- Learn through real-world application.
- Study with leading experts in these subjects.
- Tailor your degree to your own interests.
- Cover a diverse range of topics from classical philosophy and Islam to gender and sexuality and the philosophy of law.
UndergraduatePhilosophy, Religion and Ethics
Apply for this course
Summary
What is the relationship between the White House and the African American Freedom Struggle? How has our understanding of gender and sexuality changed? And what can philosophy teach us about how we think about religion?
On this degree, you will cover a broad range of topics to contemplate big questions such as these, challenging traditional answers and thoughts regarding public policy, community life and personal choice.
Considering news in the media, you will explore wide-ranging themes such as misunderstandings, understandings and implications of Jihad, the ethics of abortion, euthanasia, war and terrorism, the environment, and how Christian ethics are reflected in the media, arts, literature and film.
You will consider philosophy, religion and ethics as both separate and integrated disciplines, and look at the connections between being human and ethics; philosophy and politics; human and animal rights; genocide; and sex, love and death; from historical and contemporary perspectives.
Although Western thought forms a backdrop to this degree, you will also study Islam, Hinduism and Black American and African contexts, to give you a secure sense of how different ethnic and socio-economic groups offer crucial interdisciplinary and intercultural insights.
As you progress through this course, you will develop highly transferable and employable skills, while tailoring your studies to your own areas of interest.
How you will learn
Discussion and debate lie at the heart of this course, and you will be taught through a variety of methods and formats, including traditional lectures and individual tutorials, class discussions and seminars, some of which are assessed.
Each year of this course dedicates time to developing your professional, transferable skills so that by the time you graduate, you will be ready for your career, have built professional contacts and have some work experience.
The University offers extensive career support, with a dedicated career service, excellent connections with organisations and businesses, and an annual employability workshop where you will meet former students and employers from various industries.
Content
Year 1
- Cover the key elements that will allow you to understand the fundamental issues you will explore on this degree.
- Learn about classical and modern philosophy, religion and ethics.
- Learn skills such as critical thinking and analysis, time and project management, identifying and researching sources.
Year 2
- Select from diverse module choices in line with your interests. Choose to study, for example, the history of race or gender, Islamic and Indian contexts in the west, or political philosophy and its morality and ethics.
- Choose to learn a language on our Languages for All programme or do a work placement.
- Build on your thinking, project management and research skills.
Year 3
- Study two compulsory modules, one of which deals with belief and unbelief, and the second with love, sex, death and faith. Both focus on the human and experiential outlook and integrate the disciplines of philosophy, religion and ethics.
- Tailor your third year to your research interests, with topics as varied as animal rights, human rights, and Islam and women, to the Holocaust and philosophy of law.
- Undertake a substantial research project of your choice.
Modules
First year
Compulsory Modules
Classical Philosophy
Introduction to the Study of Religion
Theology, Personhood and Ethics
Philosophical Ethics
Modern Philosophy
Christian Theology: The Essential Questions
Second Year
Compulsory Modules
Moral and Political Philosophy
Practical Ethics
Philosophy of Religion
Islam and the West
Optional Modules
Aesthetics
Modern Christian Doctrine
African American Freedom Struggles
Classics of Christian Literature
Indian Philosophy and Religion
Gender and Sexuality in Europe
Languages for All
Work Placement
Third Year
Compulsory modules
Dissertation
Special Essay
Belief and Unbelief
Love, Sex, Death and God
Optional modules
Contemporary Political Philosophy Animals and Animal Rights
Religion and Human Rights
Philosophy of Science
The Holocaust and the Problem of Evil
Islam and Women
Global Health in Africa
Philosophy of Law
Career Opportunities
This degree will open up multiple career pathways, whether you are thinking about a career in education, business, politics, law or media, or any field that requires an expert grasp of the complex nature of public policy and personal choices. You could go into journalism, broadcasting, international development, charitable work, community or social services, or pursue an academic career.
Our careers team is available to support you from the start of your studies until after you graduate. They will help you build your CV, prepare for interviews, and meet and learn from successful graduates working at the top of their careers. You’ll also have opportunities to work with our partners across London and beyond, and to attend a Roehampton jobs fair where you can find out about graduate opportunities and meet employers.