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SO3067: RELIGION AND SOCIETY (2016-2017)

Last modified: 28 Jun 2018 10:27


Course Overview

Modernization changes the nature and social position of religion: what was once imposed on entire societies becomes a matter of choice and as societies become more religiously diverse, religion is increasingly confined to the home and the family. National churches are replaced by denominations and sects and the state’s increasing neutrality allows new religious movements to flourish. This course uses secularization to examine such basic sociological concepts as social differentiation, individualism, social cohesion, community versus voluntary association, immigration, conversion, recruitment, gender, and cultural defence.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Term First Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Professor Steve Bruce

Qualification Prerequisites

None.

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • One of SO2003 Study Social Life 1 (Passed) or SO2004 Studying Social Life 1 (Passed) or SO2005 Studying Social Life 1 (Extended) (Passed)
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • One of SO2503 Study Social Life 2 (Passed) or SO2504 Studying Social Life 2 (Passed) or SO2505 Studying Social Life 2 (Extended) (Passed)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

  • SO3017 Religion and Society (Studied)
  • SO3567 Religion and Society (Studied)

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The central concern of the course is the place of religion in the modern world. Various aspects of modernity that have undermined the plausibility of the supernatural are examined, as are the ways in which religion remains a powerful force for aiding cultural transitions and the defence of ethnic identity. Although the substance of the course is the sociology of religion, it is designed to teach students basic sociological ideas.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment : two 2,000 word essays (20% EACH); examination (60%).

Resit: Examination (100%) unless candidate opts to carry forward continuous assessment grade.

Formative Assessment

Class presentations (2 per semester) for which feedback is provided.

Feedback

Written feedback will be provided for continuous assessment work, where appropriate. This will normally be provided within three weeks of the submission date. Oral feedback on class presentations will also be provided where appropriate.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.

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