General provisions

The course is a free-standing course of 7.5 credits.

The course can be included as part of the Bachelor program in Theology and Religious studies, 180 credits.

The course can be included as part of the Master's Programme in Theology and Religious studies, 120 credits.

Entry requirements

Higher education about 30 credits.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course students should be able to:

- Demonstrate extended knowledge of ongoing research in the area of history of religion and social sciences of religion concerning the relation between religion, modernity, globalisation, welfare and media in contemporary society

- Present and critically discuss central theories about religious change in relation to social, cultural, economic and political development on a national and global level

- Evaluate examples from current Swedish and international research on religion and social change with regard to the relation between theory, methods and conclusions

- Apply relevant theories to analyse the role and significance of religion in various sectors of society

- Independently formulate research questions starting from current research

- Write and present a text according to academic standards that discuss the themes taken up in the literature and lectures and ommunicate current research findings to a non-academic public

Content

Recent trends of migration, globalisation, media development and the reshaping of welfare models raise new questions about the presence and relevance of religion primarily in public arenas of late modern Swedish society. The course gives deeper insight in theoretical perspectives and current research with a primary focus on the areas of welfare and media. Different roles of media and civil society as agents and arenas for the construction of meaning, values, identities and social relations are studied. Particular attention is paid to the significance of gender, age and ethnic and religious diversity in relation to the general themes addressed.

Instruction

The forms of teaching applied in the course are:

- Readings of assigned literature

- Lectures and seminars

- Written and oral presentations

Assessment

Examination takes place through active participation in lectures and seminars. Written assignments commenting on the literature shall be sent in as a preparation for the seminars (2.5 credits). The final examination consists of an independently authored pm discussing the themes presented in the course (5 credits).

Other directives

For a course to be completed a minimum level of 75% attendance is required in all of the elements of the course described in the syllabus. Absence over and above this is to be compensated by compensatory task(s) as decided upon by the teacher responsible for the course.

Please note that the stated teaching methods may be replaced by self-studies if there is a very low number of students.

Transitional provisions

Members of a course regulated by this course plan have the possibility to be examined in accordance with the same course plan within two years after the closure of the course. If there are particular reasons, such an examination can take place also later on. Normally no instruction in accordance with former versions of the course plan is given.