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Religious Studies: Theology and Ethics

A Level / 2 year Course / OCR

This A Level provides students with the opportunity to study a diverse range of philosophical, ethical and religious viewpoints. Throughout the course, students will develop an understanding and appreciation of the substance behind religious belief and its impact on society, and are introduced to major philosophical and ethical problems.

More On This Course

This A Level has three components:

  • Philosophy of religion (H573/01),
  • Religion and ethics (H573/02) and
  • A choice of a major world religion

As part of the ethics paper, students will learn a range of approaches including normative ethical theories, application of ethics to contemporary issues, ethical language and thought as well as debates surrounding the significant idea of conscience. The philosophy of religion component surveys ancient philosophical influences, the nature of the soul, mind and body, arguments for the existence of God, the nature and impact of religious experience, challenges to religious belief and issues in religious language. At DSFC, the chosen major religion is Christianity (Developments in Christian thought, H573/03) which is studied in terms of four distinct themes:

  • Religious beliefs, values and teachings.
  • Sources of wisdom and authority.
  • Religious practices.
  • Significant social and historical developments in Christian theology.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The aim of this course is to encourage students to reflect on, select and apply specified knowledge of religion and philosophical thought. Students will develop skills which will allow them to interpret and critically evaluate religious concepts and construct well-informed and reasoned ethical arguments for a range of controversial issues which society faces in the modern world. Students are encouraged to build and share their own opinions, which also prepares them for the examination questions.

Assessment

A Level Religious Studies is assessed through three separate written examinations, each lasting two hours. Each paper will contain four essay questions, with the learner choosing three out of the four to answer. The exams are designed to evaluate students’ ability to engage critically with various religious, philosophical, and ethical topics, and they consist of essay-based questions assessing different aspects of students’ learning:

  • AO1 knowledge and understanding.
  • AO2 analysis and evaluation.

Consequently, the focus is on the ability to successfully analyse and evaluate topics from the specification.

Skills and Careers Insight

A Level Religious Studies: Theology and Ethics provides you with critical thinking, analytical, and reflective skills, as you explore key theological concepts, ethical dilemmas, and the impact of religion on society. You'll study various religious beliefs, moral philosophies, and ethical frameworks, while learning to debate and form well-supported arguments on complex issues. These skills are valued by universities and have led students to be accepted to study a very wide range of subjects such as law, social work, education, journalism, international relations, and public policy. Whether you want to become a religious studies teacher, ethical consultant, or work in social justice or interfaith dialogue, A Level Religious Studies offers a strong foundation for a career that involves problem-solving, communication, and an understanding of diverse perspectives.

Labour Market Information

Subject Combination

An A Level in Religious Studies enables students to develop a range of broad transferable skills and so will be beneficial to a variety of academic pathways. The subject works well with humanities subjects such as English, Sociology, and Psychology, but many other varied combinations have been made in the past.

English Language

English Language
Sociology

Sociology
Psychology

Psychology
Classical Civilisation

Classical Civilisation
Philosophy

Philosophy
Politics

Politics
History

History

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