Religious Studies and English Literature, MA (Hons)

Course summary

This joint honours programme combines the vibrant study of religions with the excitement of English literature. Religious studiesReligious studies is an interdisciplinary field focusing on religious beliefs and practices and their relationships with the wider world. You will:

• study the concepts and emotions which underpin religious belief and practice, and their role and function in culture and society

• cover historical and contemporary material

We take as much interest in the groups and people who practise religion as their gods, deities, ancestors and spirits.Examining literatureReading and writing are key practices in religion and English literature. This programme introduces you to major texts and gives you the tools and critical skills to understand and interpret them. You will:

• gain the essential skills needed for the critical close reading of poetry, drama and prose

• read works of literature written in English from around the world

• encounter different ideas about the nature and purpose of literary study

• use a range of methods to examine where religious ideas illuminate literature and where religion is mediated in texts

• study texts ranging from canonical writings, such as Buddhist sutras and the Hebrew Bible, to classic and modern fiction

Why EdinburghThe city of Edinburgh contains many museums, galleries and cultural sites, which broaden and deepen student learning. Home of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, it is the first UNESCO World City of Literature. The city's literary highlights include:

• the Scottish Poetry Library

• the Writers' Museum

• the Scottish Storytelling Centre

• outstanding holdings in the National Library of Scotland

Programme benefitsOur programme is extremely flexible. In Years 1 and 2 you will study your core subjects and will also choose option courses from a broad list of disciplines. You will specialise as you progress through your honours years.Studying religion and literature prepares you to contribute to a society in which an understanding of texts of all kinds is crucially important. It shows an openness to ideas and perspectives other than your own, which is an essential attribute in many careers and the global marketplace.

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