Course coordinator
Dr Renato Costa
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Law School
This course will involve the study of a topical legal issue or field of law. Topics will vary from year to year. Refer to the Law School website for the current topic.
This course offers an overview of the interaction between law and religion. How do law and religion conceptualise each other? How does the law regulate religion? How does religion evaluate law? What is the ‘domain’ of each? The course will begin by discussing various approaches to defining ‘law’ and ‘religion’. It will then consider the historical connections between religion and law across the major world cultures with particular focus on historical antecedents and influences on Australian law (ie, the Western legal tradition generally and the English common law tradition specifically). Major systems of ‘religious law’ will be considered, particularly in their Christian (canon) and Islamic (sharia) forms. The course will next turn to major world religious perspectives on law (eg, Indigenous, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian and Muslim) again with particular focus on religious perspectives significant to understanding and evaluating Australian law. The course will then investigate the connections between religion and law in a select number of areas of the law, focusing on its underlying principles (eg, criminal, equity, family, corporations and trusts, charity, constitutional, international). Finally, the course will explore the issues associated with concepts such as ‘separation of church and state’, ‘secularism’, ‘establishment of religion’ and ‘free exercise of religion’, particularly as they arise in international human rights law, Australian constitutional law and anti-discrimination law.
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
All level 1 and 2 LAWS courses
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
LAWS7225
Restrictions
LLB(Hons) and LLB(Hons) dual programs
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Renato Costa
Professor Ann Black
Professor Nicholas Aroney
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Seminars will happen from Weeks 1–5, 7–9, and 11–12. There will be no seminars in Weeks 6, 10, and 13.
Aims and outcomes
Teaching Mission Statement
The mission of the TC Beirne School of Law is to educate students in and about the law. We seek to assist you to think critically about the law and to investigate its structures, principles, policies, and values. This is achieved by engaging with you as fellow investigators in a range of critical and intellectual conversations about the law and its place in society. Our role is thus to guide you in your own intellectual journey in the law and to equip you with the necessary skills that will enable you to continue that journey long after you have left the School.
Course Aims
This course offers an overview of the interaction between law and religion. It will examine questions such as: How do law and religion conceptualise each other? How does the law regulate religion? How does religion evaluate law? What is the ‘domain’ of each? In particular, the course aims to:
- introduce you to various approaches to defining ‘law’ and ‘religion’
- examine historical connections between religion and law across the major world cultures with particular focus on historical antecedents and influences on Australian law;
- survey major world religious perspectives on law again with particular focus on religious perspectives significant to understanding and evaluating Australian law;
- investigate major systems of ‘religious law’, particularly in their Jewish (halakha), Christian (canon) and Islamic (sharia) forms;
- focus on the connections between religion and law in a select number of areas of the law;
- explore issues associated with concepts such as ‘separation of church and state’, ‘secularism’, ‘establishment of religion’ and ‘free exercise of religion’, particularly as they arise in international human rights law, Australian constitutional law and anti-
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Explain to an intelligent layperson the various approaches to defining law and religion.
LO2.
Understand historical connections between religion and law across the major world cultures, with a focus on the influence of religion on aspects of Australian law.
LO3.
Demonstrate an awareness of major world religious perspectives on law and major religious systems of law.
LO4.
Analyse real or hypothetical situations and identify the doctrinal and normative issues as they arise in international human rights law, Australian constitutional law and anti-discrimination law.
LO5.
Undertake advanced research in the field of law and religion.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation, Poster |
Oral Presentation
|
20% |
Each student will present on a specific topic covered in a particular week of the course. Topics will be set out on the Blackboard site with the dates on which they are to be presented. The topics will vary each week, and allocations will be made in the first seminar (Week 1) of the course. |
| Quiz |
Quiz
|
20% |
Week 9
This is a closed-book, in-person quiz. Students will have 30 minutes to answer the questions. |
| Essay/ Critique, Examination, Reflection |
End-of-semester Examination
|
60% |
End of Semester Exam Period 8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025 |
Assessment details
Oral Presentation
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Presentation, Poster
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
Each student will present on a specific topic covered in a particular week of the course. Topics will be set out on the Blackboard site with the dates on which they are to be presented. The topics will vary each week, and allocations will be made in the first seminar (Week 1) of the course.
- Other conditions
- Student specific, Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Students are required to deliver a short presentation on a specific feature or dimension of a religion. There will be deductions (1 mark per 15 seconds) for exceeding the stipulated time limit.
Topics will be set out on the Blackboard site with the dates on which they are to be presented. The topics will vary each week, and allocations will be made in the first seminar (Week 1) of the course.
Each presentation must be accompanied by one e-poster (eg, one PowerPoint slide) and a list of references (bibliography).
Students should be aware that, according to UQ policy, the presentations will be recorded.
After each presentation, there is an opportunity for questions from fellow students and lecturers. Responses to these questions will form part of the overall mark. This is to ensure authenticity and the level of knowledge and understanding of the topic.
The material covered in the oral presentations is not necessarily assessable content for the final exam. However, it will hopefully broaden your knowledge and enhance your understanding of the relationship between law and religion. It is an enhancement of the course content. Whilst this task rewards good research and effective oral communication, it also allows and encourages you to be creative and innovative.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) provides emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct .
Submission guidelines
Each presentation must be accompanied by one e-poster (eg, one PowerPoint slide) and a Word file containing a reference list (bibliography). Students must send their e-poster and bibliography to the course coordinator's email at least 2 hours before the class.
After each presentation, there is an opportunity for questions from fellow students and lecturers. Responses to these questions will form part of the overall mark.
Presentations will be recorded.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
The following penalties apply to late submission of an assessment item, assuming that an extension has not been approved, and that late submission is academically possible (e.g., it does not delay feedback to a cohort, or interfere with course delivery).
First 7 periods of 24 hours (or part thereof) - 10% per 24 hours of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item. For example, a report worth a maximum of 40 marks, submitted 28 hours late will attract a penalty of 8 marks, calculated as 2 periods of 24 hours x 10% x 40 marks.
More than 7 periods of 24 hours - 100%.
Quiz
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
Week 9
This is a closed-book, in-person quiz. Students will have 30 minutes to answer the questions.
- Other conditions
- Time limited, Secure.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04
Task description
The quiz consists of multiple-choice and/or true or false questions. The quiz will cover all topics from Weeks 1 to 8 and will take place in person during the Week 9 seminar. This is a closed-book assessment. Students will have 30 minutes to answer the questions.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
End-of-semester Examination
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique, Examination, Reflection
- Weight
- 60%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
- Other conditions
- Time limited, Secure.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
This is a time-limited Reflective Essay (in-person final exam). The exam consists of two or more questions, but students can choose which question to answer. Students need to answer only one question. The student will adopt a comparative, religious, and/or legal analysis to answer the question. There are no word limits for the final exam.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Open book examination - any written or printed material is permitted; material may be annotated |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 19 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 20 - 47 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 48 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
A full statement of marking criteria and standards will be provided to the students closer to the date of these assessments.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 12 |
Seminar |
Weekly 3-hour Seminar Weekly topics:
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Additional learning activity information
Please, be aware that the Seminars are not recorded.
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: