- Learn through real-world application.
- Roehampton is number 1 in London for Theology and Religious Studies (The Times Good University Guide 2020)
- 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.
Summary
Our BA Honours Degree in Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics allows you to explore the big questions in life, covering truth, morality, God, love and death by engaging in depth with global religions and philosophies (including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism). What is the meaning of life? What does it mean to be human? How do we understand and value the planet, other people and animals? What can we learn from religious and philosophical texts and thinkers? How are we to assess philosophical arguments for the existence of God?
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.
On this degree, you will cover a broad range of contemporary topics contemplating big questions and challenging the traditional answers regarding public policy, community life and personal choice: questions arising from the Philosophy of Law, animal rights, and the ethics of human relationships.
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.
Although Western thought forms a backdrop to this degree, you will also study Islam, Hinduism and other non-western religions, 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
The Study of Religion
Being Human: Religion, Love and Meaning
Practical Ethics
Early Modern Philosophy
Christian Theology: The Essential Questions
Second Year
Compulsory Modules
Transforming Cultures: Ecology/Gender/Politics
Metaethics
Philosophy of Religion
Islam and the West
Optional Modules
Aesthetics
Continental Philosophy 1
Jewish Thought and Culture
History of Political Philosophy
Gender and Sexuality in Europe 1850-1920
Yoga, Meditation and Health
Professional Practice and Placement
Third Year
Compulsory modules
Dissertation
or
Special Essay
and
Belief and Unbelief
Love, Sex, Death and God
Optional modules
Contemporary Political Philosophy
Animals and Environment: Past to Present
Religion and Human Rights
Contemporary Issues in Hinduism and Buddhism
The Holocaust in Art, Literature and Film: Representation and Responsibility
Islam and Women
Rebellion and Resistance in Modern African History
Contemporary Issues in Global Religions
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.
Life at Roehampton
At Roehampton, we can offer all new students the opportunity to live in accommodation on our beautiful parkland campus, including affordable and high-end options.
We offer scholarships, provide hardship funding and help you find advice on managing your finances while you study.
We provide plenty of opportunities for you to get involved, through volunteering, playing sport or music, or joining one of our many active student societies.
