Philosophy: Joint Degrees

• a chance to explore the ideas that shape the way we think and live
  
  
• supportive tutors delivering a forward-looking programme in a friendly environment
  
  
• a valuable path towards employment, further education and professional training

• Read Philosophy course information (PDF, file size: 241.41KB)

'Enjoyable and Rewarding ... the analytical and argumentative skills I developed gave me an excellent grounding for my current career' Tom Northcote, former student and Procurement Specialist with the Department of Health.

"Tutors put great effort is put into making links among the subjects' Richard Boulton, current student.

"A fun and lively course and I was put at ease by friendly lecturers... I have secured a job where I am using logical and structured reasoning on a day to day basis, proving what a versatile course Philosophy is." Emma Bushe, West Midlands Police Department.

The Philosophy joint award encourages you to explore and challenge the assumptions that construct the way we think about a wide range of themes important to our understanding of the world and our place within it, such as truth, technology, language and the visual image. At the same time, you will be able to engage with the history of philosophy from the Ancient Greeks to the contemporary thought.

Students on the joint honours can select modules to give real depth and integrity to the available degree combinations. For example, there are modules on extracting and analysing the philosophical ideas that underpin everyday activities such as voting in elections, making ethical choices as a consumer living in a technological age or watching movies. Some modules develop understanding of visual modes of thinking, for instance in photography, film and art; others examine the philosophy of literature and narrative. Central to all of this will be a series of modules in which you will be able to study in depth some of the most important and thought provoking texts from the history of philosophy.

Most modules are taught through lectures (which introduce key ideas and methods) and small group seminars (intensive discussion). The assessment of modules is normally by written work, such as essays; there are very few examinations.

You will develop a range of skills in critical and creative thinking, communication, problem analysis and solution, planning and collaboration. You will be a confident and skilled thinker and communicator. All these are skills highly prized by employers and have led our students to careers in business, law, teaching, management, and the Civil Service, among others.

You may study two main subjects or areas, leading to a joint honours award. The award includes two equally weighed subjects, e.g. BA(Hons) Modern History and English. Alternatively you can study one subject as a major and one as a minor, e.g. BA(Hons) English with Sociology, where English makes up approximately two thirds of your programme of study.

Initially, you simply select the award code for the two subjects, and follow a joint honours programme. You don't need to choose a major until the end of Level 4 (or, on some awards, Level 5). Choosing to study a joint award gives you the freedom to broaden your knowledge base and offers you space to choose the subject you wish to concentrate on. Studying more than one subject for your degree means you don't necessarily have to specialise - you can keep your options open career wise and gain more skills.

Creative Writing - WV85 

English Literature - VQ53 

International History - VV25

Modern History - VV51

Sociology - LV35 

• Ethics, Philosophy and Society
  

• BA(Hons) Philosophy Programme Specification (PDF, file size: 108.28KB)

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