Module:

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

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Module Title
Module Code
Faculty		School
NFQ level		Credit Rating

Description

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate an ability to problematize the designation “religion” with particular reference to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism
2. Display a broad knowledge of the geographic, historical, and cultural background of South Asia in the formative period of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism
3. Demonstrate specialist knowledge of a number of key texts from the South Asian religious traditions and their roles as sources of religious authority
4. Describe in detail a range of practices, beliefs and cultural complexes of South Asian religious traditions
5. Identify key critical issues in the study of South Asian religious traditions, such as Orientalism

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Directed learning	74	No Description
Assignment Completion	50	No Description
Independent Study	39.5	No Description
Total Workload: 187.5

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Short Assignment	25%	n/a
Assignment	Essay	75%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Week 01
Introduction to the Module and Key Themes

Week 02
South Asian Contexts: Geographical, Linguistic and Historical

Week 03
Hinduism I

Week 04
Hinduism II

Week 05
Hinduism III

Week 06
Buddhism I

Week 07
Buddhism II

Week 08
Jainism

Week 09
Islam in South Asia

Week 10
Sikhism

Week 11
Christianity in South Asia

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Fred W. Clothey: 2006, Religion in India: A Historical Introduction, 1st, Routledge, London, 9780415940245
Sushil Mittal and Gene Thursby: 2018, Religions of India: An Introduction, 2nd, Routledge, London, 9781138681262
Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh: 2011, Sikhism: An Introduction, 1st, I. B. Tauris, London, 9781848853218
Gavin D. Flood: 2003, The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism, Blackwell, Oxford,
Damien Keown: 2000, Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford,

Articles:

Timothy Fitzgerald: 1990, Hinduism and the “World Religion” Fallacy, Religion, 20 (101-118), 66651
2005: Numbers in Nirvana: How the 1872–1921 Indian Censuses Helped Operationalise “Hinduism”’, 13–30.*, Religion, 35 (13-30),

Other Resources

None