Undergraduate Philosophy, Ethics and Religion with Foundation Year BA (Hons)
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-04-17 | - |
| 2023-09-19 | 2023-07-04 |
| 2024-01-09 | - |
Program Overview
About this course
During your Foundation Year, you will undertake modules to enable you to enhance your academic skills and equip you with the tools you’ll need to study with confidence. You’ll carry out a personal project so you can study an area of interest related to your chosen future subject specialisation.
You’ll be introduced to various types of media, both in theory and practice, and will develop an understanding of the skills and concepts required by the creative industries. You’ll explore historical approaches towards images and the social power they embody and will undertake an individual or group project to produce work that reflects the culture of 'image'.
Following successful completion of the Foundation Year, you’ll progress onto the first year of our Philosophy, Ethics and Religion BA (Hons) degree.
Through the lens of prominent thinkers such as Aristotle, Plato and Foucault, you’ll examine some of today’s most pertinent moral, religious, social and political questions. We’ll teach you how to interpret texts, analyse complex concepts and apply ideas and ethical values to daily life.
You’ll search for what ‘truth’ and ‘meaning’ might mean by studying a range of ideas and positions. Central questions will include: what is the place of the self in the world?; what values should we hold in contemporary society regarding business, sport and surveillance?; and does belief in God shape the kind of values we hold?
In fact,
is it this belief in God that constitutes a
religion? -
if not, w
hat
actually
constitutes a
religion?
You’ll develop key skills in problem-solving, analytical and creative thinking, and learning to engage with philosophical, ethical and religious questions. Putting skills and theory into practice, you’ll complete professional work placements and gain valuable experience in preparation for your future career.
By combining the study of philosophy, ethics and religion, you’ll foster your own development as a thinker and have the opportunity to think critically and creatively, make new links and find new insights – skills which are vital in today’s job market and society.
Why study with us?
Program Outline
Modules
You will study a variety of modules across your programme of study. The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Foundation Year
Core modules (students are required to take):
We'll help you develop core academic skills such as using electronic resources, planning and note-taking, communication skills related to essay and report writing and delivering presentations. You'll learn how to manage your time, how to prioritise and how to manage stress, and you’ll become more confident in engaging with collaborative learning, debates, discussions and critical reflection
.
You’ll study an area of interest related to your chosen degree. You’ll work individually on your project, whether that's a written report, a presentation and oral examination, a film or a series of blog posts. You’ll undertake problem-solving learning, and formative feedback and support will be provided throughout, helping develop your self-confidence.
This module will introduce you to various types of media, both in theory and practice. You’ll explore the role of 'story' in film and television, radio and the web that engages with audiences. You’ll develop an understanding of narrative structure, character development and idea generation, as well as understanding the skills and concepts required by the creative industries through lectures, workshops and practical exercises.
This module explores a range of historical approaches towards images and the social power they embody. From religious icons to celebrity glamour, fine art to selfies, you will develop an understanding of what humans have done and can do with images to shape attitudes and beliefs. As well as seminars, short lectures and workshops, you'll undertake an individual or group project to produce work that reflects the culture of 'image'.
Year 1
This module will introduce you to key/foundational concepts in the study of ethics. A range of ethical theories will be critically analysed and discussed in terms of their merits and demerits for finding moral truth. The module culminates in a two-week Professional Challenge Project or a
short work placement or volunteering in a relevant sector to allow you to apply your professional skills.
This module covers selected topics in Western and Eastern philosophy such as: ethics, value theory, political philosophy, aesthetics, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of religion, philosophy of mind, philosophy of language. The module introduces fundamental questions and concepts in philosophy, and the developing critical tradition that reflects upon the formulation of these questions and problems as an essential path to answering them.
Ask foundational questions about the nature of religion and spirituality and how they are studied.
Learn how to think clearly and argue well by using formal and informal methods.
This module will introduce you to a variety of religious thought from across the globe. It will cover all the major (and some of the minor) world religions, such as: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Daoism and Confucianism. You will study both the practices and beliefs of each tradition, while examining either a preeminent thinker or a central concept within each tradition in particular detail.
Year 2
Investigate the nature of knowledge and ourselves through the eyes of Early Modern philosophers.
Gain first-hand experience of conducting fieldwork in religious studies.
Social justice is a concept that is widely used in today’s society but often we are unclear about its precise meaning. This module will enable you to reflect on models of, and approaches to, social justice. It will offer the opportunity for you to engage with what approaches to social justice would look like across many different disciplines. You will have the opportunity to examine ‘real world’ case studies which will highlight the need for social justice that is informed by the real-life experiences of people living in particular contexts.
Learn about the process and methodologies used in research in philosophy, ethics, and religious studies.
Ask questions about the relationship between scientific and religious explanations of the world.
Professional Placement
Gain experience applying your studies in the workplace.Year 3
Core modules (students are required to take):
Work one-to-one with a supervisor on an extended project in philosophy, ethics, and religious studies.
Students are required to choose five option modules from:
This module will expand on the Ethical Foundations module, providing you with the opportunity to study metaethics in greater detail. The module will introduce you to some of the high-level debates in metaethics allowing you to engage with the state of the art. Potential topics include: objectivism, subjectivism, and relativism; naturalism, supernaturalism, and non-naturalism; the open question argument; Hume’s guillotine, cognitivism and non-cognitivism; and realism and irrealism.
Investigate the key debates and theories in modern philosophy.
Picking up from the end of the Early Modern Period, this module tracks the development of core philosophical theories, debates and principles which led up to and formed the shape of modern philosophy. Drawing predominantly, though not exclusively, from the Western Analytic tradition, you will explore areas which could include metaphysics, ontology, epistemology, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science and philosophy of language. By drawing from a range of views, you will develop a robust understanding of modern philosophy with an awareness of future possible developments.Investigate ethical, political and sociological questions about sex and sexuality.
Ask philosophical questions about politics and government in contemporary society.
Learn about indigenous religions around the world and about the nature of cultural appropriation.
Examine core philosophical concepts and discussions concerning religious beliefs, experiences and practices. This module explores the fundamental theories, thinkers and arguments which have shaped the development of Western philosophy of religion. The module examines key themes like: arguments for and against the existence of God, the Problem of Evil, Theodicies, Religious language, the nature of religious belief and evidence. The module will also reference relevant theology to provide you with a rich and robust understanding of the philosophical foundations which support Western religion.
Professional work placements
Experience matters. That's why we include professional work placements with every undergraduate degree.
How does it work?
Careers and Placements will work with you to find your perfect placement or help you arrange your own, whether that's in Leeds, another part of the UK or even abroad. You will be able to take part in a series of workshops, events and live ‘employer challenges’ to boost your confidence and prepare you for your placement.
During your placement, you will have an opportunity to gain degree-relevant work experience, build your knowledge of career sectors and secure valuable employer references and industry contacts. This experience will help you to shape your career decisions and find the right path for you.
Students on the programme have undertaken placements in primary and secondary schools, charities such as CAFOD, MPs’ offices, legal firms, publishers, local government, and in university and prison chaplaincies.
To find out how we can help you make your career ambitions a reality, visit:
Professional Work Placements
Learning and Teaching
At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.
Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:
We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.
We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:
To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.
We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:
Programme delivery
Your time on campus, learning through in-person teaching, is at the heart of your academic experience and the way we deliver our programmes. This is supported and further enhanced by additional engagement activities and opportunities provided online and through digital teaching materials. This blended approach seeks to ensure a positive learning and teaching student experience.
Your programme of study has been carefully designed around a three-phase model of delivery:
- Preparation: You will be given clear tasks to support you in preparing for live teaching. This could include watching a short-pre-recorded lecture, reading a paper or text chapter or preparing other material for use in class.
- Live: All your live teaching will be designed around active learning, providing you with valuable opportunities to build on preparation tasks, interact with staff and peers, and surface any misunderstandings.
- Post: Follow-up activities will include opportunities for you to check understanding, for staff to receive feedback from you and your peers to inform subsequent sessions, and for you to apply learning to new situations or context.
Preparation, Live and Post teaching and learning and the digital materials used will vary by course, but will be designed to help you structure your learning, take a full and active part in your course, and apply and test your developing knowledge and skills.
Assessment
A variety of assessment methods are used, matched to the learning outcomes for your programme, allowing you to apply and demonstrate the full range of knowledge and skills that you have developed.
For more details on specific assessment methods for this course contact hello@leedstrinity.ac.uk
