Undergraduate Course: Theology and Religious Studies Foundation Seminar (DIVI08028)
Course Outline
| School | School of Divinity |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course introduces you to the skills you need for studying in the field of Theology and Religious Studies, through a small group seminar exploring a particular topic within the field, and led by an academic specialist. Through engaging with tasks and discussions around this particular topic, you will explore what it means to be a scholar of religion/theology, how we approach different sorts of questions, how we use different types of evidence, and how we present our findings in both oral and written form. You will gain the skills you need for successful navigation of your degree in the School of Divinity, while also learning about a topic of interest to you.
This course is for first year students in the School of Divinity only. |
| Course description |
Academic Description
This course introduces you to the skills you need for studying in the field of Theology and Religious Studies, through a small group seminar exploring a particular topic within the field, and led by an academic specialist. Through engaging with tasks and discussions around this particular topic, you will explore what it means to be a scholar of religion/theology, how we approach different sorts of questions, how we use different types of evidence, and how we present our findings in both oral and written form. You will gain the skills you need for successful navigation of your degree in the School of Divinity, while also learning about a topic of interest to you.
Syllabus/Outline content
The content of the course will vary depending on the seminar theme: a range of themes from the broad field of Theology and Religious Studies will be offered each year. Engagement with the specific topic will be used to support development of the skills required for academic success, including note-taking, presentation skills, the ability to find and evaluate sources, and the ability to produce a convincing argument and well-written essay.
Student Learning Experience Information
The course is divided up into a number of seminar groups, each exploring a different topic in theology/religious studies; you will be able to select your preferred topic on enrolment, though we may not be able to give all students their first choice. The contact time consists of a weekly two-hour meeting with your seminar group and the member of academic staff responsible for your group. Groups are small, and active participation is expected. The format of class will vary throughout the semester, including discussion of key topics, groupwork, student presentations, and practical tasks. The class meetings are supplemented by online materials for independent learning, which require engagement through set tasks every week. Learning journal entries, which include an essay plan and practice bibliography entries, will receive feedback usually within a week, and are intended to help students towards successful completion of the final essay. Students will also complete a short oral presentation in a small group.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This course is for first year students in the School of Divinity only. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 80 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
172 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
90 %,
Practical Exam
10 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
10% oral presentation, in a small group
20% learning journal, comprising weekly short tasks that include an annotated bibliography and an essay plan
70% essay, 2000 words, submitted during the exam diet
All items of assessment must be passed in order to pass the course as a whole. |
| Feedback |
Brief feedback will be offered on every entry of the learning journal, with more extensive feedback on the bibliography and essay plan entries. This
feedback will usually be returned within one week. Oral feedback will also be a part of class discussion, and written feedback will be provided on the
presentation task. Feedback will be provided on the final essay as per the usual timeframes. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Locate, and assess the value of, primary and secondary sources relevant to a given topic in the field of Theology and Religious Studies
- Construct a coherent argument based on appropriate evidence
- Communicate academic ideas in written and oral form
- Produce a clearly structured essay that is correctly presented according to academic standards including proper acknowledgement of sources
- Reflect critically and constructively upon their academic skills, including time management, group collaboration, and independent learning
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Reading List
| Sources will differ between seminars, depending on theme. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Working independently and as part of a team
Time management
Evaluation of sources
Formation of convincing, evidence-based arguments
Responsible use of the work of others
Clarity of presentation in written and oral formats
Research skills
Intellectual enquiry |
| Special Arrangements |
This course is for first year students in the School of Divinity only. |
| Keywords | Religion,Theology,Academic skills |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Suzanna Millar
Tel: (0131 6)50 8904
Email: Suzanna.Millar@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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