Welsh and Religious Studies (BA)

Course structure

This is a three-year full-time degree, consisting of 120 credits a year. You’ll study six 20-credit modules a year, split equally between Welsh and Religious Studies.

The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2020/21 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2020.

Year one

You will take 120 credits in all. There are two routes in the first year, one for students who have studied Welsh as a first language and the other for students who have studied Welsh as a second language. First-language Welsh students will take 60 credits in Welsh and 60 in Religious Studies, while second-language students will take 80 credits in Welsh and 40 in Religious Studies.

The emphasis in year one Welsh is on developing key skills (linguistic, analytical, creative and employability) in the fields of language and literature, and all students follow a set number of modules with an appropriate number of contact hours. The School will also provide additional arrangements for second language students to develop and practise their language skills.

Normally, students who have studied A-level Welsh as a second language follow the second-language route, but we will consider your linguistic skills, both oral and written, before deciding which route you will follow.

For the first-language route the core modules are:

• Iaith ac Ystyr [Language and Meaning]
• Awdur, Testun a Darllenydd [Author, Text and Reader]
• Y Gymraeg yn y Gymru Gyfoes [The Welsh Language in Contemporary Wales]

For the second-language route the core modules are:

• Sgiliau Llafar [Oral Skills]
• Defnyddio’r Gymraeg [Using Welsh]
• Astudio Llenyddiaeth [Studying Literature]
• Y Gymraeg Heddiw [The Welsh Language Today]

In your first year of Religious Studies, you are encouraged to acquire a broad knowledge of the history of the Christian Church and Christian theological thought, as well as a number of world religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Islam

You will develop the basic skills required for the academic study of religions and theology, including an introduction to languages such as Sanskrit, Arabic, Hebrew or New Testament Greek to be able to study religious texts in their original languages. Your year one modules will allow you to study religion through texts, poetry, art, film, biographies, fieldwork and drama.

Year two

You will take 60 credits in Welsh and 60 credits in Religious Studies.

In year two Welsh, you will build on the skills and knowledge acquired in year one. The core linguistic elements of the course focus on language skills within both an academic and a vocational context, and include a period of work experience in a workplace in which Welsh is used on a daily basis.

Alongside these core elements, the Welsh course offers optional modules in years two and three in Welsh language, literature and culture, including several with direct relevance to specific fields of employment, such as language planning, scriptwriting and translation.

Year two in Religious Studies will give you the opportunity to develop a more advanced knowledge of Christian theology and history and related subjects, building on introductory modules undertaken in year one. You will take modules designed to develop your awareness of the role of religion in shaping the cultural, intellectual, and ethical concerns of contemporary societies, and develop a more advanced knowledge of a range of religious traditions, such as Islam in the contemporary world, ancient and modern Judaism or the life of the Buddha.

Year three

You will take 60 credits in Welsh and 60 credits in Religious Studies.

In Welsh, it is compulsory to choose one of the following modules:

• Blas ar Ymchwil [Research Taster]
• Ymchwilio Estynedig [Extended Research]

You have a choice of an essay or project of 5,000 words (20 credits) or 9,000 words (40 credits), to be completed under the direction of a member of staff who is an expert in the relevant field. This may lead to further research or provide an effective showcase for potential employers. You will also choose more optional modules.

Year three in Religious Studies will allow you to further deepen your understanding of religious themes and topics such as gender and sexuality or Islamic perspectives with a range of specialised modules. You will acquire skills in qualitative and quantitative research into religion(s) in modern societies, and have the opportunity to write a research dissertation.

You will also build upon your religious language knowledge acquired in years one and two and develop high-level translation and text-critical skills across a range of language modules.