This course offers pupils the option to study topics that are both engaging and at times a cause of controversy. It will be a challenge to pupils both intellectually and personally, and will help them develop key skills in the analysis and evaluation of sources and arguments, as well as providing personal opinions with sound justification. An important aspect of this course is developing the ability to see and assess arguments from another person's perspective. This is an important life skill that is not often emphasised in other curricular areas.

This course is appropriate for pupils looking to go into specific areas like Medicine, Politics, Philosophy and Religious Studies, as well as careers that involve working with the public, for example with the Police, Teaching, Nursing, and Social Work.

We would recommend that pupils aiming to do the Higher course have a credit pass in English or in language-based subjects like History or Modern Studies. Similarly, those wishing to do Intermediate 2 should be working at a good general pass in these areas.

The units covered in the Higher/Intermediate 2 course are:

Morality in the Modern World	The two areas of this unit are: A unit on Ethical Theory which examines philosophical approaches to morality A unit on Medical Ethics which examines the issues of Euthanasia and Genetic Engineering
World Religion	This unit comprises an in-depth study of the religion of Buddhism - the only large religion in the world that does not believe in a creator God. It will look at the core beliefs of Buddhism and how they differ in practice around the world.
Christianity: Belief and Science	This unit tackles the age-old argument between science and religion, specifically Christianity. It will examine different approaches to the conflict, including views from scientific materialist, liberal Christian and Creationist stances.

Each unit is equally weighted and pupils will have to pass all three of the internal assessments as well as the final exam for full SQA credit.