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Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2011/12


SP20188: Global funeral ritual and ceremony

Click here for further information Credits: 5
Click here for further information Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Click here for further information Period: Semester 1
Semester 2
Click here for further information Assessment: ES 100%
Click here for further information Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take SP10186. This unit is only available to students on the Foundation Degree in Funeral Services.
Click here for further information Description: Aims:
This is an optional unit that will build on the compulsory unit, Funeral Ritual and Ceremony in that it expands the focus to a global level. This unit aims to:
* Provide students with knowledge and understanding of the main variations in funeral, memorial and final disposal practices worldwide.
* Provide students with anthropological and sociological explanations for these variations.
* Enable students to reflect on changes in funeral rites and ceremonies globally.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the unit students will have be able to:
* Understand variations in funeral, memorialisation and disposal practices globally
* Reflect on the usefulness of theory to funeral practice and its implications for changing ritual and ceremony in the UK.
* Reflect on the nature of global funeral rites and identify some of the major religious and spiritual belief systems that account for their variation.

Skills:
* To think creatively and analytically;
* To evaluate arguments and research;
* To reflect on research evidence as well as a variety of other information;
* To apply theory to practice;
* To synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding;
* To relate Christianity and other religions and forms of spirituality to practice.

Content:
* Funeral rituals and ceremonies in cultural context;
* Anthropological theories of funeral rites and disposal practices;
* Diversity in disposal rituals and ceremonies;
* Diversity in memorial rituals and ceremonies;
* Significance of religious and spiritual beliefs in funeral practice and ceremonies;
* Case studies: India, Greece, Japan, Australian Aboriginal practices.
Click here for further informationProgramme availability:

SP20188 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.