Philosophy, Ethics and Religion

You’ll spend your first year studying core modules that introduce you to key concepts and ideas in philosophy, ethics and religious studies, such as How to Think Clearly and Argue Well and Philosophy of Religion. You’ll also choose from a wide range of optional modules on topics such as the Bible, the mind, Islamic civilisation, the philosophy of science, and South Asian religions – or you can choose discovery modules from departments across the University.

Once you’ve developed this foundation, you’ll build on it in your second year by taking core modules in religious studies, ethics or political philosophy, and philosophy of religion. Then you choose from an extensive list of optional modules, so you can specialise in the areas that interest you. Examples include the ethics of life and death, Hindu traditions, metaphysics, the Hebrew Scriptures, and ancient philosophy. You’ll continue to develop key skills of research, critical thinking and formulating arguments.

In your final year, you have the flexibility to follow your interests. You write an extended project on a theme that you have chosen, and you choose from an extended list of optional modules. Examples include The Structure of Reality, Religion, Politics and the Future, Philosophy and Literature, Modern Islamic Thought and The Religious Mapping of Leeds. You have the freedom to emerge as a specialist in philosophy, or in ethics, or in some area of religious studies, or in some combination of these subject areas.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules Year 1

Follow the links to the Programme Catalogue for more example optional modules and the full course structure.

Compulsory modules

• Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion 10 credits
• The Good, the Bad, the Right, the Wrong 20 credits
• How to Think Clearly and Argue Well 20 credits
• Introduction to Academic Skills 5 credits
• Introduction to the Study of Religion/s 10 credits
• Introducing Theology 10 credits

Optional modules

Examples of the optional modules available are shown below. Please contact us for more details of the requirements and choices available.

• Magic, Science and Religion 10 credits
• The Mind 10 credits
• Knowledge, Self and Reality 20 credits
• How Science Works 10 credits
• Great Philosophical Thinkers 20 credits
• Religion in Modern Britain 10 credits

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Studying Religion in Context 20 credits
• At least one module in ethics or political philosophy
• One module in philosophy of religion or a related area

Optional modules

Examples of the optional modules available are shown below. Please contact us for more details of the requirements and choices available.

• Reading Texts in the History of Ideas 20 credits
• Ethics of Life and Death 10 credits
• Moral Philosophy 20 credits
• Topics in Epistemology: Knowledge and Justification 20 credits
• Sociology of Religion I 20 credits
• Theology and Ethical Theory 20 credits
• Religion, Gender and Society 20 credits