Philosophy, Ethics and Religion BA (Hons)

This module equips you to engage with the overarching themes of philosophy across cultures, and with the big question in philosophy. You will be introduced to core questions in epistemology (the study of knowledge), metaphysics (the study of reality), existence itself, and the question of comparative philosophy. You will encounter approaches to these key questions from a range of world philosophies. You will also be taught the basics of philosophical argumentation, reading, and writing.

This module introduces you to some of the central themes and methods in the study of Christian theology. You will explore theological topics which may include, for example, creation, Christology and sin in relation to contemporary issues such as the environmental crisis, gender and sexism, evil and suffering. The module will explore these themes from multiple theological and global perspectives and will engage historical as well as contemporary voices. You will be encouraged to consider how Christian responses to these contemporary issues are informed and shaped by diverse theological positions.  

In this module you will explore the big questions in ethics. You will be taught to think critically about ethics and morality itself, introduced to the main theories of normative ethics, and explore contemporary and classic questions in applied ethics.

This module will provide you with a survey and overview of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and will equip you with a range of text-critical and exegetical skills. You will be introduced to the literature and theology of the Hebrew Bible (including historiographical, prophetic, poetic, and wisdom texts), as well as the wider ancient Near Eastern context within which it emerged. You will also be taken beyond the canon and introduced to disputed/apocryphal texts, as well as the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and their impact for our understanding of the Hebrew Bible. In the process, you will also be introduced to some key academic skills which will be valuable across your degree as a whole.

This module will provide you with a survey and overview of the New Testament and will equip you with a range of exegetical skills. You will be introduced to the literature, theology, and historical background of the New Testament with a particular focus on the relationship between the Gospels.

In this module, you will explore the dharmic tradition of Buddhism as living religious tradition. You will discover different forms of modern Buddhism and their relationship to the history of Buddhism and its traditional teachings and practices. You will explore the development of early Buddhism, core concepts like the non-self, mindfulness and compassion, and the Dhammapada as a key text. You will also examine global Buddhism and its modern developments, before focusing on Engaged Buddhism and modern mindfulness as case studies in contemporary Buddhism. 

This module enables students with A-Level German or equivalent to further develop their grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations.You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop your oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

This module is designed for students that have completed A-Level or equivalent in French. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop your oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

This module is designed for students that have completed a A-Level or equivalent in Spanish. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

This module is designed for students who have completed GCSE in Chinese or equivalent. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

This module is designed for students who have completed GCSE or equivalent in French. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

This module is designed for students that have completed GCSE or equivalent in Spanish. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

This module provides the opportunity to study a new language from scratch and introduces you to basic grammar, vocabulary and cultural contexts. You will apply the language to practical situations using both oral and written skills. 

This module gives you the opportunity to explore how religion, imagination and the human condition come together, in ancient and modern cultures, and across a variety of philosophical, biblical, and literary traditions. It gives you the flexibility to study these features through a range of texts and worldviews, incorporating a range of critical interpretative approaches. Typical topics to choose from on this module include:

• The Philosophical Imagination
• Jesus and the Gospels
• Responding to Evil and Suffering.

This module focuses on themes relating to embodiment, religion and ethics in ancient and modern contexts. You will be equipped to think critically, contextually and systemically about these subjects, drawing on methods from biblical studies, theology and ethics. Typical topics to choose from on this module include:

• Novelistic Texts in the Hebrew Bible
• Feminist Perspectives in Christian Theology
• Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

This module allows you to discover the foundational theories of political philosophy and explore the development, critique and revision of religious beliefs, teachings and practices in their social contexts, whether in the ancient or the modern world. You will learn different ways of examining how people have imagined, shaped and questioned the social and religious arrangements, beliefs and practices of their times, the distribution of power, the negotiation of difference, relations to the sacred, and the pursuit of justice. Typical topics to choose from on this module include:

• The Religion of Ancient Israel
• Political Philosophies
• Christology from the Margins

In this module you can examine how religious thinkers and communities, from diverse traditions, negotiate contested questions about identity, practices, knowledge and reality. You will develop your ability to interpret religious, philosophical and theological texts from a variety of contexts and make careful comparative and evaluative judgments based in your analysis of sources and evidence. Typical choices of topic include:

• Jews, Christians and Pagans (168BCE-132CE)
• God in philosophy and theology
• Asian philosophies

 In this experiential module, you will take ‘the city’ as your starting point to examine a pressing contemporary issue or problem related to religion, spirituality, belief, and non-belief. You will either undertake a placement in a school (RE) or with a local partner organisation (e.g in education, culture, heritage, government, third sector groups, religious communities) and identify, research and explore a particular challenge facing your placement organisation – and hopefully offer a solution. You will not only gain valuable experience of working in your chosen area but follow your own interests and passions and explore ways of pursuing them in a future career.

This module provides a structured, university-level work placement for 4, 5 or 7 weeks as one continuous block / period with a placement provider (i.e. a local employer from the private, public, or charitable sector). It is designed to enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting.

The placement can either be organised by you or with support from university staff.

All work placements within this module must be university-level; this means:

• Undertaking high-skilled work commensurate with level 5 study (e.g. report writing, attending meetings, delivering presentations, producing spreadsheets, writing content on webpages, social media, marketing services/products etc)
• Physically placed (albeit part of it can be hybrid) within an employer setting in one continuous block / period for 4, 5 or 7 weeks for a minimum of 140-147 hours over the course of the entire work placement
• Where applicable, your existing part-time employer can be approached/used as the placement provider, if the high-skilled work criterion above is fulfilled for the full duration of the placement.
• All quality assurances/agreements provided by the University are adhered to, by you and the employer.

The work placement context may not necessarily, reflect your degree discipline per se, but rather, it will give you an enriched experience to enhance your professional skills in a real-world job setting.

The module will provide the opportunity to further develop your language skills, building on your previous learning at advanced level. The second half of the module includes a placement abroad or, alternatively, a project on a sustainability issue in a target language country. The first half of the module will prepare you for placements abroad where appropriate as well as a deeper understanding of sustainability in target language contexts. Students of more than one language may take one language in the first half of the module and spend their time abroad developing a different language. 

The module will provide the opportunity to further develop your language skills, building on your previous learning at intermediate level. The first half of the module includes intensive taught sessions in interactive workshop mode which will prepare you for placements abroad or self-directed language development. The second half of the module includes an placement abroad or, alternatively, a project on a business or tourism issue in a target language country. Students of more than one language may take one language in the first half of the module and spend their time abroad developing a different language. 

The module will provide the opportunity to further develop your language skills, building on your previous learning at beginner level. The first half of the module includes intensive taught sessions in interactive workshop mode which will prepare you for placements abroad or self-directed language development. The second half of the module includes a placement abroad or, alternatively, a project on a cultural issue in a target language country. Students of more than one language may take one language in the first half of the module and spend their time abroad developing a different language. 

• The multiple facets of global citizenship
• Ethical engagement and practice
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Intercultural communication
• Culture shock
• Cultural adjustment
• Self- assessment of needs: identification of the range of transferable skills, competencies and attitudes employees need and employers expect graduates to possess-with a strong focus on understanding the intercultural competencies (ICC) needed to live and work abroad.
• Critical analysis/evaluation of individual requirements in relation to culture/cultural adjustment/culture shock/visas/medical.
• Critical analysis/evaluation of skills already acquired in relation to key skills related to ICC.
• Devising strategies to improve one’s own prospects of working abroad in the future.
• Devising an action plan to address gaps in transferable skills based on organisational analysis and sector opportunities.

Part A:      

Preparation for Experiential Overseas Learning will take place at the University of Chester during level 5 and will include:  

• The multiple facets of Global citizenship
• Ethical engagement and practice
• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Intercultural communication

Theories, models and strategies of learning

• Theories and models Intercultural competence
• Theories and models of Integration and Multiculturalism
• Critical thinking skills and models of Reflection

• Experiential learning models
• Self-directed experiential learning

Personal and placement-related skills

• Enhanced independence
• Improved command of multicultural behaviour
• Increased knowledge and confidence in their individual facets of personal identity
• Effective time management and organisational skills
• Project management – working away from University and independent study
• Self-management and personal development
• Team building and team work

Part B:            Overseas

Students will engage in experiential learning activities overseas for at least 150 hours 

Preparation for the year abroad will take place in Chester during level 5 and will include:

• Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
• Host-country orientation, study methods– economic, political and social reality of the country
• Orientation specific to exchange – health, education, gender issues
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Practical matters relating to living and studying in the wider world

Theories, models and strategies of learning

• Critical thinking skills, experiential learning and models of reflection

Personal and placement-related transversal skills

• Effective self-motivation and independent resourcefulness
• Effective time management and organisational skills
• Project management – working away from University and independent study
• Self-management and personal development

Whilst abroad:

You will undertake study at one of the University of Chester's partner universities or undertake and approved work placement or virtual placement. If you are a student,  it is expected that you will choose a series of modules at the university abroad which must be agreed by the host institution and the Module Leader. you must supply details of you modules on a learning agreement within 4 weeks of arrival at the host university.

This module provides you with an opportunity to engage in independent study in philosophy, ethics and religion, with one-to-one support from an academic on a topic chosen by you. You may decide to build on and develop an area already addressed in your programme of study or may choose to focus on a related area or existing interest. The dissertation also offers the opportunity for interdisciplinary study.

This module focuses on themes relating to embodiment, religion and ethics in ancient and modern contexts. You will be equipped to think critically, contextually and systemically about these subjects, drawing on methods from biblical studies, theology and ethics. Typical topics to choose from on this module include:

• Novelistic Texts in the Hebrew Bible
• Feminist Perspectives in Christian Theology
• Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

This module gives you the opportunity to explore the intersection of religion, imagination and the human condition, in ancient and modern cultures across a variety of philosophical, biblical, and literary traditions. It gives you the flexibility to study these features through a range of texts and worldviews, incorporating a diversity of critical interpretative approaches. Typical topics to choose from on this module include:

• The Philosophical Imagination
• Jesus and the Gospels
• Responding to Evil and Suffering.

This module allows you to discover the foundational theories of political philosophy and explore the development, critique and revision of religious beliefs, teachings and practices in their social contexts, whether in the ancient or the modern world. You will learn different ways of examining how people have imagined, shaped and questioned the social and religious arrangements, beliefs and practices of their times, the distribution of power, the negotiation of difference, relations to the sacred, and the pursuit of justice. Typical topics to choose from on this module include:

• The Religion of Ancient Israel
• Political Philosophies
• Christology from the Margins

In this module you can examine how religious thinkers and communities, from diverse traditions, negotiate contested questions about identity, practices, knowledge and reality. You will extend your ability to interpret different kinds of religious, philosophical and theological texts from a variety of contexts, and make nuanced comparative and evaluative judgments based in your analysis of sources and evidence. Typical choices of topic include:

• Jews, Christians and Pagans (168BCE-132CE)
• God in philosophy and theology
• Asian philosophies

This module focuses on themes relating to embodiment, religion and ethics in ancient and modern contexts. You will be equipped to think critically, contextually and systemically about these subjects, drawing on methods from biblical studies, theology and ethics. Typical topics to choose from on this module include:

• Novelistic Texts in the Hebrew Bible
• Feminist Perspectives in Christian Theology
• Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

This module gives you the opportunity to explore the intersection of religion, imagination and the human condition, in ancient and modern cultures across a variety of philosophical, biblical, and literary traditions. It gives you the flexibility to study these features through a range of texts and worldviews, incorporating a diversity of critical interpretative approaches. Typical topics to choose from on this module include:

• The Philosophical Imagination
• Jesus and the Gospels
• Responding to Evil and Suffering.