This course gives you an opportunity to investigate the nature of Religion, Morality and Philosophy and to build on your previous knowledge and understanding. The content of each unit is designed to assist you to reflect on your own life experience and to develop your own personal beliefs and opinions.

The course also allows you to enhance and extend your skills of inquiry, debate, critical analysis and evaluation as well as to develop your investigative skills using classic and scholarly texts.

While entry is at the discretion of the centre, you would normally be expected to have completed a course or units in

• Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies at Higher

or

• a social subject at an equivalent level.

The course will be available to more mature students who have an interest in the subject matter and can demonstrate appropriate ability at this level.

The course is made up of two compulsory units and one of the optional units.

Philosophy of Religion (AH) 40 hours
This unit analyses critically some complex arguments in the philosophy of religion. You will explore in depth the ongoing debate over the existance or non-existance of God and the consequences of this for our perception of the origin and purpose of the planet, and our place in it. You will be expected to fully evaluate the evidence and to present a detailed, concise and balanced summary of the contemporary significance of these arguments. Areas of study include

• the Cosmological Argument
• the Teleological or Design Argument
• and the Moral Argument.

Personal Research (AH) 40 hours
This unit provides the opportunity for a piece of individual research. Following discussion with your teacher/lecturer, you will choose an issue on a topic from any of the units you are studying. You will be required to prepare and present a detailed proposal that you have a high degree of competence to plan, research and present a dissertation

Religious Experience (AH) 40 hours
This unit involves the critical analysis of some complex aspects of religious experience. You will be expected to fully evaluate the evidence and to present a detailed, concise and balanced summary of the contemporary significance of some of these aspects of religious experience. Examples include visions, ecstatic experiences, near death experiences, dreams, meditative experiences, conversions, mystical experiences and miracles. The main aspects of study are

• the nature of religious experience
• religious experience from a faith perspective
• secular perspectives of religious experience.

Bio-Ethics (AH) 40 hours
This unit analyses critically Christian and non-religious perspectives within the area of bio-ethics. You will evaluate a range of evidence and present a detailed, concise and balanced summary of the contemporary significance of the relevant issues concerning the nature and quality of human life. Areas of study include bio-ethical issues concerning

• the beginning of life, eg genetic engineering
• the prolongation of life, eg transplant operations
• the end of life, eg euthanasia.

• H Problem Solving (Critical Thinking, Planning and Organising, Reviewing and Evaluating)

Units are assessed internally by your teacher/lecturer in accordance with SQA guidelines.

External SQA assessment of the course consists of

• an written examination
• a dissertation of 3000-5000 words.

Successful completion of this course may lead to:

Education (HNC/HND/Degree); Employment in Arts, Social Sciences & Religion Libraries Museums & Archaeology Social, Caring & Advisory Services

Further advice and information on these options is available from your subject teacher/lecturer, guidance teacher /adviser and careers adviser.