AS/A Level Religious Studies
- Graig Campus
Whether you consider yourself a religious person or not, whether you think religion has played a positive or negative role in history; it is an incontrovertible fact that from the beginning of time, humans have engaged in activities that we now call religion, such as worship, prayer, and rituals marking important life passages.
Literacy in religious thinking and practice is a key skill, with the potential to foster respect and tolerance based on knowledge rather than supposition. Whether you come to the subjects with a particular faith perspective or none, there will be much that will engage you intellectually and challenge your assumptions.
This religious studies course will also leave you with many transferable skills, which will be very useful not only for your future studies but in your everyday life and in how you approach situations and problems with which you are faced. The subject is widely recognised by universities and can work well with both humanities and social sciences such as history, sociology, politics and english, as well as alongside sciences and mathematical subjects.
Course details
- Full time
- Face-to-Face
Admin Fee: £25
What you will learn
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Programme Features
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Programme content
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Progression and employment
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Method of assessment
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Entry requirements
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Additional costs
The WJEC Religious Studies A Level has been thoroughly modernised to reflect the interests of young people. The course therefore focuses upon moral ethical issues and philosophical dilemmas and upon a multicultural approach to world religions. Buddhism is studied as our main religious tradition, alongside an ethics and philosophy unit.
The course is assessed through exam style essay writing. This means that students develop their writing skills fully during the course and finish well-prepared for the writing components of higher degrees. In religious studies, open debate is encouraged fully. Students are expected to participate and to develop their skills in the oral presentation of their views. This is useful for all other areas of study.
AS Level Year 1
Unit 1:An Introduction to the study of Religion: Buddhism
Unit 2: An introduction to religion and ethics and an introduction to philosophy of religion
A2/A Level Year 2
Unit 3:A Study of Religion: Buddhism
Unit 4: Religion and ethics
Unit 5: Philosophy of religion
Successful Religious Studies students have gone to a variety of Russell Group universities to continue their studies through the disciplines of religion, global religions, theology, philosophy, ethics and islamic studies. A number of these students hope to continue to masters level, while others are hoping to pursue a career in teaching.
Among the recent successful students to have taken this course came to the college from Bryngwyn Comprehensive School and excelled at A level, achieving A grades in both psychology and religious studies. She has progressed to Bath Spa University, to continue her studies of religion, philosophy and ethics.
AS –Year 1 Summer exam
- Unit 1 written examination: 1.15 hours
- Unit 2 written examination: 1.30 hours
- (40% of overall A Level grade)
A2– Year 2 Summer Exam
- Unit 3 written examination: 1.45 hours
- Unit 4 written examination: 1.45 hours
- Unit 5 written examination: 1.45 hours
- (60% of overall A Level grade)
A minimum of six GCSEs at grades A*-C To include: GCSE English Language or English Literature at a grade C or above. Students who have not taken GCSE Religious Studies but have a high level of ability in related subjects will be considered for entry.
You will have access to a range of equipment and resources, which will be sufficient to complete your programme of study. However, the exam board publications textbooks are also available to purchase from Illuminate Publishing should you wish to do so.
All learners are required to pay an administration fee of £25 prior to enrolment.
You will need to provide your own stationery and may also incur costs if the department arranges educational visits.