Program Overview

What is the meaning of life? What does it mean to be human? How do we understand and value the planet, other people and animals? How are we to assess philosophical arguments for the existence of God? What can we learn from religious and philosophical texts and thinkers? Our BA Religion, Theology and Culture allows you to explore the big questions in life, covering truth, morality, God, love and death by engaging in depth with global religions and philosophies including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism.

Modules also tackle contemporary world issues and social justice in religious cultures – from climate change to gender, poverty to racism, human rights to fundamentalism. This BA will give you the critical and theoretical tools to better understand the world we live in and to interact with lecturers who are actively engaged in projects for social and ethical change.

Religious studies is a highly interdisciplinary area of study, and you will have opportunities to analyse religion from approaches including philosophy, history, politics, sociology, psychology, and art. On this programme, you will engage closely with primary sources including religious texts, film, media and literature, working alongside scholars who are engaged with religious and social practices, committed to the public role of faith, and active in social justice and change projects, as well as inter-religious dialogue. There will be plenty of chances to hone your communication and problem-solving skills, and to learn how to work collaboratively.

At Roehampton, you will engage with a diverse community of students who come from a range of cultural and religious backgrounds, allowing you to have rich and informative discussions. We will help you to develop religious literacy and an informed understanding of how religion affects society, and vice versa, which are much valued skills in the workplace. You will graduate with an in-depth knowledge of a diverse range of religious traditions, have gained analytical skills to understand and scrutinize evidence and arguments carefully, and be able to reflect on how theologians and philosophers have tackled the big questions concerning the origin, meaning and goal of life.

We try to provide you with an interactive learning experience and you will be taught in a variety of ways, including lectures, student-led seminars, one-to-one tutorials and blended learning, and you will be assessed through coursework. You will be able to go on trips to religious and cultural sites in London such as places of worship, galleries and museums, join workshops and have opportunities to study abroad.

You can gain practical workplace experience in a professional placement. Practice-based skills are also consolidated by learning from scholars who are active in social justice projects, committed to the public role of faith, working in community settings, and involved in inter-religious dialogue.

Teaching is research-led by a range of lecturers who are experts in their fields and have subject specialisms as well as active experience in social change projects at local, national and international levels. We offer a close-knit community with lecturers that provide high levels of support, both in person and on-line.