Social Science – Religious Studies

Course Details

Awarding Body: OCR

Staff Contacts: Mr M Danylevych  and A Shevlin

100 % exam over 3 exams (2 hours each)

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Key features of the course

Students will study a range of Philosophical ideas, including: ancient philosophical influences, the nature of the soul, mind and body, arguments about the existence or non-existence of God, the nature and impact of religious experience, the challenge for religious belief of the problem of evil and ideas about the nature of God and issues in religious language.

Students will study a range of Ethical Theories including: normative ethical theories, the application of ethical theories, ethical language and thought, debates surrounding the significant idea of conscience and sexual ethics and the influence on ethical thought of developments in religious beliefs.

Students will study a religion and analyse: religious beliefs, values and teachings, their interconnections and how they vary historically and in the contemporary world, sources of religious wisdom and authority, practices which shape and express religious identity, and how these vary within a tradition, significant social and historical developments in theology and religious thought and key themes related to the relationship between religion and society.

Entry Requirements:

  • A minimum of Five GCSE’s Grade 9-4
  • A minimum of a Grade 6 in English Literature/ Language
  • A GCSE in RE is advised but not compulsory

What could this course lead on to?

By completing a Philosophy and Ethics A-Level, students can go on to study a wide range of subjects at degree level, including:

Philosophy
Politics and Economics (PPE)
Law
Medicine
English Literature
History
Philosophy
Sociology
Psychology
Anthropology
Theology,
Religious Studies

Future prospects and careers

Careers that A Level Philosophy and Ethics can lead to…

Politics, Medicine, Teacher, Social Worker, Anthropologist, Religious Leaders, Lawyer, Voluntary Sector, Journalists, Activist, Historian, Diplomat, Researcher, Writer

What type of student is this course suitable for?

This course is suitable for students interested in getting a qualification that leads to lots of different options at university, from Politics and Law, to Philosophy and Religious Studies. It is appropriate for those who are curious about how the world works from a sociological, societal perspective. A Level Religious Studies (Philosophy, Ethics and Development) would suit those who are interested in asking those wider questions, analysing the deeper meaning of the world and evaluating the use of religion and theology within a wider contemporary context.

Assessment Structure

It is important to understand the assessment structure of the course. What percent are the units ? Are they internally or externally assessed ? Are they exams or coursework?
Unit One
  • Philosophy of Religion
  • Examination
Unit Two
  • Religion and Ethics
  • Examination
Unit Three
  • Development in Contemporary Thought
  • Examination