University of Sydney Handbooks - 2021 Archive

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Studies in Religion

Unit outlines will be available through Find a unit outline two weeks before the first day of teaching for 1000-level and 5000-level units, or one week before the first day of teaching for all other units.
 

Studies in Religion

Honours

Honours in Studies in Religion requires 48 credit points from this table including:
(i) 36 credit points of 4000-level Honours thesis units
(ii) 12 credit points of 4000-level Honours seminar units

Honours seminar units of study

RLST4113 Methodology in the Study of Religion

Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Session: Semester 1 Classes: 2x1hr seminar/wk Assessment: 1x 3000wd Essay A (50%), 1x 3000wd Essay B (50%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
In this unit you will examine methodological and theoretical approaches to the academic study of religion. Most theorists covered are from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The approaches discussed include philosophy, sociology, anthropology, politics, and cultural studies. Students select methods and theories to apply to religions.
RLST4114 New Texts and Controversies

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 2x1hr seminar/week Assessment: 1x3000wd Essay A (50%), 1x3000wd grant proposal (50%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
New discoveries have transformed the study of religion in the ancient world. The unit will develop advanced understanding of topical issues where students learn about manuscript finds; the role of archaeology and the ethics of the antiquities market; academic controversies; and new directions in the discipline.
RLST4115 Pilgrimage in the Great Traditions

This unit of study is not available in 2021

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 2x1hr seminar/week Assessment: 1x 3000wd Essay A (50%), 1x 3000wd Essay B (50%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
The unit is a study of pilgrimage practices in dominant faith traditions including Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. Students will consider a variety of literature on pilgrimage and will develop two research projects on specific case studies. Students analyse both pilgrimage practices and their representation in academic and popular discourse.
RLST4116 Secular and Civil Religion

This unit of study is not available in 2021

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 2x1hr seminar/wk Assessment: 2x3000wd essay (100%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Peter Berger defined secularisation as "the process whereby sectors of society and culture are removed from the domination of religious institutions and symbols", which does not fit with the non-institutional religious forms that have emerged since the 1960s. Definitions of 'religion', 'religious', 'secular', and 'sacred' are the focus of this unit.

Honours thesis units of study

RLST4111 Studies in Religion Honours Thesis I

Credit points: 18 Teacher/Coordinator: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: 7 x 0.5hr supervision meetings/semester on average Mode of delivery: Supervision
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
This unit involves research towards and preliminary writing of an Honours thesis of 20 000 words in collaboration with a supervisor approved by the Studies in Religion Honours Coordinator.
RLST4112 Studies in Religion Honours Thesis 2

Credit points: 18 Teacher/Coordinator: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: 7 x 0.5hr meetings/semester on average. Assessment: 1x 20000wd Honours thesis (100%) Mode of delivery: Supervision
The Honours thesis is a supervised research project that is 20,000 words in length. In this unit you begin a substantial, independent research project in Studies in Religion. Regular meetings with a supervisor approved by the Studies in Religion Honours Coordinator will guide your progress. You will develop a plan for researching and writing the thesis, submit an ethics application if appropriate, familiarize yourself with disciplinary conventions and standards, engage with relevant literature, theories and methodologies, and submit drafts at agreed times.