reasons for considering Hull as a place to do Religion, you will find that it offers a number of distinct advantages:

Excellent teaching

In the 2012 National Student Survey, 93% of students taking Philosophy, Theology and Religious studies at Hull praised our staff’s ability to explain things, and 90% of them reported that they found their course intellectually stimulating.

Choice

Our undergraduate courses provide for a choice of subjects, reflecting the range of disciplines and skills which the study of Religion involves. This breadth is underpinned by the teaching staff’s research, the provision of opportunities for self-reflection and the development of skills for employment.

Individual attention

Despite the range of subjects we offer, we remain a small department committed to small-group teaching and to ensuring individual attention.

The department

Religion has been taught at Hull since the early 1950s. At that time the department was focused on the Judaeo-Christian tradition. But social and cultural changes that have occurred since then mean that perceptions and the realities of religion have changed greatly. Nowadays, the meaning of Religion is explored in many different ways. Our programmes have adapted to take account of such changes, so that now we provide exciting opportunities for students to explore religion in connection with social media and issues of social justice.

The range of topics

The first year provides a grounding in the study of contemporary cultural forms of religion. Different religious media are introduced to students, ranging from the scriptures of the Christian tradition to film and new media. In the second and third years, students learn a range of methodologies that develop their critical understanding of religion. The critical reception of diverse religious forms and practices is achieved by linking them to social, economic, cultural and political realities. Throughout their course of studies, students are provided with opportunities to apply their critical learning in ways that enhance their skills for employment.

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Today, Hull is host to a variety of faiths, reflecting Britain’s wider multicultural society.

Rose window stained glass, dedicated to the Madonna of the Health, located in the San Camillo Church in Milano, Italy

Al Khuwair Mosque in Muscat Sultanate, Oman

Access

We are committed to wider access. A significant proportion of our students are returning to study after a number of years away. Some seek to improve their career prospects, while others take up their often long standing interest in matters of religion. The result is that our classes include students of different experiences and interests. (For details of part-time courses, see page 9)

Teaching methods

Learning outcomes are achieved through a variety of teaching methods and learning strategies. Most teaching is done in small groups. The traditional hour-long lecture is still used, although increasingly our teaching aims to be more active on the part of students. This means that students are expected to carry out a variety of tasks during teaching sessions. These activities are carefully designed to ensure that students develop and can identify the skills they have practised, and also that they progress in their skills at the same time as increasing their knowledge and understanding of religious topics. Thus, final-year students are expected to take more responsibility for the successful completion of their various educational projects than are second- and first-year students. Students of Religion at the University of Hull are aware of the skills that they have developed and practised during their studies.

Outside of class activities, students are required to successfully complete a variety of educational tasks. Depending upon the modules a student chooses, they may be required to research and speak in debates with students from other departments, organise and present at an undergraduate research conference, blog or otherwise publish about religious matters on the internet. All courses have an associated website (closed access), which is used for administrative functions as well as for teaching and assessment purposes.

The final degree classification is based on the grades achieved in the second (40%) and third (60%) years. Methods of assessment vary. The use of examinations is infrequent in the second and third years. The importance of the written essay or research paper continues. In addition to this, however, students are expected to write and publish in different formats, as befits the diverse cultural manifestations of religion in the present day. Graduates are expected to have the skills of fluency, analysis, and argumentation which the traditional essay demonstrates, and at the same time to be able to use new media for video, podcast, or blogging purposes.

Support

Hull is known as a friendly university, and the size of our department means that you will not be just another anonymous unit: a ‘family atmosphere’ prevails. Lecturers are always happy to give individual advice if needed; each student is also assigned a personal supervisor to help guide them through their studies. Regular informal social events are arranged within the department, and students run their own Theology Society, which arranges parties, dinners, outings, second-hand book sales and sporting fixtures. The departmental Staff–Student Committee, which has a student Chair, meets four times a year. Here student representatives can raise questions and concerns about their courses and help form departmental policy. And through meetings of the Hull and District Theological Society, you will have the opportunity to hear distinguished visiting scholars lecturing on a range of issues. We aim to provide a challenging but supportive learning environment.


The library

The religion collection of the Brynmor Jones Library is remarkably well stocked, with particular strengths in biblical subjects and early Church history. It ranges from books dating back to the infancy of printing to the latest numbers of international journals, from medieval ecclesiastical records to the archives of the 20th-century Christian Socialists.

A multimillion-pound redevelopment project to transform the Brynmor Jones Library both inside and out is due for completion in spring 2014. The redevelopment builds on the library’s rich heritage, redefining it as a dynamic focal point for University life. A building-wide wi-fi network allows students to work wirelessly on whatever mobile device they choose, while modern and flexible learning spaces mean everything from silent study to group presentations can be accommodated. And when students need some down-time, there are areas where they can meet friends and relax over coffee.

The city of Hull

There is much in the city itself to spark the theological imagination. One cannot walk far through its streets without encountering evidence of the vital role that religion has played here. Holy Trinity, the largest parish church in England, and the imposing Minster in nearby Beverley testify to the vitality of medieval Christianity. As a radical Protestant city, Hull closed its gates on King Charles I and precipitated the Civil War. On evangelical Christian principles, its Member of Parliament William Wilberforce successfully campaigned against the slave trade. Today the city is host to a variety of faiths, reflecting Britain’s wider multicultural society.

Lecturers are always happy to give individual advice if needed, and each student is assigned a personal supervisor to help guide them through their studies.

Muslim man praying

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A sample of our Theology/Religion modules

• NaturalTheology

• TheGospelAccordingtoStMark

• HistoryofChristianEthics

• TheSocialDoctrineoftheRomanCatholicChurch

• CreationandEvolution

• SymbolandSacrament

• HistoryandThoughtoftheEarlyChurch

• PhilosophicalTheology

• InterpretingReligiousPractice

• ReligiousSectarianisminHistoryandtheModernWorld

• FaithinMedia

• Religion,CultureandSociety

• Religion,Science,andTechnology

• WeRWhoWeR:Religion,MediaandIdentityConstruction

• RadicalOrthodoxy:ChristianityandPolitics

• Dissertation

BA Education, Philosophy and Religion

The degree course is designed to allow you to acquire knowledge of both ethical theories and major world religions, and of the educational principles involved in these subjects.

You will learn the various ways in which curricula are developed to meet the needs of students of Religion and Ethics. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the interplay of Ethics, Religion and Education. You will acquire a range of marketable skills such as independent learning, critical thinking, research ability, and tolerance of different religious beliefs and philosophies of life, as well as evaluative and argumentative skills.

In the first year you will learn how developmental factors, as well as social and cultural factors, affect learning. You will examine formative cultural influences on philosophical thought, and investigate the formation of central moral concepts. You will also learn about the study of religion as an academic discipline, its scope, methods and content.

In the second year you will gain a thorough understanding of the central questions in moral philosophy and the main response to them. You will gain knowledge of the ethical guidelines that are important in educational practice. And you will have the opportunity to study the ethics of at least one major religious tradition.

In the third year you will have the opportunity to reflect on and evaluate your own learning as you prepare for a work placement and for employment or further study. The work placement gives you experience of an educational setting and introduces you to the skills required for different types of learning. You will continue to study moral and religious questions at an advanced level.

Full-time BA Degrees

Stanley Spencer Villa, part of the Hull University Art Collection

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Gandhi statue, Mandela Gardens in the Museum Quarter of Hull

First-year modules

Introduction to Anthropology: Understanding World Cultures and Diversity This module provides an overview of some key concepts and areas of research within contemporary social anthropology. Drawing on recent and some classical ethnographic studies of western and non-western societies, the course illustrates the important of the cross-cultural approach and demonstrates the ways in which social anthropology enhances the understanding of our own and other cultures.

The Christian Tradition surveys the largest religion in the world – and one of the fastest growing. We look at its major beliefs, its historical development and its most significant variations.

Introduction to the New Testament surveys the history and theology of the writings which entered the canon of the ‘New Testament’, considered in their social, cultural and historical setting.

Faith in Media introduces you to the main theoretical methods that correlate religion and media.

Some second- and third-year modules

Topics in the Philosophy of Religion critically examines some central aspects of belief and practice.

Viewing the Divine examines how media and images are used to construct religious boundaries.

We R Who We R examines the use of media in individual boundary construction and the subversion of religious boundaries.

Sacred Spaces: Sacred Media raises general questions about media use from particular religious viewpoints. It questions the nature of authority, authentic representation and valid interpretation.

Avatars, Cyborgs and Ordinary Human Bodies examines how the human body exists in relation to images and media. The module allows you to appreciate how the human body is usually represented in order to communicate religious meanings.

Contemporary Ethical Problems studies ethical issues which are important in the theological understanding of human existence and which reflect the influence of science, technology, communications and education in the modern world.

The Church as Communion examines a leading ecclesiology in contemporary Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant theologies. Different versions of this ecclesiology are explored and their relative merits assessed in terms of what they imply concerning the eucharist, episcopacy and ecumenism.

The Doctrine of Creation is often perceived as contradicting scientific knowledge about the origins of the universe and about human nature. This module looks at the intellectual influences behind this perception and develops the case that the doctrine can be meaningfully examined as true.

The Doctrine of the Trinity examines the central Christian doctrine of the triune God, linking it to our understanding of the personal character of human existence.

Anti-Semitism and the Holocaust provides an overview of anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism from antiquity to the present, with a focus on the Holocaust and its aftermath.

Module Outlines


Certificate in Religion

This course is for those with no formal background in theology.

Your first year

• Introduction to Anthropology: Understanding World Cultures and Diversity• The Christian Tradition• Faith in Media• Introduction to the New Testament

Your second year

The three modules remaining from the list above.

Diploma in Religion

This course is for those with the Certificate or an equivalent qualification.

Your first and second years

Choose three modules in each year from those listed on page 6.

Bachelor of Theology degree

This course is for those with the Diploma or an equivalent qualification.

Your first and second years

Choose three modules in each year from those listed on page 6.

Part-time Courses

Each of these stages exists as a qualification in its own right, but the certificate and the diploma also function as qualifications for entry to the next stage.

Reading the Qur’an

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BA Single and Joint Honours

Once you apply you will be invited to visit the department for an applicant day, so that you can see the University before committing yourself. If you are a Joint Honours applicant, the other department may also invite you to its open day, in which case you can choose to attend the one more convenient to you. If you are not able to attend one of the scheduled days, you are welcome to make a private appointment (contact the secretary on +44 (0)1482 465995). We may interview some applicants.

The entry requirements will vary depending on the degree for which you are applying. Our typical offers for A levels are given on page 1, but we encourage applications from those with qualifications other than A/AS levels (both from the UK and from overseas), from mature applicants and from those intending to defer entry for a year.

For students taking BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma, we normally ask for DMM/DDM; for IB Diploma we ask for 28 points; and Access to Higher Education Diploma, a pass with 45 credits at Merit.

Certificate/Diploma in Religion and Bachelor of Theology

We already have a significant proportion of mature students on our BA courses. For those mature students who live in and around East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, there is an opportunity to study part-time as well. Three options are possible, depending on your individual background and previous academic experience.

The Certificate is specially designed for those who have no formal qualifications in theology. The Diploma in Religion and Bachelor of Theology presuppose the equivalent of one year’s and two years’ full-time study at university level respectively. All applicants for our part-time courses are interviewed to determine their commitment to, interest in and aptitude for study at university level. In all three courses you will take normal undergraduate modules, though we try to arrange things so that most students need to be free only two half-days per week for the lectures and tutorials. (Naturally, you need to allow extra time for study both at home and in the library.)

Postgraduate study

We offer two Masters degrees for those who already possess a good Honours degree in religion or theology: the general MA (which can be adapted to the particular interests and needs of the student) and the research MA (with a greater emphasis on the acquisition of research skills and on research itself). Both may be taken full-time for one year or part-time for two. For those without a religion or theology degree, entry to the general MA is possible by registering for the Postgraduate Diploma in the first instance.

We also offer research degrees (the MPhil and PhD) in all the major areas of religion and theology. Applicants are expected to possess at least a good second class Honours degree in religion or theology, and to propose a project capable of being supervised by a member of staff. The research degrees may be taken full-time or part-time.

Enquiries and applications

All applications for the BA Single and Joint Honours degrees must be made through UCAS. Please find further details at www.ucas.com.

If you have any queries about the full-time or part-time courses, including postgraduate opportunities, please contact:

Paul DeareyReligion and TheologyUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RX+44 (0)1482 [email protected]

Admissions and Postgraduate Study


‘Choosing Hull was easy for me: when I first came on an open day, I knew I’d really enjoy my time here. And that’s how it has worked out. The staff are friendly and helpful – and, because the department isn’t massive, I really feel like my lecturers know me and want me to achieve.’

‘Because of my experience of theology at Hull, I’ve decided to train to be an RE teacher. The wide range of topics offered here – from the Christian tradition to Indian philosophy – meant that, when it came to my teacher-training interview, I stood out from other applicants on account of my broader subject knowledge.’

‘Academic studies aside, I have fully immersed myself in student life! Thanks to our really strong students’ union, I’ve been involved in lots of activities, including playing netball for the University, volunteering with disadvantaged children and enjoying the odd boogie in the Asylum nightclub.’

‘Overall I have loved my time here and would recommend Hull to everybody!’

Abby LesterBA Religion and History


Students of Religion can expect to enjoy a higher rate of employment (and a lower rate of unemployment six months after graduation) than the average graduate. This is certainly true of Hull graduates in Religion, who in recent years have gone into careers as diverse as accountancy, computing, law, librarianship, journalism, the Christian ministry, the armed forces, personnel management, the probation service, publishing, the police force and teaching.

This is not surprising. Like any arts subject, religion develops your capacity for independent thought, analysis, problem solving, and responsiveness to new situations. Many employers are looking for these qualities rather than for specialised knowledge: they’ll teach you the relevant skills, but they need people with the right sort of intellectual equipment in the first place. Religion is certainly a subject which can develop that.

If you come to Hull as a student, our Careers Service will be very willing to help you at any stage of your course. They will be happy to discuss the careers best suited to you personally and will also be able to put you in touch with possible employers or provide information on relevant courses.

Careers

Like any arts subject, religion develops your capacity for independent thought, analysis, problem solving, and responsiveness to new situations.

Journalist in the field


Girls spending time with three siblings from Liberia, West Africa

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Free Elective Scheme

What sort of subjects can I take?

You can take almost any free elective module from outside your main course of study, usually at your home campus. You can even take a module from another faculty. The catalogue of free electives might include:

Year 1

• Cities and Civilisations: Art and Archaeology in Context

• Managing your Learning

• Anarchism and Contemporary Global Protest

Year 2

• Art and the City: Rome, Amsterdam, London, Paris and New York, 1600–2000

• European Women’s History: Medieval to Modern

Year 2

• Psychology of Performance

• Passport modules in foreign languages

What are the main reasons for participating?

• The scheme gives you the opportunity to study a subject without having to commit yourself to taking further modules in that subject area.

• By taking a free elective you are able to follow up your interests as part of your degree.

• With a broader education you may acquire extra skills that will help you when you enter the employment market.

Studying for a degree at the University of Hull is a unique experience. We aim to provide you with an education that offers both depth and breadth of knowledge. To meet these ends the University has developed an optional Free Elective Scheme. This scheme enables the majority of undergraduate students to take one module a year from outside their main course of study.

So, how does it work?

Each year you take 120 credits’ worth of modules.

SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2

20 credits 20 credits

20 credits 20 credits

20 credits

20 credits

Here you take modules from your main programme of study.

Here you have the option to take a free elective or another module from your main programme of study.


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What Happens Next?

May onwards August

Find out more Enquiries+44 (0)1482 466100 E. [email protected]

www.hull.ac.uk/admissions

A quick reference of what to expect.

October onwards

•Offermadebyacademicdepartment

•InvitationtoApplicantDay•Acceptoffer

• ApplytotheUniversityofHull• ApplicantGuidesenttoyou

November to June

•Infoonstudentaccommodation sent

•Examresults–Welcome Pack sent

September

April onwards

• Infoonstudentfinancesent

Arrive at the University of Hull

Money MattersTransparent costing policy

The University of Hull believes in transparency regarding costs incurred by students studying for its awards. We will clearly identify mandatory costs which arise from undertaking a programme and/or its core modules. The costs of all compulsory field trips and of all field trips at Level 4 (typically the first year) of a programme will be free of charge, as will essential equipment. We will be clear in our information about necessarily incurred costs (e.g. living costs, accommodation, parking and so on) associated with studying at the University and will provide clear guidance in our information about what these are likely to be. A further category is optional costs which may arise from particular module choices. Though optional, these costs may nonetheless by seen by students as necessary if they are to do well on a programme or to get the most out of it, and as such will be made transparent and easily accessible.

Welcome back – Loyalty Scholarships

We know that loyalty is a two-way street. That’s why we offer our alumni a range of fee discount options on our postgraduate taught courses. As a Hull graduate, you already have a lifelong connection with your university; if you’re considering further study, you don’t have to start all over again at a brand new university – a postgraduate programme at Hull would be a natural extension of your student experience with us. Whether you’re looking for an injection of career momentum, a change of direction, or purely to explore your area of academic interest in even greater depth, the wide range of postgraduate studies across our faculties will have something for you. As a postgraduate here, you can take advantage of world-class research expertise, cutting-edge facilities and unrivalled student support.

Be inspired, further information about Loyalty Scholarships and how your University can make postgraduate taught studies more affordable for you is available by contacting:

For faculties and course information; [email protected] or Elaine Warrener on +44 (0)1482 465363.

For a range of international scholarships offered by the University of Hull Business School (HUBS); [email protected] or Bella Anand at [email protected]

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How to Find Us

Edinburgh

Manchester

LondonCardiff

Dublin

Belfast

HULLSCARBOROUGH

Leeds

York

1 hour to Amsterdam from Humberside Airport

2.5 hours to Central London

1 hour from Hull to Scarborough

2 hours to Manchester Airport

You have the best of both worlds at the University of Hull. Not only do our campuses in Hull and Scarborough have beautiful surroundings and an abundance of outdoor leisure opportunities right on their doorsteps, they are also well situated – making them easily accessible by road, rail, sea and air.

The city of Hull is in the East Riding of Yorkshire, on the northern shore of the Humber Estuary, with good road links to the major cities of England. Hull is 200 miles from London, 100 miles from Manchester and around an hour’s drive from Leeds and York.

Scarborough, a picturesque seaside town situated on the North Yorkshire coast, is also within an hour’s drive of York and only 40 miles from the University’s Hull Campus.

Both sites have good international links as well, with easy access to several airports including Humberside, Leeds Bradford and Teesside. P&O Ferries also offers daily overnight services to Rotterdam and Zeebrugge from Hull’s own port.

Admissions policy

Admissions information provided in this pamphlet is intended as a general guide and cannot cover all possibilities. Entry requirements are generally stated in terms of A level grades and/or UCAS points, but we encourage applications from people with a wide range of other qualifications and/or experience. Some further details of the various entry routes are included in our general prospectus. Please contact the Admissions Service (see opposite) with any specific queries about admissions.

DisclaimerThis publication is intended principally as a guide for prospective students. The matters covered by it – academic and otherwise – are subject to change from time to time, both before and after students are admitted, and the information contained in it does not form part of any contract. While every reasonable precaution was taken in the production of this brochure, the University does not accept liability for any inaccuracies.

AddressFor general enquiries, please write to:

Admissions ServiceUniversity of HullHull, HU6 7RX

T. +44 (0)1482 466100F. +44 (0)1482 442290E. [email protected]

Picture credits© Andy Weekes © iStockphoto.com© fotolia.com© Innes

© University of Hull Published June 2013

We would love you to choose Hull as your first choice, but don’t just take our word for it …

“The friendly, satisfied students of Hull are the University’s best advocates and find a camaraderie with each other that other universities just can’t match.”

The Sunday Times University Guide 2012

“Twice named the friendliest university in Britain, the University of Hull is regularly ranked among the top institutions in the country for student satisfaction. Undergraduates have a great time in and out of the lecture halls.”The Sunday Times University Guide 2013

“Anyone who goes to Hull will tell you it’s friendly and down to earth, with a diverse population and a very low cost of living. No wonder it rates highly for student satisfaction.”The Guardian University Guide 2013

Religion Undergraduate Brochure 2014

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