Philosophy, Ethics and Religion - BA (Hons)

University of Leeds

This course examines the fundamental life questions that have interested human beings for centuries. For example: In what sense does evil exist? Are we ever truly free to act? What does morality or justice require? Does morality require God or religion? How do we know what we know – if we can ever know anything at all? You will be encouraged to develop your own approach to these ideas and expand your worldview. This is a unique opportunity to explore values (religious and secular) in the abstract (through philosophy) and in the particular (through theology and religious studies) in so doing, you will acquire subject knowledge and methodological approaches within and across two complementary fields of study: Philosophy, on the one hand, and Theology and Religious Studies, on the other. A variety of global religious traditions are represented. You will study the history of each tradition and also how they are lived and interpreted today. Our staff have a diverse range of research interests, from the philosophy of art to sex and gender in Africa, and from the sociology of religion to feminist philosophy. This is reflected in the wide selection of modules from which you will be able to choose.Additional highlightsYou have the choice between two different kinds of research project in your final year. Both offer you the guidance of an individual supervisor, but one also provides the scaffolded support of an associated module. The other allows you the freedom to pursue an independent research project of your own design.In addition to the core modules, there is the opportunity for genuine research-led teaching throughout the degree, with a revolving menu of specialist modules available in the final year.Specialist facilitiesThe University of Leeds has world-class facilities for students of Philosophy, Ethics and Religion. The University libraries are among the largest in the UK and offer a course of workshops and webinars to help you make the most of their collections, digital resources and databases.Take a look around our libraries:Brotherton Library Laidlaw Library Edward Boyle Library Additionally, the Special Collections Research Centre was recently refurbished and extended thanks to a generous bequest from the John Victor Bedford Will Trust. This extensive development created new working spaces for individuals and/or groups and new teaching spaces that feature visualisers and projectors, allowing you to engage with primary sources using the latest techniques. Skills@Library offers training courses to help you make the most of the Library’s collections, digital resources and databases. In addition, it can provide one-to-one support to taught students on a wide range of topics, including academic writing, research skills, and data analysis.

School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science