BA (Hons) History and Religion Bachelor's degree at York St John University

This module is an introduction to the academic study of religion. Through it you will prepare for degree level study by familiarising yourself with key terms, methodologies and issues. The module will also provide you with the academic skills you need to succeed on your degree, including: Using the library database, Referencing sources, Writing bibliographies, Communicating your ideas, Structuring your essays.

On this module you will develop the key skills needed to be a successful historian. Focusing on analytical interpretation rather than historical narrative, this module will prepare you for independent study at degree level. You will explore how historians: Examine primary sources, Write and engage with secondary sources, Construct arguments and apply theories, Work with established historical concepts, Question conventions and established time periods in history.

This module is your introduction to the history of York, from medieval to the Regency period. Through it you will explore the city, making use of its resources, and thinking critically about how we can assess changes through time. Taking York as a case study, we will discuss social and cultural development within the city. You will also consider the dialogue between York's evolution and changes in national and global history. We will take a thematic approach, focusing on ongoing developments suc

Many conflicts across the world have a religious dimension. Religious voices add to the political in the public sphere to debate issues from war and conflict to cultural values. On this module you will build on your study skills and respond to contemporary issues encountered in the media. You will address the challenges of grappling with sensitive and complex events and beliefs, and use appropriate academic resources to do so.

On this module you will explore ethics in both religious and secular traditions, applying them to various contexts, such as famine and affluence. You will consider: What informs the ethical decisions people make, How people form their attitudes to moral dilemmas, Whether there are sources for moral reasoning other than religious ones, What, if anything, rich nations owe poorer nations. You will reflect on your own assumptions surrounding these issues, and explore the relationship between ethical

On this module you will explore how human societies and the natural world have interacted and reshaped each other through time. This involves simultaneously taking environmental, social and cultural approaches to history. You will discover how nature has influenced society and people's understanding of their place in the world, and evaluate the impact that social developments have on environmental issues. Through this you will learn about important concepts in social history, considering contemp

This module is an opportunity to reflect on how the skills and knowledge you are gaining on your degree can benefit you in the future. You will use the expertise and resources available within the University to find out more about the possible career options available to you. You will also explore some of the philosophical, theological and ethical issues which may arise in the workplace, as well as investigating theological meditations on the nature and meaning of work in the contemporary world.

This module positions History students as emerging professionals, emphasising graduate qualities, transferable skills, and reflective awareness of professional identity. Through a placement, group project, or individual project, alongside career-oriented workshops, students identify, practise, and articulate the skills developed through historical study and their relevance to graduate employment. The module connects academic learning to employability across varied professions while highlighting

This module focuses on modern western philosophy in an important period of intellectual history. We will be introduced you to the most influential philosophers from the beginning of the 17th century through to the end of the 19th century, and explore the ethical and religious issues surrounding their work. You will learn about the interaction between philosophical and religious thought, and construct your own arguments in response to these ideas. This will help you to understand the concepts beh

Applied ethics is an essential part of philosophy, and on this module you will apply your developing understanding of ethical thought to an important area of contemporary life. Many of the debates surrounding the topic of death employ religious arguments. By considering a range of widely debated issues in this area, you will learn how ethical theory interacts with practical matters and everyday life.

On this module you will explore a range of debates concerning a central themes in the philosophy of religion – the problem of evil. The existence of suffering, pain and atrocities has been used to question the existence of a benevolent God, and we will discuss some of the philosophical and theological responses to this problem. You will approach the topic through the works of various different philosophers, evaluating their different perspectives and forming your own critical responses.

On this module you will expand your understanding of religion through the study of literature. This will involve exploring texts across a variety of genres, styles and time periods, all of which engage with ideas of religion and spirituality. We will also introduce you to important concepts in literary theory, such as intertextuality and reader-response theory. Throughout the module you will build skills in analysis and critical reflection, considering how real experiences and debates can be exp

This module explores the complex relationship between religion and politics. We will consider the role religion plays in international relations, government policy and social identity, as well as discussing how governments can use religion to connect with citizens or to advance political agendas. Using case studies from across the world, we will investigate topics such as: Religious freedoms and human rights, Democratisation, Religious extremism, Sectarian conflicts, Fundamentalism, Secularisati

Religion can heavily impact the lives of individuals within society, whether or not they are believers. On this module you will consider religion from a sociological perspective, engaging with some of the debates and theories which address it. You will explore how religious and non religious lives can be understood within wider social structures and processes. We will use concepts of structure, agency and intersectionality to examine the role of religion in society, communities and individual li

On this module you will explore one of the most pressing issues facing humanity: its relationship with an increasingly devastated natural environment. You will examine modern spiritual outlooks on the natural world, as well as emerging eco-theologies. We will consider how religious thinkers have responded to climate change and mass extinction, and how religious ideas can contribute to debates about sustainable living. You will consider tradition, doctrine and ancient wisdom and explore these alo

This module builds on the Year 1 module Research and Presenting the Past, helping you to develop your research skills even further. You will do this by conducting project work in groups and engaging in independent research which will prepare you for the Dissertation module in your final year. We will discuss the importance of primary sources for understanding an event, period or theme, as well as exploring various schools of historical theory and methodology. The module may also include opportun

Despite the horrors of the Black Death, devastation of famine, and the ravages of the Hundred Years War, 14th century England was also full of artistic and literary achievement. On this module you will explore the ideals and ideas existing alongside the trauma of conflict. This will also involve assessing developments in political culture, to better understand the challenges and achievements of the period.

The 1960s were a turbulent time for the USA. President Lyndon Johnson was embarking on a series of reforms aiming to create "the Great Society" at the same time as the seemingly endless war in Vietnam. It was also a time of great achievements, with America leading the first moon landings. Topics you will cover on this module include: The image and domestic policies of the Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon presidencies, Radicalism and dissent, including counterculture, urban riots and student protests,

On this module you will focus on the experience of African Americans both as enslaved people and in the