Religious Studies Course (Level 3 Diploma)

A distance learning course is the ideal way to gain a Level 3 Diploma in Religious Studies.

Whether you're looking to go on to further education, improve your job prospects or expand your knowledge, distance learning Diploma in Religious Studies is a flexible and convenient course, which allows you to comprehensively prepare for an exam or career through home study.

What's more, because the distance learning Level 3 Diploma in Religious Studies course is a fully comprehensive course, no prior knowledge is required.

Oxford College (ODL) are pleased to offer the opportunity to study this Quality Assured Diploma in Religious Studies at Level 3. The course has the following aims:

• To develop an interest in, and enthusiasm for the rigorous study of religion and its relation to the wider world.
• To treat the subject as an academic discipline, providing the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate for specialist study.
• To teach students an enquiring, reflective and critical approach to the study of religion.
• To encourage students to reflect on their own values, beliefs and opinions in the light of their study.
• The fully accredited Ascentis Level 3 Diploma course in Religious Studies will look at a whole variety of subject areas covering the Old and the New Testament. The course will be a foundation for further studies, for those who wish to study Religious Studies at higher or further education or those who just have an interest in the subject.

COURSE KEY TOPICS 

• An introduction to the world of the Old Testament
• Old Testament view of God's relationship with the people
• The phenomenon of prophecy
• Eighth century prophecy - Amos
• How the synoptic gospels came into being
• Aspects of Jesus' teaching and action; parables and healing
• The arrest, trial and death of Jesus
• The resurrection of Jesus
• The context of John's Gospel
• The nature, role and purpose of the discourses in John's gospel
• The nature, role and purpose of signs in John's Gospel
• The nature, role and purpose of the passion and resurrection narratives

HOME STUDY SUPPORT

You will be provided with comprehensive materials designed to provide you with everything required to complete your course of study. You will have your own personal tutor helping you with your course work and with any questions you may have. Plus you can contact our Student Advisors by email or phone for all the practical advice you may need – so we really are with you 100%.

What's more, you'll have access to the online student portal, where you can interact with other students, browse our resource library and manage your account.

COURSE ASSESSMENT

When you have completed the programme, your tutor needs to verify that you have worked through all parts of any Workbooks, Activities and Exercises successfully.

100% of the final mark is made up of an online multiple choice exam.

Upon verification of the activities, exercises and assignments, you will be awarded your diploma by OLQA as confirmation that your written work has met all of the learning outcomes and assessment criteria for the programme.

COURSE DURATION

We recommended you spend approximately 240 hours of your time studying for the course name. The pace of study is completely up to you. To give an example, if you dedicate 5 hours a week to the course it would take you a year to complete but if you could spare 10 hours a week you could complete it in six months.

Get started today, and you can earn your Level 3 Diploma in Religious Studies in as little as six months, or take up to a year, if you prefer – the choice is yours.

HOME STUDY COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

All Students must be 16 years of age or above.

The good news is that no prior learning knowledge or experience is essential to take this course. This course is openly available to anyone wishing to learn more about Religious Studies and would like to take part in a highly rewarding home study course. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and study further, so we try to keep our entry requirements to a minimum.

You have the freedom to start the course at any time and continue your studies at your own pace for a period of up to 12 months from initial registration with full tutor support.

Eighth century prophecy - Amos
The continuing significance of Amos' theme of the relationship between religious practice and morality with reference to the following: his teaching on the nature of God, and God's relationship with the people; the ideas of election and responsibility; his criticisms of the social, religious and political life of the people and his views on the future of the people, including his teaching on the 'Day of the Lord'. The passage set for study will be Amos. The issues discussed will be: Amos as a prophet of doom; the relative importance of Amos' social, religious and political criticisms; the extent to which covenant underpinned Amos' teaching; the extent to which Amos may be viewed as a typical prophet; whether Amos was right in his views on God and Israel and his predictions of Israel's future.

How the synoptic gospels came into being
Oral tradition with reference to: the reasons for the synoptic gospels being committed to writing; the relationship between the three synoptic gospels; the priority of Mark; reasons for writers editing material as they wrote the synoptic gospels; reasons for translating the original Greek synoptic texts. The issues whether understanding about how John's gospel came into being assists understanding of the synoptic gospels themselves; the advantages and disadvantages of having three gospels rather than one given the time gap before the gospels were written; uncertainty about their sources and authorship, and whether we can trust them to be accurate or the Word of God.

Aspects of Jesus' teaching and action; parables and healing
With particular reference to the passages listed below, candidates will be expected to know about: the role and the purpose of parables and healings as recorded in the synoptic gospels; scholars' views of the theology and the teaching found in parables and healings. The following passages will be set for study: The Sower (Matthew 13:3-23 and Mark 43-20); The Tenants in the Vineyard (Matthew 21:33-46 and Mark 12:1-12); Centurion's Slave (Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10) and Legion (Mark 5:1-20 and Luke 8:26-39). The issues to be discussed: in a scientific age, do Jesus' healings have to be rationalised? Is context so important that parables cannot be understood in the twenty-first century? Are scholars necessary to ensure people have a true understanding of the theological messages from the parables and the healings?

The arrest, trial and death of Jesus

The resurrection of Jesus
Candidates will be expected to know: scholars' views of the theological message and the teaching about the person of Jesus provided by the writers in these accounts and the main similarities and differences between the three accounts: Matthew 27:62-28:20, Mark 16:1-20 (noting the variant readings of the text) and Luke 24. The following issues arising will be discussed: are the resurrection accounts symbolic, historical or both symbolic and historical? Is there any satisfactory explanation of why the synoptic accounts of the resurrection are so different from each other? Is the longer ending of Mark's Gospel authentic? How important are the synoptic resurrection narratives for the Christian faith?

The context of John's Gospel
This unit focuses on: the relationship between John and the synoptic gospels; the Christian context, the Early Church and the Greek and Jewish context from which John draws. The following issues arising will be discussed: the debate about the relationship between John and the synoptic gospels; how an understanding of the background to John's gospel helps an understanding of the gospel; how far John's gospel was written in response to the situation and needs of the Early Church and whether John's Gospel be read without knowing about Jewish and Greek thinking and traditions.

The nature, role and purpose of the discourses in John's gospel
The following are examples of discourses, and candidates will be expected to know about these in particular, although they may exemplify their answers from other material in John to support their answers. Much of the role and purpose will focus upon John's portrayal of Jesus and his ministry in the following passages: 'I am the Bread of Life', John 6:30-58; 'I am the Light of the World', John 8:12-19 and 9:1-41; 'I am the Door of the Sheep', and 'I am the Good Shepherd', John 10:1-18; 'I am the Resurrection and the Life', John 11:1-44; 'I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life', John 14:1-7; 'I am the True Vine', John 15:1-17. These issues arising will be discussed: whether these discourses are John's interpretation of Jesus' teaching; are the issues in the discourses of any relevance to people today; do we really learn very much about the person of Jesus from John's records of the discourses and whether an understanding of the discourses require an understanding of Christian theology.

The nature, role and purpose of signs in John's Gospel
The following are examples of signs, and candidates will be expected to know about these in particular, although they may exemplify their answers from other material in John to support their answers. Much of the role and purpose will focus upon John's portrayal of Jesus and his ministry in the following passages: 'Water to Wine', John 2:1-11; 'Healing of the Officer's Son', John 4:46-54; 'The Crippled Man', John 5:1-18; 'The Feeding of the Five Thousand', John 6:1-15. The following issues will be discussed: if John is correct, why would Jesus use signs rather than direct communication; would people at the time have understood the signs as John does; could the signs really have happened and does this matter to John and whether an understanding of Christian theology is necessary to understand signs.

The nature, role and purpose of the passion and resurrection narratives
Candidates will be expected to know the following passages in particular, although they may exemplify their answers from other material in John to support their answers. Much of the role and purpose will focus upon John's portrayal of Jesus and his ministry: John 18-19 Passion narrative and John 20-21 Resurrection narrative. The following issues arising will be discussed: whether there is there any history in John's accounts; is John more interested in the death than in the resurrection; does John see salvation only in these events; are the passion and resurrection narratives really Christian theology.

Minimum 16 years of age