Module manager: Olivia Porter
Email: O.C.Porter@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as a discovery module
In this core module you will be prepared for your final year project, will think ahead about your ambitions after your degree, and will reflect on how you are developing academically and personally. You will be introduced to new, cutting edge research that will challenge how you think about the study of religion, and its significance outside the university.
This module will increase the coherence of, and performance in, religion degree programmes through the provision of a skills orientated curriculum which supports students to understand the academic, global, disciplinary and personal contexts for the study.
The module provides a pathway to the final year project through the development of research skills, embeds employability in the curriculum, and supports students in the development of their academic skills.
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate critical engagement with key issues of method and theory in the study of religion
2. Articulate the academic and skills development they are achieving through their programme of study
3. Demonstrate the ability to independently source, analyse and judge the value of academic texts.
Studying text in context
Identifying the role of religion in public life
Fieldwork skills
Literature search
Career and academic skills auditing
Research question development
During semester one students will be introduced to three different approaches to the study of religion based on current research projects in TRS. These areas will change on an annual basis to reflect current research.
During semester two students will cover a range of skills based content, usually including:
• Employability skills
• Careers awareness
• Literature search.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 16 | 1 | 16 |
| Seminar | 16 | 1 | 16 |
| Tutorial | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Private study hours | 167 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 33 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students will be required to undertake lecture and seminar preparation totalling approximately 3 hours per week in semester one and two hours per week in semester 2 (55 hours of preparation for classes).
Students will spend the remaining time in assessment preparation, skills auditing, and skills training/development based on the skills audit.
Students will be able to submit one partial (one third) draft version of each assessed task for written feedback from the module leader.
Students will be encouraged to engage with the Careers Centre for formative feedback on the Employability Task.
Seminars will include peer and module leader feedback activities.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Reflective log | Reflective log | 50 |
| In-course Assessment | Skills Task | 10 |
| Assignment | Annotated Bibliography | 40 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
The assessment for this module will be through a reflective log, an annotated bibliography and a skills audit. Resit will be by direct replacement of task.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 22/01/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team