This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
Weeks 1-6: Theoretical perspectives on race, religion, and ethnicity as concepts; case studies in the social and legal history of race and
religion; overview of contemporary legal regulation of these categories in UK law
Weeks 7-12: Contemporary case studies; research training
Total study hours: 150
Contact hours: 20
Private study hours: 130
Optional module available to all undergraduate single and joint honours law programmes. The module is available as a wild module to all Social Science and Humanities students, with the convenor's permission.
Main assessment methods
The module is assessed by 100% coursework:
1. A 1000-word essay outline (10%).
2. A collaborative oral presentation (10%).
3. A 3000-word research essay (80%) on a topic chosen by the student, and approved by the convenor.
Reassessment methods
The module will be reassessed by a reassessment instrument (i.e. a research essay for 100%). The reassessment will re-test all of the module's learning outcomes.
• Barkan, E. The Retreat of Scientific Racism: Changing Concepts of Race in Britain and the United States Between the World Wars (Cambridge University Press,1992)
• Goldberg, D.T. Racist Culture; Philosophy and the Politics of Meaning (Blackwell, 1993)
• Goldberg, D.T. The Racial State (Blackwell, 2002)
• Herman, D. An Unfortunate Coincidence: Jews, Jewishness, and English Law (Oxford University Press, 2011)
• Jivraj, S. The religion of law: race, citizenship and children's belonging (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013)
• Miles, R. Racism (Routledge, (1989)
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. Understand the complex relationship between law and dominant concepts of race and religion;
2. Appreciate the significance of critical race, postcolonial, feminist, and critical religion theories for understanding contemporary social and
legal issues to do with race and religion;
3. Appreciate the significance of a grounding in social and legal histories of race and religion in order to understand contemporary
formations;
4. Identify the wide range of influences on legal discourse, policy, and law-making in relation to race and religion, including concepts from
political theory, postcolonial theory, and the humanities and social sciences more broadly;
5. Appreciate the intersections of concepts of race and religion with concepts of gender, sexuality, class, and disability;
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
In relation to the study of law, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches to the study of law;
2. Deploy critical and self-reflexive modes of analysis in relation to the subject;
3. Construct well-reasoned and well-structured arguments about theoretical and practical legal issues;
In relation to general abilities, students will be able to:
4. Demonstrate argumentation skills that relate to legal and non-legal texts;
5. Demonstrate skills in critical reading and analysis;
6. Undertake independent research on a defined topic;
University of Kent makes every effort to ensure that module information is accurate for the relevant academic session and to provide educational services as described. However, courses, services and other matters may be subject to change. Please read our full disclaimer.
