Learning outcomes

Researching religion: theories and applications in empirical studies of religion (Att forska om religion. Teorier och tillämpningar i empirisk religionsvetenskap)

The general aim of the course is to provide the student with theoretical perspectives for studying religious and ethically based engagement among individuals and in society.

After completion, the student is expected to be able to:

• demonstrate understanding of the central theories for researching the various roles of religion in contemporary society from current social scientific research
• show ability to identify and critically discuss premises and application of theories in different research projects
• present and argue for choice of approach and central research questions in relation to using theory for empirical research
• show ability to apply specific theories in analysing empirical material
• critically reflect upon personal and cultural impact on the role of the researcher, both in terms of analysing texts as well as in a project plan formation
• understand and reflect upon the ethical considerations involved in research, as well as having knowledge of the international, national and disciplinary-specific systems in place to monitor them

Health, Meaning-Making and Culture/Hälsa, meningsskapande och kultur: Teoretiska perspektiv och modeller i tillämpad forskning

After completion of this advanced-level course, students will be able to:

• analyse existing empirical studies related to healthcare and meaning in relation to both research design and scope
• analyse cultural, gender and psychosocial theoretical perspectives informing both research and policy formation in the health-care fields
• formulate and investigate problems in one's own health-care field as well as create a research project design
• apply course models to research project design
• communicate knowledge about the intersections of meaning-making, health and culture for both academic and non-academic groups
• develop and refine one's own specific ideas, values, and means of understanding central questions and strategies for addressing health-related questions of meaning-making in cultural context

Religion i ett senmodernt samhälle: välfärd och medier/Religion in Late Modern Society: Welfare and Media

After completing the course students should be able to:

• Demonstrate extended knowledge of ongoing research in the social sciences of religion concerning the relation between religion, modernity, welfare and media in contemporary society
• Present and critically discuss central theories about religious change in relation to social, cultural, economic and political development on a national and global level
• Evaluate examples from current Swedish and international research on religion and social change with regard to the relation between theory, methods and conclusions
• Apply relevant theories to analyse the role and significance of religion in various sectors of society
• Independently formulate research questions starting from current research
• Write and present an independent text according to academic standards that discuss the themes taken up in the literature and lectures

Instruction

Health, Meaning-Making and Culture

Format includes: lectures, seminars (campus and/or web based), and group presentations (only campus), planned web conference. The language of instruction is English. Course papers can be prepared in Swedish or English.

Religion, Late Modern Society: Welfare and Media

The forms of teaching applied in the course are: Readings of assigned literature; Lectures and seminars; Written and oral presentations.

Researching religion: theories and applications in empirical studies of religion (Att forska om religion. Teorier och tillämpningar i empirisk religionsvetenskap)

The course is a distance-learning course. The students must fulfil written assignments and participate in on-line seminars Contact between teachers and students takes place via a learning platform. Access to internet is essential.

Assessment

Health, Meaning-Making and Culture

The forms of examination are for this course written assignments, active participation in seminars and group discussions. Students will also be required to give oral presentations. The course is divided into the following credit segments:​

• obligatory class participation and group work 1 credit
• written assignment/presentation during the term 3 credits
• final assignment, including independent project 3.5 credits

Religion, late modern society: welfare and media

Examination takes place through active participation in lectures and seminars. Written assignments prepared in groups commenting on the literature shall be sent in as a preparation for the seminars (3 hp). The final examination consists of an independently authored paper discussing the themes presented in the course (4,5 hp).

Advanced level students hand in individual papers for seminars. A doctoral dissertation is added to the required readings.

Researching religion: theories and applications in empirical studies of religion (Att forska om religion. Teorier och tillämpningar i empirisk religionsvetenskap)

The course is assessed on the basis of active participation in seminar discussions (2,5 hp) and written assignments (5 hp).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

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.

Please note that the stated teaching methods may be replaced by self-studies if there is a very low number of students.

Transitional provisions

Students retain the right to be examined on the course according to this syllabus for 3 semesters after their course instance has ended. Normally, instruction will be given according to the latest version of the course syllabus only.