Studying online
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
What is religion? This unit explores how anthropologists and sociologists have approached religion as a central domain of human experience and asks whether it is analytically useful to take religion as a discreet category. Beginning with foundational thinkers like Durkheim, Weber, Marx and Freud, the unit explores the relationship between religion and other realms of social, political and economic life. The unit offers an introduction to evolutionary, functional, structural, psychoanalytical and symbolic perspectives that have been influential not only in the study of religion, but in the disciplines of Sociology and Anthropology more generally. Drawing on classical anthropological studies of small-scale societies, recent studies of contemporary globalised religion and original ethnographic research, students explore religious phenomena such as ritual, belief, possession, magic, sorcery and conversion.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode Not available in 2024 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Details for undergraduate courses
- Level 2 elective
- Outcomes
Students are able to (1) demonstrate an understanding of key concepts in the anthropology and sociology of religion including cultural diversity, social inequality, the nature of social relationships and institutions, systems of symbolic meaning, and processes that underpin social and cultural change; (2) demonstrate knowledge of one of the oldest subfields of anthropology and sociology in historical context, with a particular focus on the diverse ways that scholars have defined and studied religion, and understand the ways that definitions of religion are mobilised in contemporary debates; (3) demonstrate an ability to critically review, analyse, sumarise and synthesise anthropological and sociological research and theory focused on religion; (4) demonstrate an ability to formulate, investigate and discuss anthropologically and sociologically informed research questions and develop arguments based on a critical evaluation of evidence; and (5) demonstrate an ability to communicate anthropological and sociological ideas, principles and knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences using a range of formats (written, oral, visual etc.).
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) participation/preparation; (2) assignment; and (3) essay or other research exercise. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- any Level 1 ANTH unit
- Incompatibility
- ANTH2203 Religion
- Contact hours
- up to 3 hours per week
- Note
- This unit is comprised of lectures, workshops and small group discussions, which depend upon attendance. LCS (Lecture Capture System) recordings may be available as a supplement but not as a replacement for scheduled class activities.
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.