Philosophy, Religion and Ethics

Overview:

Our BA Honours degree in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics invites you to explore many of life’s big questions. What is the meaning of life? What responsibilities do we have to other people and the natural world? What can we learn from the history of philosophical and religious thought? How are we to assess rational arguments for the existence of God? How do religion and non-religion relate to culture, society, and politics?

Students take modules in each of the disciplines of philosophy, religion and ethics, as well as studying them in an integrated way. That will involve drawing on a number of religious perspectives, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism – as well as humanism and atheism. Equally, the degree enables students to study both analytical and continental philosophy.

What makes our BA in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics at Roehampton so distinctive is our commitment to practical humanities. You will learn how to apply your interpretative and analytical skills to a whole range of contemporary problems regarding community, public policy, social justice, and personal life. That could include thinking through challenges in environmental ethics, global cultures, or interfaith dialogue. Likewise, through engagement with media and the arts, you can explore themes such as community peacebuilding, jihad and terrorism, and the ethics of abortion and euthanasia.

As you progress through this course, you will develop highly transferable and employable skills, while tailoring your studies to your own areas of interest. Alongside traditional skills of critical thinking, argumentation, textual analysis, and clear communication, you will also develop the ability to analyse multiple forms of media, to write and present material for a public audience, and to read and analyse policy documents. You will have opportunities to take up work placements, to build a creative portfolio and to engage in collaborative projects – all designed to equip you for your future career path.

How you will learn 

Discussion and debate lie at the heart of this course, and you will be taught by research-active staff, many of whom are leaders in their field, through a variety of methods and formats, including lectures and individual tutorials, class discussions and seminars, some of which are assessed. 

Each year of this course dedicates time to developing your academic, professional, and key transferable skills so that by the time you graduate, you will be ready for your career, having built professional contacts and gained work experience.  

The University offers extensive career support, with a dedicated career service, excellent connections with organisations and businesses, and an annual employability workshop where you will meet former students and employers from various industries. 

Schedule by year of study

Year 1

• Cover the key elements and approaches that will allow you to understand the fundamental issues you will explore on this degree.  
• Learn about classical and modern philosophy, religion and ethics.  
• Develop skills such as critical thinking and analysis, time and project management, identifying and researching sources. 

Year 2

• Study two compulsory modules that build core skills and knowledge: Philosophy of Religion and Key Texts in Focus.
• Select options from diverse module choices in line with your interests. Choose from a range of modules on ethics, politics, global religions and cultures, aesthetics, ecology and classical philosophy.  
• Choose to do an applied professional practice module with work placement.
• Build on your thinking, project management and research skills.  

Year 3

• Study a compulsory module in which you undertake a substantial research project of your choice with options for work placement, dissertation or building a creative arts portfolio.
• Tailor your third year to your own research interests, with topics as varied as animal rights, environmental ethics, the Holocaust, philosophy of law, religion and gender, and science and atheism.  

Foundation or GCE Advanced Level

Career Options

This degree will open up multiple career pathways, whether you are thinking about a career in education, business, politics, law or media, or any field that requires an expert grasp of the complex nature of public policy and personal choices. You could go into journalism, broadcasting, international development, charitable work, community or social services, or pursue an academic career. 

Our careers team is available to support you from the start of your studies until after you graduate. They will help you build your CV, prepare for interviews, and meet and learn from successful graduates working at the top of their careers. You’ll also have opportunities to work with our partners across London and beyond, and to attend a Roehampton jobs fair where you can find out about graduate opportunities and meet employers.