| Unit name | Introduction to the Religions and Philosophies of Asia |
|---|---|
| Unit code | THRS10068 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Langer |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Religion and Theology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
Religious and philosophical traditions represent significant expressions of cultural values. They also shape the way individuals and communities approach everyday life and deal with bigger issues. In today's globalised contexts, understanding the past and present states of the world is not possible without some knowledge of these different milieus. This unit is important in that it introduces students at the University of Bristol to concepts, practices and worldviews proper to the broader Asian context, stimulates them to reflect on the way the concepts of “religion” and “philosophy” function in non-Western contexts, and enables them to develop skills of cultural awareness.
An overview of content
This unit offers an introduction to the history, ideas, and practices of some of Asia’s principal religious and philosophical traditions (which might include Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Confucianism, Daoism). With reference to matters of ethics, thought, belief, and ritual participation it considers how the diverse ways these religions answer questions about the world and the place of human beings within it have shaped and continue to inform the way people, both individually and collectively, live their lives and seek to find meaning and purpose. Students will be exposed to visual, material, and textual sources, and be trained to interpret them during class discussion.
The unit will also encourage students to problematise the ways in which Asian religions and philosophies have been represented and discussed by Western scholarship and stimulate them to think about the concepts through new lenses.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
Classes will involve a combination of long- and short-form lectures, class discussion, investigative activities, and practical activities. Students will be expected to engage with readings and participate on a weekly basis. This will be further supported with drop-in sessions and self-directed exercises with tutor and peer feedback.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. THRS10068).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
