SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY – MAY 2012 CURRICULUM EVENTS – COURSE AIMS AND STRUCTURE
SUBJECT:
RELIGIOUS, MORAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this Course is to develop knowledge and understanding of religious, moral and philosoph ical
issues. The Course will explore the questions they raise and the solutions or approaches they offer. Learners will have
opportunities to reflect on these and on their own experience and views. Religious and non -religious perspectives will be
included.
National 3
National 4
National 5
Higher
COURSE AIMS
The main aims of this Course are
to enable learners to develop:
The main aims of the Course are
to enable learners to develop:

 the ability to understand and
reflect on, religious, moral
and philosophical questions
and their impact
 a range of skills including
investigating and describing
religious, moral and
philosophical questions and
responses, making
comparisons, and the ability
to express reasoned views
 straightforward knowledge


the ability to understand and
reflect on religious, moral and
philosophical questions and
their impact
a range of skills including
outlining religious, moral and
philosophical questions and
responses and the ability to
express viewpoints
basic knowledge and
understanding of beliefs,
practices and sources related
The main aims of the Course
are to enable learners to
develop:
 the ability to analyse and
reflect on religious, moral
and philosophical
questions and their
impact
 a range of skills including
investigating and
explaining religious, moral
and philosophical
questions and responses,
making comparisons and
The main aims of the Course are to
enable learners to develop:
 the ability to critically analyse,
reflect on and express reasoned
views about religious, moral and
philosophical questions and
their impact
 a range of skills including
investigating religious, moral
and philosophical questions and
responses, critical analysis,
evaluation, and the ability to
express detailed, reasoned and
well-structured views

National 3
to world religions
basic knowledge and
understanding of religious,
moral and philosophical
questions and responses to
them
National 4
and understanding of beliefs,
practices and sources related
to world religions
 straightforward knowledge
and understanding of
religious, moral and
philosophical questions and
responses to them
National 5
the ability to express
detailed and reasoned
views
 detailed factual and
abstract knowledge and
understanding of beliefs,
practices and sources
related to world religions
 detailed factual and
theoretical knowledge
and understanding of
religious, moral and
philosophical questions
and responses to them
Higher
 in-depth factual and abstract
knowledge and understanding of
beliefs, practices and sources
related to world religions
 in-depth factual and theoretical
knowledge and understanding of
religious, moral and
philosophical questions and
responses to them
STRUCTURE, ASSESSMENT AND HIERARCHIES
Course Structure:
3 Units
Course Structure:
3 Units and Added Value Unit
 World Religion
1) Apply knowledge and
understanding of the impact
and significance of religion
today
 World Religion
1) Apply knowledge and
understanding of the impact
and significance of religion
today
 Morality and Belief
1) Apply knowledge and
understanding of
contemporary moral
 Morality and Belief
1) Apply knowledge and
understanding of
contemporary moral
Course Structure:
3 Units and Course
Assessment
 World Religion
1) Apply knowledge and
understanding of the
significance and impact
of religion today
 Morality and Belief
1) Apply knowledge and
understanding of
Course Structure:
3 Units and Course Assessment
 World Religion
1) Apply knowledge and
understanding of the impact
and significance of religion
today
 Morality and Belief
1) Apply knowledge and
understanding of contemporary
moral questions and responses
National 3
questions and responses

Religious and Philosophical
Questions
1) Apply knowledge and
understanding of religious and
philosophical questions and
responses
In a hierarchy
National 4
questions and responses
2) Express reasoned views
about religious and nonreligious responses to
contemporary moral
questions

Religious and Philosophical
Questions
1) Apply knowledge and
understanding of religious
and philosophical questions
2) Describe a religious and
philosophical question and
responses
and Added Value Unit:
RMPS Assignment
1) Research and use
information relating to a
religious, moral or
philosophical topic or issue
In a hierarchy
National 5
contemporary moral
questions and responses
2) Express detailed and
reasoned views about
religious and nonreligious responses to
contemporary moral
questions

Religious and
Philosophical Questions
1) Apply knowledge and
understanding of
religious and
philosophical questions
2) Express detailed and
reasoned views about
religious and nonreligious responses to
contemporary moral
questions
and Course Assessment
Question Paper and
Assignment
In a hierarchy
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Higher
2) Evaluate religious and nonreligious responses to
contemporary moral questions

Religious and Philosophical
Questions
1) Apply knowledge and
understanding of religious and
philosophical questions
2) Critically analyse a religious and
philosophical question and
responses
and Course Assessment
Question Paper and Assignment
In a hierarchy
National 3






understanding and
commenting on the meaning
of sources related to world
religions, in basic terms
expressing views about
contemporary moral
questions and responses, in
basic terms
outlining religious and
philosophical questions and
responses, in basic terms
basic knowledge and
understanding of the impact
and significance of religion
today through studying some
beliefs, practices and sources
found within one of the
world’s six major religions
(Buddhism, Christianity,
Hinduism, Islam, Judaism or
Sikhism) and the contribution
these make to the lives of
followers
basic knowledge and
understanding of
contemporary moral issues,
and responses
basic knowledge and
understanding of religious and
National 4
National 5
Higher
 researching and using
information to present
findings about
straightforward, mainly
factual elements of religious,
moral and philosophical
topics or issues in a reasoned
manner
 describing and commenting
on the meaning and context
of sources related to world
religions, in straightforward
terms
 expressing views about
contemporary moral
questions and responses, in
straightforward terms
 describing religious and
philosophical questions and
responses, in straightforward
terms
 straightforward factual
knowledge and
understanding of the impact
and significance of religion
today through studying some
beliefs, practices and sources
found within one of the
world’s six major religions
 researching, processing
and analysing information
to draw conclusions and
present findings about
factual and theoretical
elements of religious,
moral and philosophical
topics or issues in a
reasoned manner, taking
account of different ideas
and viewpoints
 explaining and
commenting on the
meaning and context of
sources related to world
religions, in detail and
referring to relevant
abstract ideas
 expressing reasoned views
about contemporary
moral questions and
responses, in detail and
referring to relevant
theoretical ideas
 analysing religious and
philosophical questions
and responses, in detail
and referring to relevant
theoretical ideas
 researching, analysing,
evaluating and synthesising
information to draw detailed,
reasoned and well-structured
conclusions and present findings
about factual and theoretical
elements of religious, moral and
philosophical topics or issues,
identifying and responding to
different ideas and viewpoints
 interpreting the meaning and
context of sources related to
world religions, in detail and
explaining relevant abstract
ideas
 evaluating and expressing
reasoned and well-structured
views about contemporary
moral questions and responses,
in detail and explaining relevant
theoretical ideas
 critically analysing and
explaining religious and
philosophical questions, in detail
and explaining relevant
theoretical ideas
 in-depth factual and abstract
knowledge and understanding of
the significance and impact of
National 3
philosophical questions and
responses
National 4
(Buddhism, Christianity,
Hinduism, Islam, Judaism or
Sikhism) and the contribution
these make to the lives of
followers
 straightforward knowledge
and understanding of
contemporary moral issues
and responses
 straightforward knowledge
and understanding of
religious and philosophical
questions and responses
National 5
 detailed factual and
theoretical knowledge
and understanding of the
impact and significance of
religion today through
studying some beliefs,
practices and sources
found within one of the
world’s six major religions
(Buddhism, Christianity,
Hinduism, Islam, Judaism
or Sikhism) and the
contribution these make
to the lives of followers
 detailed factual and
theoretical knowledge and
understanding of
contemporary moral
issues and responses
 detailed factual and
theoretical knowledge
and understanding of
religious and philosophical
questions, and responses
Higher
religion today through
explaining some key beliefs,
practices and sources found
within one of the world’s six
major religions (Buddhism,
Christianity, Hinduism, Islam,
Judaism or Sikhism) and the
contribution these make to the
lives of followers
 in-depth factual and theoretical
knowledge and understanding of
contemporary moral questions
and responses
 in-depth factual and theoretical
knowledge and understanding of
religious and philosophical
questions and responses