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SP20196: Spirituality, religion and secularisation

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2012/3
Follow this link for further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Follow this link for further information on credits Credits: 5
Follow this link for further information on unit levels Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Follow this link for further information on period slots Period: Semester 1
Semester 2
Follow this link for further information on unit assessment Assessment: ES 100%
Follow this link for further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Follow this link for further information on unit rules Requisites: This unit is only available to students on the Foundation Degree in Funeral Services.
Follow this link for further information on unit content Description: Aims:

* To introduce students to understandings of the place of death in some of the world's major religions;
* To make students aware that religious understandings of death vary between societies and across time;
* To recognise the significance of religious beliefs in terms of funeral practice;
* To understand the nature of secularisation and its significance in terms of funeral practice;
* To understand the nature of spirituality in contemporary Western societies.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the unit students will be able to:
* Describe and reflect on a range of religious and secular beliefs that impact on everyday death practices;
* Describe and reflect on the social factors that influence contemporary thinking around spirituality and secularisation;
* Relate theories of spirituality to funeral practice.

Skills:

* To think creatively and analytically;
* To assess arguments and research;
* To synthesise information from a number of sources;
* To reflect on practice;
* To relate Christianity and other religions and forms of spirituality to practice;
* To reflect on how working with issues around mortality impacts on our sense of self identity and the way we view others.

Content:

* The place of death in major world religions;
* Definitions of spirituality;
* Understanding secularisation;
* Afterlife beliefs and society;
* The sacredness of funeral ritual and ceremony;
* The importance of memorialisation in destiny beliefs.
Teaching and learning strategies will use subject specific or work based examples where appropriate.
Follow this link for further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

SP20196 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2012/13.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.