A-Level Options Brochure_2024

Religious Studies Course content and structure This course covers three broad areas which are Philosophy of Religion, Religion and Ethics and Developments in Christian Thought. Philosophy of Religion explores contemporary philosophical issues and questions about religion. Topics include: arguments for the existence of God; the nature and influence of religious experience; problems with evil and suffering; philosophical language and the study of scholarly work; and developments in religious belief. Religion and Ethics explores concepts around Ethics. It looks at what ethics are and the issues and debates surrounding them including: the study of three ethical theories; application of ethical theory and consideration of the debate around issues such as the Environment, War and Sex; and a look at influential scholars within Ethics. Developments in Christian Thought provides an overview of Christian belief and understanding. It includes: Christian understanding of the nature of God; the Church and morality; the role of the Bible as a source of authority and the historical development of Christian thought (specifically Atonement theories); and assessing Christian understanding of the Church’s relationship with society. Assessment overview There are three 2-hour examinations, each assessing one of the areas above. Each paper has equal weighting and requires three long-answer questions to be answered from a choice of four.

Syllabus OCR Religious Studies (H573/01, 02, 03) Entry requirements Grade 7 or above in English Language, English Literature, History or RS (I)GCSE is highly desirable University and careers links The course provides candidates with training in the explanation, analysis and evaluation of concepts. Such skills are useful for any degree course but are particularly relevant to arts degrees. There are numerous excellent university courses in both Philosophy and Theology, and the large number of joint honours courses reflects the wide range of practical and theoretical subject areas complemented by the study of these courses (including Mathematics, Physics, English, Modern Languages, Classics and Business). Graduates of Philosophy and Theology are often highly sought after by employers that value good analytical skills. Historically, graduates have entered a wide range of professions including law, journalism, education and management.

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