Philosophy of Religion and Ethics MA (Distance learning)

You will study three core modules and three optional modules before completing a 15,000 word dissertation.

You will study three core Philosophy modules:

This module is an introduction to a number of philosophical issues that have a relevance to the philosophy of religion, such as: freedom and determinism, the existence of god and the meaning of life. The treatment of the areas covered will often involve discussion of the writings of central figures in the history of philosophy.
Assessment: Participation in online discussion, and one or two written assignments totalling 4,000 words

Plus, one of:

Bioethics is the study of ethical issues surrounding life and death, especially those involved in biology, health care, research, and the beginning and end of life. This course introduces students to the key debates surrounding a number of theoretical and practical issues in bioethics, including but not limited to those that are transnational in nature. Possible topics covered include: abortion, euthanasia, intellectual property, enhancement, commodification, resource allocation and rationing, and infectious disease control.
Assessment: Participation in online discussion, and or two written assignments totalling 4,000 words

Or

This module aims to introduce you to key concepts and debates in ethics, with some focus on the global dimension of current ethical problems. First, we will explore several prominent traditions in ethical theory; next we will apply these normative ethical theories to concrete ethical questions. In investigating these theories and applications, you will be encouraged to question your presumptions about the nature of ethics and moral values. The module also develops critical reasoning and argumentative skills through philosophical discussion and writing. The theoretical tools of analysis and argument can be applied in all aspects of ethics and global ethics.
Assessment: Participation in online discussion, and one or two written assignments totalling 4,000 words

And one of:

This module provides an introduction to the methods of contemporary philosophy. Topics addressed typically include: critical thinking in philosophy, reading in philosophy, research skills, dissertation planning, and presenting philosophical arguments in written work. You will also participate in online sessions focused on generic research skills.
Assessment: Participation in online discussion, and one or two written assignments totalling 4,000 words

Or

This module unpacks the core issues of researching in theology and religious studies.It addresses debates surrounding the design, conduct, ethics and evaluation of research in a multidisciplinary subject area. It prepares you to carry out independent research and to critically assess others’ research across a wide spectrum of approaches.
Assessment: Participation in online discussion, and one or two written assignments totalling 4,000 words

Your remaining three modules are optional. Options available within Philosophy and Theology and Religion typically include:

This module is an introduction to the philosophical and interdisciplinary study of philosophical issues concerning health and happiness. It introduces you to controversies over the correct account of human happiness and related concepts such as well-being and welfare, covering desire/preference-satisfaction accounts, ‘objective list’ accounts, hedonism and ‘whole-life satisfaction accounts’. The module then moves on to consider the concepts of health and disease, where many similar arguments appear. It examines the debate between normativists and non-normativists about health before concluding with an examination of controversies concerning mental health, its existence and nature.
Assessment: Participation in online discussion, and one or two written assignments totalling 4,000 words

This module covers a range of advanced topics in the philosophy of mind and empirically-informed philosophy of psychology. In any given year, some of the following topics will be addressed in detail: the mind-body problem; perception; theories of intentionality; differences between human and animal cognition; theories of emotion; accounts of cognitive rationality; the relationship between ownership and authorship of thoughts; introspection, neuroscience and free will; and the narrative view of the self.
Assessment: Participation in online discussion, and one or two written assignments totalling 4,000 words

This module considers the theological distinctives of contemporary Evangelicalism, tracing their historic roots and practical outworking today. You will engage with the most recent scholarship in the area of pneumatology by reading primary texts, discussing selected passages, and by reading secondary scholarly literature located in journals.
Assessment: Participation in online discussion, and a 4,000-word essay

This module studies the enormous changes in the nature and demography of world Christianity from the time of the missionary movement and the Second Evangelical Awakening in the 19th Century to the end of the 20th Century, with particular focus on schisms and denominational histories, including Roman Catholicism, the Protestant churches, non-conformist and evangelical churches, African and Asian independent churches, and Pentecostalism. Attention will also be given to globalisation and the relationship between Christianity and society.
Assessment: Participation in online discussion, and a 4,000-word essay

You can also choose Bioethics or Ethics and Global Ethics, if not taken as core.

In addition to your taught modules, you will conduct a piece of independent research with the support of a supervisor, culminating in a 15,000-word dissertation.

Please note that the optional module information listed on the website for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.