Final year

Psychology and Religion options may include:

Psychology, Religion, & Well-being (20 credits)

This module seeks to explore links between religiosity and well-being, which are increasingly the subject of scholarly study. Students will investigate this relationship through several different lenses. This module will cover the psychological benefits of religious belief (e.g., as providing meaning, coping strategies), as well as the social functions of religion (e.g., social support). Students will investigate the psychological and health implications of religious beliefs, practices, or rituals across cultures, and investigate the importance of cultural competency in mental and physical healthcare.

Issues in Psychology and Religion Seminar Series (20 credits)

This proposed module will be a seminar series regarding issues at the cutting edge of psychology of religion research. The module will consist of lectures on recent research relevant to the field of psychology of religion, building up students’ knowledge of current trends in the field. Paired with these lectures will be a seminar-format reading group in which students will work through case studies of recent research, examining these significant new research contributions to the field.

Psychology options may include:

Adolescence: Mind and Brain (20 credits)

Adolescence, the period of life between childhood and adulthood, is characterised by profound changes in many aspects of an individual’s life. Recently, research has shown evidence that during adolescence, there are also changes in cognitive abilities (e.g. social cognition), and in their basis in the brain. Potentially, this research has implications for understanding phenomena such as the onset of mental illness during adolescence and early adulthood.

Brain Health Across the Lifespan (20 credits)

Early intervention in psychiatry has become the major focus of clinicians in the past two decades, particularly around psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. This has resulted in the development of specialist early intervention services and programs aimed at finding people at very high risk for poor outcomes and delivering interventions to ameliorate these.

The Mind Detective: Understanding how the mind works by looking at what happens when it is damaged (20 credits)

This module is dedicated to what we know about how the mind works by looking at how it breaks down in patients with brain damage due to stroke, head-injury or neurodegenerative disease. You will understand the logic and practice of neuropsychological assessment, look at detailed case studies from current topics in understanding the mind based on its breakdown and examine the intersection between neuropsychological research and clinical practice.

Early Intervention: Can we improve atypical and neurodevelopmental outcomes? (20 credits)

The Neurobiology of Mental Illness (20 credits)

Psychiatric disorders are understood to occur as a result of a specific pathology in the brain. Yet ultimately, the diagnosis is made primarily through diagnostic interviews. There are currently no single objective biological marker for any psychiatric disorder. Cognitive control refers to processes that allow us to flexibly adapt our behavior according to our internal goals and external environmental demand. Such processes afford us the capacity to control our thoughts, feelings, and actions. The failure of cognitive control processes in the brain is widely believed to underlie many psychiatric disorders. The aim of this module is to discuss the breakdown of cognitive control in different psychiatric disorders such as OCD, ADHD, schizophrenia and addiction. We will also discuss how different types of treatment such as neuropharmacology and deep-brain stimulation are hypothesised to benefit psychiatric patients through restoring control.

Vision in the Real World (20 credits)

We will examine studies examining three topics (time, causality and theory of mind) in three different participant groups (children, adults, and non-human animals). Our aim will be an integration of evidence across these groups to address what it is to understand these topics.

Higher Cognitive Functions in Children, Adults and Non-human Animals (20 credits)

You will explore studies examining three topics (time, causality and theory of mind) in three different participant groups (children, adults, and non-human animals). Our aim will be an integration of evidence across these groups to address what it is to understand these topics.

What Motivates You (20 credits)

This module will explore the psychobiological basis of motivation. You will start by considering what we mean by motivated behaviour and explore some of the concepts that have been developed to try to explain motivation. After this, you will consider in depth how these motivation concepts help us understand the control of some specific motivated behaviours e.g. eating and drug use. Within this context you will ask about the important psychobiological mechanisms; these include not only the critical brain areas, and neurochemical systems but also the contributions of processes in other parts of the body to motivation. Finally you will also consider what happens when motivation gets out of control or when someone lacks motivation and how this is linked to psychological disorders.

Sleep and Memory (20 credits)

This module will be a comprehensive introduction to sleep, memory and the links between them. While sleep has many proposed functions, one of the most established is its role in memory and brain plasticity generally. However, understanding this link is difficult because these are two complex, multi-faceted and active processes. Not only is it likely that different types of memory (episodic, semantic, procedural) require sleep to a greater or lesser extent, but the aspects of sleep that are important may also be different The module will start with an introduction to relevant issues in sleep, including common methods for its classification, and techniques used to understand the neurophysiological basis of this classification. The evolutionary purpose of sleep will be discussed, before moving on to links between sleep and cognition broadly. The focus will then shift more specifically towards memory, providing an overview of cognitive memory theory and the experimental approaches used to study remembering and forgetting, as well as the neural mechanisms underlying memory. Overall, we will aim to provide students with a solid understanding of what is currently known about the importance of sleep for memory, as well as a good grounding in each of these topics individually. Module content will be covered though lectures and discussion sessions.

Theology and Religion options may include:

Gender, Sexualities and Religion (20 credits)

This module explores the complicated and often heated relationship between LGBTQ movements, feminist movements and religion/spirituality. It investigates how social and political constructions of gender and sexuality are challenged, both by those who attempt to reform religious traditions from within and those who break away to invent new forms of spirituality.

God Beyond Borders: Building Interfaith Bridges and Dialogue (20 credits)

The meeting of religions is one of the most pressing issues that face humankind. It is a challenge for religions themselves and for theologians and philosophers who seek to formulate theories about religion. Interfaith and Interreligious encounters, collaboration and dialogue occur in a variety of ways and diverse contexts. How can we understand faith and dogma, dialogue and comparison, texts and reasoning, ethics and politics in the context of religious pluralism? How have world religions come to terms with diversity and pluralism? What are the different models that are used to account for difference and commonality?This module will seek to address these questions on a theological/philosophical and textual level in addition to a study of key practical, ethical and contextual issues found in the latest scholarship and practice.

Ethics of Character (20 credits)

Ideals of character occupy a central—if sometimes underrated—place in our ethical life. Some of the most important moral judgements we make revolve not simply around the things people do, but around the qualities of character they manifest. This has been reflected in a long history of philosophical and theological engagement with conceptions of character, or the virtues and the vices. This module will investigate the concept of character using a variety of perspectives and approaches, focusing chiefly on philosophical accounts of character while also introducing religious perspectives on the subject. It will explore a number of core questions, such as: What is character, and why does it matter? What constitutes good character? Do ideals of character vary across different cultural, historical and religious contexts? Are we responsible for our character? Can character be changed, and if so, how? The module will familiarise students with contemporary discussions of character while also selectively engaging historical approaches to the topic.

Christmas and Ethical Consuming (20 credits)

The module introduces key ideas and themes of ethical consuming within a framework of investigation of the practices of Christmas. Specifically, the module addresses the complexity of debates over the religious character of Christmas, as well as the commercialization of Christmas and other religious festivals. This complexity is enhanced by the wider cultural concern with sustainability, fair trade, environmental impact and other aspects of an ethical approach to consumption. There is a focus on the overlap between consumer society and capitalism, ethical consumption, popular culture, and religious belief and practice.

Historical and Contemporary Debates on the Holocaust (20 credits)

The module introduces students to a range of historical and contemporary debates on the Holocaust. The focus is methodological, focusing on how this historical period is conceptualized, interpreted and studied, both as events were unfolding and subsequently.Examples of the debates and controversies studied will vary from year to year, but could include the emergence of different national approaches to the history and commemoration of the Holocaust; the adequacy and possible overlap between categories such as ‘victim’, ‘bystander’ and ‘perpetrator’; complicity, ‘privilege, the ‘grey zone’ and ‘choiceless choices’; approaches to survivor testimony; the nature of resistance during the Holocaust; Holocaust education; representing the Holocaust on film.

Islamic Philosophy (20 credits)

The module traces the major developments in philosophical thinking through the classical period of Islamic thought. It may include such topics as the emergence of Islamic philosophy and its connection with Greek and Hellenistic learning, the flowering of a distinctive systematic discipline in the Islamic world, the relationship between philosophy and theology, and the transmission of philosophical method from the Islamic world to Europe. Emphasis will be placed upon central themes in the Islamic philosophical tradition, and discussion will revolve around the works of key masters as well as critics of philosophy.

Law and Ethics as Theology in Christian and Muslim Thought and Practice (20 credits)

This module will introduce students to conceptions of law and ethics in Christian and Muslim thought and practice. It will consider these conceptions through attention to everyday practices and scholarly discourse. This specialist module allows for students to develop and apply learning in years one and two, towards building knowledge of emerging models in comparative and multi-disciplinary approaches to theology and ethics.

Politics in the Name of God: From Democratization to Holy War (20 credits)

This module reviews and evaluates the significance of religion in global politics and international relations and its intersection with domestic politics and public policy. Whilst recent analysis of religion and politics has generally focussed principally on Islam, this module recognizes the role of the major religions (defined as those faiths with a ‘world-wide’ presence) in the shaping of the politics of nation-states and the development of the international system. The module will survey the approach to religion adopted by major theories of international relations and discuss their most relevant insights, in order to understand contemporary political challenges, which include those of democratization, political development, political violence, gender, the environment, economic affairs, humanitarian intervention, globalization and other concerns that can intersect both with religious groups and ideas. The module will also look at the role of religion in various aspects of politics: institutions and structures, political parties, civil society and social movements, and economic development.

Understanding and Countering Radical Islamic Thought and Practice (20 credits)

Jihad is a complex religious, socio-political and ethical concept. However its use by modern political Islamic movements to attempt to justify their violence has tarnished public understanding. Jihad is broadly a 'struggle’ and we will look at how that encompasses both violent, militaristic conflict and also the inner, spiritual struggle of an individual to follow Allah, and how Muslims have interpreted this dual tradition in diverse historical and cultural contexts. Regardless of our personal religious backgrounds, Jihadist thinking and political groups appropriation of it affects all of us, and a better understanding can assist in combatting the glorification of violence, gain a better understanding of these movements, and challenge stereotypes that feed into Islamophobia. This module takes a critical look at the theory and practice of jihad by radical groups. The course focuses on the interplay between jihad as a set of ideas and jihad as a set of practices in a variety of historical and geographical contexts. The first section of the module will examine key types of radical Islamic movements. These are Imperial Jihad, anti-colonial and nationalist jihad, and global jihadi movements. When examining each type we will evaluate key thinkers who inspired them, such as Abu ala al-Mawdudi, Sayyid Jamaluddin al-Afghani, Ayatollah Khomeini and Sayyid Qutb. Students will present on one movement’s use and thinking of jihad. The next section of the course will investigate the alternatives to contemporary radical interpretations of jihad and counter-radicalisation efforts.

Cross-College of Arts and Law Modules (offered in second or third year):

Sustainable Development: Climate, Culture, Society and Policy (Cross-College) (20 credits)

This is an interdisciplinary module that allows students to examine sustainability through the lens of several disciplines that fall broadly within arts, humanities and law. The students will examine some of the following topics: sustainability and interdisciplinary research; the concept of sustainable development; climate change; sustainability and environmental justice, environmental ethics; creative ecologies and environmental activity. In examining these topics, students will also examine particular polices/initiatives to understand how sustainability is implemented in practice. The module will be delivered by academics from different disciplines which will allow students to engage in an interdisciplinary discussion with some of the mentioned topics. Students will also have an opportunity to learn about sustainability initiatives at the UoB campus.

Professional Skills Module (Cross-College) (20 credits)

This module enables you to undertake a work experience placement of 70 hours/10-days – either in person, remotely, or both – in a project or role that provides a ‘graduate-level’ opportunity.The Professional Skills Module (PSM) develops transferable professional skills, knowledge and experience on which you can base an effective reflective assessment. Placements can be self-sourced, with support from the Placements Officer and Careers Network, or you can apply to exclusive roles in the PSM Placements Bank, tailored in partnership with employers from a range of sectors, including: Arts & Culture; Charity and Social Enterprise; Community and Non-Profit; SMEs/Commercial; and Education.Alternatively, if you have a freelance or business idea, you can follow the PSM Entrepreneur option, which enables you to launch your own enterprise or freelance service through your degree.Psychology and Religion options may include:Psychology, Religion, & Well-being (20 credits)This module seeks to explore links between religiosity and well-being, which are increasingly the subject of scholarly study. Students will investigate this relationship through several different lenses. This module will cover the psychological benefits of religious belief (e.g., as providing meaning, coping strategies), as well as the social functions of religion (e.g., social support). Students will investigate the psychological and health implications of religious beliefs, practices, or rituals across cultures, and investigate the importance of cultural competency in mental and physical healthcare.Issues in Psychology and Religion Seminar Series (20 credits)This proposed module will be a seminar series regarding issues at the cutting edge of psychology of religion research. The module will consist of lectures on recent research relevant to the field of psychology of religion, building up students’ knowledge of current trends in the field. Paired with these lectures will be a seminar-format reading group in which students will work through case studies of recent research, examining these significant new research contributions to the field.