BA (Honours) Humanities: Religious studies pathway

Stage 1

You’ll begin your studies with the compulsory 60-credit module The arts past and present (AA100)The arts past and present::This broadly-focused course introduces you to university-level study in the arts across a range of subject areas - art history, classical studies, English, history, philosophy, music and religious studies. It is structured around four themes, in order to guide you through some of the basic concerns of arts subjects: Reputations; Tradition and Dissent; Cultural Encounters; and Place and Leisure. Your studies will range from poetry to string quartets, and from sculpture to short stories – across a wide variety of cultures and historical periods. This key introductory Level 1 course is also a useful means of acquiring the key skills required for further study of arts and humanities subjects.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q03-12,module,AA100,,1, an absorbing and broad-based grounding in the arts and humanities, including:

• history    
• philosophy
• music
• literature
• art history
• classical studies
• religious studies.

You’ll develop essential study skills while engaging with a wide range of topics, periods and approaches and enhancing your enjoyment and understanding of fascinating and diverse aspects of human culture.

We recommend that you build on this with two 30-credit Level 1 modules designed to hone your critical and analytical skills and prepare you for study at Level 2. In the first, Voices and texts (A150)Voices and texts::Designed to follow our key introductory course in arts and humanities, The arts past and present (AA100), which you are strongly advised to study first, this course focuses on language in a wide range of contexts and from the perspective of different academic subjects. These include subjects familiar from studying The arts past and present - classical studies, history, literature, music, religious studies - and two additional subjects, creative writing and English language studies. Voices and texts will help you to prepare for your studies at Level 2 by giving you opportunities to sharpen your analytical skills and to develop new approaches to your own writing.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q03-12,module,A150,,1, you’ll explore language, particularly English, in a wide range of contexts and from the perspective of different academic subjects. In the second, Making sense of things: an introduction to material culture (A151)Making sense of things: an introduction to material culture::This course is designed to follow our key introductory Level 1 course, The arts past and present (AA100), which you are strongly advised to study first. It introduces you to the study of objects, or material culture, in both the past and present from a variety of different perspectives. These include heritage studies, art history, classical studies, history, philosophy and religious studies. Making sense of things will prepare you for Level 2 study, giving you opportunities to develop a range of critical and analytical skills within the context of this exciting new subject.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q03-12,module,A151,,1, you’ll be introduced to the study of objects, in both the past and present. From October 2014, these 30-credit modules are being merged into one 60-credit module Voices, texts and material culture (A105).

Alternatively, you could choose from other options which include languages, social sciences and design.

Stage 2

At this stage, you’ll begin your specialist study with  the 60-credit module Introducing religions (A217)Introducing religions::This course offers an introduction to the study of religions, and to six living religious traditions that have had – and continue to have – a major influence on world affairs: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. You will explore their historical development and contemporary manifestations, developing your knowledge and understanding of different practices and beliefs and their underpinning concepts and principles. You will also examine aspects of the religious dimension in current affairs – while developing skills of analysis and evaluation that will benefit future studies in religion and other academic disciplines.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q03-12,module,A217,,1, wide-ranging introduction to the study of their beliefs and practices, and their impact on the world today. Six religious traditions are studied:

• Buddhism
• Christianity
• Hinduism
• Islam
• Judaism
• Sikhism.

You could decide to complete Stage 2 by continuing your study of interdisciplinary humanities. Alternatively, you can choose from a wide range of modules covering art history, classical studies, classical languages, creative writing, heritage studies, literature, music, English language, philosophy, history, French, German and Spanish. Before you decide, you should think ahead to Stage 3, because most modules recommend you should study a particular Level 2 module first.

These modules can be studied in any order and throughout this stage, you’ll continue to develop your critical thinking, writing and analysis skills. You’ll also begin to work and think more independently in relation to a range of problems and questions posed by your course of study.

Stage 3

Your specialist study continues in Stage 3 with the 60-credit module Why is religion controversial? (A332)Why is religion controversial?::This course focuses on the intricate connections between religion and controversial issues, including politics, tradition, gender, multiculturalism, animism, atheism, violence, sex and capitalism. You will study processes of upheaval and change within religious traditions and some of the complex – and sometimes clashing – local, regional and national perspectives on familiar and unfamiliar controversies. Using a mix of historical, sociological and ethnographic sources, approaches and methods, this course will help you to develop your understanding of the nature and role of ‘religion’ in historical and contemporary societies. You will make significant use of the rich resources available online via the Open University library.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q03-12,module,A332,,1, where you'll investigate why religion has often been seen as a focus for controversy in the world. Using a range of sources and methods you’ll explore controversial figures, practices, ideas, and views about the future, and the capacity of religions to adapt to change.

You can also choose from a wide range of modules covering art history, classical studies, creative writing, literature, music, English language, philosophy, history, French, German and Spanish. You should bear in mind that most of these modules recommend that you have studied a particular Level 2 module first.

(If you live in England and intend to apply for a student loan, please note that some of the Level 3 history options are produced in collaboration with other universities and are therefore not eligible for student loan funding.)

These modules can be studied in any order and being at Level 3, you’ll work more independently than you did at levels 1 and 2, devoting some of your study time to exploring topics and issues in greater detail.

If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution you may be able to transfer credit for this study and count it towards an Open University qualification. If you wish to apply to transfer credit you must do so as soon as possible, and before you register for your chosen qualification. If you are awarded credit for study completed elsewhere, you may find that you need to study fewer OU modules to complete your qualification with us.

Visit our Credit Transfer site for more information and details of how to apply for credit transfer.