Module manager: Jasjit Singh
Email: J.S.Singh@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is approved as a discovery module
The module introduces the Study of Religion as an interdisciplinary academic field of study. The module integrates the exploration of different approaches, theories, methods, concepts and issues in the Study of Religion through the reading and critical assessment of key academic texts in the field. Throughout the module, religion is approached as something socially negotiated, polymorphic (i.e. it comes in many shapes and sizes) and multi-dimensional (presenting many different faces), woven into everyday lived realities (both local and global) as well as embodied within religious institutions, texts, practices and images.
The module does not introduce specific religions as such. Rather, the module will furnish you with the key theories, methods, concepts and debates in the scholarly study of religion. You will learn how these discussions relate to critical issues in the contemporary study of religion, such as how scholars have attempted to reckon with (post)colonialism, gender and sexualities, and everyday expressions of religion. This will be achieved through using examples from a variety of religions
The module’s learning activities, including lectures and discussion-based seminars, will provide opportunities to both encounter and think about key issues, whilst also discussing them and exploring further amongst their peers.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Accurately identify and explain foundational knowledge of selected approaches, methods, theories and concepts in the study of religion.
2. Critically explore issues and debates in the study of religion, such as gender, (post)colonialism, normativity and subjectivity.
3. Effectively deploy key terminology in the study of the religion.
4. Explain and compare different approaches to the study of religion.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
5. Apply research skills by consulting primary and secondary sources (Work Ready, Sustainability, Academic, and Digital skills).
6. Demonstrate academic writing skills, including correct use of referencing conventions and adherence to academic integrity (Work Ready, Sustainability, Academic skills).
7. Formulate and communicate arguments effectively (Work Ready, Sustainability, Academic skills).
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminar | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Private study hours | 181 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 19 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
In addition to the formative feedback available to students in student hours and seminar-based activities, each student is invited to complete ONE piece of formative work which will receive written feedback.
Students are invited to submit a short critique of two academic book reviews on which they will receive formative feedback from the module leader. A seminar on ‘Analysing academic book reviews’ will also take place early in the module.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Critical book review | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 03/03/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team