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

60 credits

Learning outcomes

After completing the course students should be able to:

• Demonstrate extended knowledge of ongoing research in the social sciences of religion concerning the role of religion in civil society, politics 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

Content

Recent trends of migration, globalization, media development and the reshaping of welfare models raise new questions about the presence and relevance of religion for the construction of values, identities and social relations in late modern Swedish society. The course gives deeper insight in theoretical perspectives and current research with a primary focus on the areas of civil society, politics and media. Particular attention is paid to the significance of gender, 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

The language of instruction is English.

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 (3 hp). The final examination consists of an independently authored paper discussing the themes presented in the course (4,5 hp).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

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

Students retain the right to be examined on the course according to this syllabus for 3 semesters after their course instance has ended. Normally, instruction will be given according to the latest version of the course syllabus only.