SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY – SEPTEMBER 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 phi losophical
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.
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National 5
Higher
Advanced Higher
COURSE AIMS
The main aims of this Course
are to enable learners to
develop:
The main aims of the Course The main aims of the
are to enable learners to
Course are to enable
develop:
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
 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

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
 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
The main aims of this
Course are to enable
learners to:

develop a selfdirected
approach to
learning, working
on their own
initiative to
research, analyse,
evaluate and
synthesise
complex
information in
response to


National 3
viewpoints
basic knowledge and
understanding of
beliefs, practices and
sources related to
world religions
basic knowledge and
understanding of
religious, moral and
philosophical questions
and responses to them
National 4
comparisons, and the
ability to express
reasoned views
 straightforward
knowledge 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
philosophical
questions and
responses, making
comparisons and 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
responses, critical
analysis, evaluation, and
the ability to express
detailed, reasoned and
well-structured views
 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
Advanced Higher
religious, moral
and philosophical
issues
 apply and
synthesise skills
and knowledge in
relation to the
role of religion,
philosophy and
morality in the
contemporary
world
 develop in-depth
analytical
knowledge and
understanding of
some key
philosophical
issues found
within religion
today, and the
ways in which
religions have
responded
 develop in-depth
analytical
knowledge and
understanding of
themes and
debates in
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Higher
Advanced Higher
religion and
ethics
 develop in-depth
analytical
understanding of
religious
experience and
responses
STRUCTURE, ASSESSMENT AND HIERARCHIES
Course Structure:
3 Units
 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

Religious and
Philosophical Questions
1) Apply knowledge and
Course Structure:
3 Units and Added Value
Unit
 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
2) Express reasoned
views about religious
and non-religious
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 contemporary
moral questions
and responses
2) Express detailed
and reasoned views
Course Structure:
3 Units and Course
Assessment
Course Structure:
3 Units and Course
Assessment
 World Religion
 Philosophy of
1) Apply knowledge and
Religion
understanding of the
1) Critically analyse
impact and significance
arguments from
of religion today
the philosophy of
religion, and their
impact
 Morality and Belief
1) Apply knowledge and
and
understanding of
contemporary moral
questions and
 Researching
responses
Religious, Moral
2) Evaluate religious and
and Philosophical
non-religious responses
Issues
to contemporary moral
1) carry out
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understanding of
religious and
philosophical questions
and responses
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responses to
contemporary moral
questions
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about religious and
non-religious
responses to
contemporary
moral questions

In a hierarchy
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

Religious and
Philosophical
Questions
1) Apply knowledge
and understanding
of religious and
philosophical
questions
2) Express detailed
and reasoned views
about religious and
non-religious
responses to
contemporary
moral questions
and Course Assessment
Question Paper and
Assignment
In a hierarchy
In a hierarchy
Higher
questions

Advanced Higher
independent
research on
complex religious,
moral or
philosophical
issues
Religious and
Philosophical Questions
1) Apply knowledge and
understanding of
religious and
philosophical questions Plus either:
2) Critically analyse a
religious and
 Religion & Ethics
philosophical question 1) Critically evaluate
and responses
complex religious
and ethical issues
and Course Assessment
and relevant
Question Paper and
responses
Assignment
Or
In a hierarchy
 Religious
Experience
1) Critically evaluate
issues involving
religious
experience
and Course
Assessment
Question Paper and
Assignment
National 3
National 4
National 5
Higher
Advanced Higher
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING




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
 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
 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
 researching, analysing,

evaluating and
synthesising information
to draw detailed,
reasoned and wellstructured 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
working
independently to
research, analyse,
evaluate and
synthesise
complex
information from
a wide range of
sources to
produce clear,
well-reasoned,
well-informed and
structured written
work that
demonstrates an
in-depth
understanding of
religious, moral or
philosophical
issues
explaining and
applying
interpretations of
the context and
relevance of
sources and
making well-


National 3
make to the lives of
followers
basic knowledge and
understanding of
contemporary moral
issues, and responses
basic knowledge and
understanding of
religious and
philosophical questions
and responses
National 4
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
 straightforward
knowledge and
understanding of
contemporary moral
issues and responses
 straightforward
knowledge and
understanding of
religious and
philosophical questions
and responses
National 5
responses, in detail
and referring to
relevant theoretical
ideas
 analysing religious
and philosophical
questions and
responses, in detail
and referring to
relevant theoretical
ideas
 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




Higher
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 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
Advanced Higher
reasoned and
detailed
judgements
 explaining,
analysing and
critically
evaluating issues
arising from the
philosophy of
religion, responses
from religious and
other
perspectives, and
the impact of
these issues
 enquiring into,
critically
evaluating, and
expressing clear,
well-reasoned,
well-informed and
structured views
about responses
to religious and
moral issues
 in-depth analytical
knowledge and
understanding of
the significance
and impact of
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National 4
National 5
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
and understanding of
religious and
philosophical questions
and responses
Advanced Higher
religion today
through the
examination of
different
perspectives on
religious
experience