COURSE CURRICULUM

The History and Religion BA (Hons) degree offers a comprehensive study of the ways in which religion and historical events have shaped societies and continue to influence the modern world. In the first year, students develop foundational skills through modules such as Studying Religion, Researching and Presenting the Past, Global York: A Social and Cultural History of the City, Religion, Peace and Conflict, Values and Virtues: Ethics and Religion, and United States: Empire of Liberty?, providing an introduction to key historical and religious concepts, research methods, and ethical perspectives. The second year expands on these skills with a wide range of modules covering historical periods, philosophical debates, sociological perspectives, and work-related learning opportunities, including History, Community and Culture, From Descartes to the Death of God, Problems of Evil, Religion and Politics, Sociology of Religion, and a variety of focused historical studies from medieval England to modern America and China. In the final year, students consolidate their learning through a dissertation and specialised modules such as Religion and Myth, Religion and Genocides, Religion and Globalisation, Feminist Ethics and Religion, Theology and Ethics through Film, and Religion and Visual Culture, alongside negotiated study options and history special subjects. The program equips graduates with critical thinking, research, and analytical skills, preparing them for careers in education, heritage, journalism, public policy, international relations, and further academic study, while fostering a deep understanding of the interplay between religion, history, and contemporary society.