General provisions

The course is a free-standing course.

Entry requirements

30 credits Academic Courses

Learning outcomes

After completion of the course students will be able to:

• Show knowledge of and discuss academic studies of welfare, values and religion
• Analyse the roles played by religious organisations within the welfare systems of Europe in both written text and oral presentation
• Discuss and critically reflect on welfare and values in relation to religion
• Reflect on and discuss relevant methods used in studies of welfare and values
• Recognise preconceptions of values related to welfare and evaluate these in relation to different cultural contexts.

Content

This course analyses the different welfare systems in Europe today and the values which underpin them. Its aim is to elucidate and analyse the function of majority churches, religious organisations and minority communities in a comparative European perspective and to reflect on methodological issues in relation to research on welfare, values and religion, from a sociological-/gender- and theological perspective. The course will outline and analyse the current situation for the different welfare systems which are present in Western and post communist societies in Europe today with particular focus on twelve countries. From a starting point in an ongoing European research project the course will study the different ways in which individuals and ethnic and religious groups relate to welfare services and prioritise within the welfare sphere. Particular interest will be paid to the impact of multicultural society, relations between generations, gender roles and the complex role of religion.

Instruction

The course consists of lectures and seminars. Before each seminar students are required to read the literature selected for that session and prepare questions for discussion or oral presentation of material for the rest of the group, as instructed by the teacher(s) in advance.

Teaching takes the form of lectures and seminars.

The language of instruction is English.

Assessment

Examination is through active participation in the seminars and written paper on a selected topic.

Other regulations

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.

Transitional provisions

Members of a course regulated by a former version of this course plan have the possibility to be examined in accordance with that course plan within two years after the closure of the course. If there are particular reasons, such an examination can take place also later on. Normally no instruction in accordance with former versions of the course plan is given.