What is a "religion"?
Postgraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 5
- Teaching semesters
- Autumn
- Course code
- RELMIN648
- Number of semesters
- 1
- Teaching language
- English
- Resources
- Schedule
Course description
Objectives and Content
Learning Outcomes
The student shall by the end of the course have gained the following learning outcome defined in knowledge, skills, and general competence:
Knowledge:
The student
- has advanced knowledge of the most important features and types of religions in different contextual and historical settings
- can analyze the processes in which religions become legally, politically, and socially recognized
Skills:
The student
- can analyze and deal critically with prevailing cultural pre-conceptions of "religion"
- can engage in critical and creative discussions on what it means for something to be appraised as "religion"
General competence:
The student can apply his/her knowledge of 'religion' and religions in social context to interact and collaborate with fellow students on a jointly created project
ECTS Credits
Level of Study
Semester of Instruction
Place of Instruction
Required Previous Knowledge
Recommended Previous Knowledge
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
Access to the Course
Teaching and learning methods
The teaching and student activities in this course will entirely take place online.
EXAMPLES
- short introductory videos
- readings
- following each video/reading there will be a short quiz, that tests the students basic understanding of the video/reading
- individual feedback on discussion postings and essays from the instructor
participation in online discussions
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
In this course the following compulsory requirements have to be approved:
- Course quizzes following videos and/or texts. There will be between 1 and 5 quizzes per week. The quizzes will test the students' command of the prescribed course material. A successful completion of at least 80% online course questions in course quizzes is required.
- A reflective essay (800 words) on the topic: "What counts as "religion" where I am from?"
- Two comments (200 words each) on essays submitted by fellow students.
Compulsory requirements are evaluated with "approved/not approved."
Forms of Assessment
Teams of students will work on a joined creative project "designing a religion". Each student has to submit a reflective work report of 800 words on this creative project; this report shall also contain statements on the student's individual contribution to the work as well as on how the team collaborated in the process. This report will count as the assessment of the course.
The exam assignment will be given in English.
The exam can be submitted in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading Scale
Assessment Semester
Reading List
The reading list consists of approximately 500 pages.
The reading list is published by July 1st for the autumn semester and by December 1st for the spring semester.