About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: V500
- Applications: UCAS
- Level: Undergraduate
- Tariff points: 320
- Department: Arts
- Campus: St Matthias
- Duration: Three years full-time
- Delivery: Part-time, Full-time.
- Study Abroad: Yes
- Programme leader: Dr John Sellars
- Key fact: UWE Philosophy achieved an amazing 100% overall course satisfaction with 97% satisfaction for Teaching on the course in the 2011 National Student Survey.
Introduction
The Philosophy programme at UWE offers an exciting and distinctive course of study, examining the big questions; that shape our lives and underpin all other academic disciplines; questions about the nature of existence, knowledge, truth, beauty, justice, and goodness.
We explore these questions directly but one of the distinctive features of Philosophy at UWE is its broad historical range. Students have the opportunity to see the way in which philosophers have tackled these questions from the earliest beginnings of the subject in Ancient Greece, through Plato and Aristotle, later ancient philosophy, medieval philosophy, early modern philosophers such as Descartes and, Hume, Kant, nineteenth century German philosophers such as Nietzsche, and twentieth century and contemporary debates.
This breadth gives students a substantial foundation for their own philosophical work, which they can explore in depth during a dissertation project. Throughout the course students are encouraged to tackle the big philosophical problems for themselves, critically engaging with some of the greatest minds and most complex texts in Western thought.
Staff are enthusiastic and passionate about philosophy, and all engage in their own research projects, which often feed back into teaching, keeping the curriculum fresh and exciting.
Find out more about what Philosophy at UWE has to offer in terms of teaching quality, staff expertise and your student experience.
Student's view
I cannot praise the staff in the philosophy department highly enough - they are engaging, enthusiastic, friendly and supportive and their commitment to their subject and students makes UWE a fantastic place to study. Charlotte, BA(Hons) Philosophy
Structure
Content
Philosophy at UWE offers a distinctive and diverse course of study, from pre-socratic and medieval to groundbreaking contemporary philosophy, and everything interesting and topical in between. The course provides a solid foundation in the central issues of philosophy and students are encouraged to create a unique path of study depending on their interests and strengths.
Level one
At level one, students take four modules:
Ancient Philosophy
This module offers an introduction to the very beginnings of Western philosophy, looking at some of the very earliest Greek philosophers – such as Heraclitus and Parmenides – before moving on to examine in detail the central ideas of Plato and Aristotle. We shall consider a wide range of problems in physics (including the nature of time, infinity, and void), metaphysics, and ethics.
Reason and Knowledge
What counts as a good argument? How do we distinguish between good and bad arguments? What is a fallacy? What’s the difference between an inductive and deductive argument? In the first half of this module we shall answer all of these questions and more, giving you the skills essential for the rest of your degree. In the second half we shall move on to consider some central problems in epistemology, looking closely at arguments put forward by Descartes and Hume.
Problems of the Self
In this module we shall explore a range of topics connected to the nature of the self, such as consciousness, the relationship between mind and body, self-knowledge, the relationship between self and world, personal identity, and human nature.
The Death of God and the Meaning of Life
Nietzsche famously said that God is dead and that he died in the eighteenth century. He was referring to Kant’s demolition of traditional attempts to prove with reason the existence of God. In this module we shall explore the reactions to Kant in nineteenth century philosophy - if we cannot prove the existence of God does the world become meaningless? - can faith offer us knowledge of God if reason cannot? - followed by an introduction to the central themes of twentieth century existentialism, which grew out of these debates.
Level two
At level two students take two compulsory modules:
Metaphysics
Described by Aristotle as 'first philosophy', metaphysics is the foundation of philosophy, exploring the nature of existence itself. This module examines questions about the nature of reality, substance, universals and particulars, space and time, mind and world.
Kant
Without doubt the greatest of modern philosophers, Immanuel Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason is his greatest book, a tour de force exploration of what we can and cannot know by the use of pure reason alone. We might be confident that by reason alone we can know that 2+2=4, but can we by reason alone prove the existence of God? These are the questions Kant addresses and his discussion has shaped the direction of philosophy ever since.
Students also select two modules from the following list:
- Ethics
- Hellenistic Philosophy
- Nineteenth Century German Philosophy
- Contemporary Political Philosophy
Level three
At level three you take four philosophy modules, one of which is normally a Philosophy Project. You will then choose three further modules from the Philosophy list. These include:
- Advanced Philosophical Texts
- Philosophy of Mind
- Medieval Philosophy
- Contemporary Continental Philosophy
- Film and Philosophy
- Ethical Issues in Politics
Hear what our students think about their time at UWE.
Teaching and learning
Our aim is to develop students as independent learners. You will experience lectures, seminars, workshops, and independent project work.
Philosophy Staff are accessible and always eager to meet with students. Students receive regular feedback on their work and are asked to provide regular feedback on their modules. They also have the opportunity to join a staff-student committee in which they can raise any issues arising from the course.
The University provides a specialist Student Adviser service to help with everything from ensuring that you are enrolled on the correct modules, to paying fees. There is also a Student Counselling Service.
Find out more about our academic staff, their teaching expertise and research interests.
Assessment
Assessment usually takes the form of a mixture of essay coursework and formal examinations. Some modules use oral presentations or independent project work.
Special Features
Placements
We have partnerships with international universities via the Erasmus scheme which offers you the opportunity to study abroad for all or part of your second year. In the past our students have spent time studying in partnership universities in Finland, Poland, Slovenia, France, Germany, and Spain.
We also offer you the chance to study abroad in your second year at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, USA.
Philosophy society
UWE has a thriving, student-run Philosophy Society that hosts numerous social and academic activities both on and off campus throughout the year.
Study facilities
Philosophy is taught at our St Matthias campus.
Careers/further study
Philosophy graduates secure work in diverse and wide-ranging field such as teaching, the creative industries, not-for-profit organisations, the civil service, and academic research. A critical mind, excellent analytical and argumentation skills, alongside a solid grounding in ethics means that philosophy graduates are also more and more sought after in the fields of business and finance, health, and social work. In fact, the broad range of transferable skills that philosophy students acquire makes them very attractive to employers.
Many students also progress to postgraduate study in philosophy, law and other postgraduate level courses.
Graduate destinations
Find out what our graduates are doing six months after graduating- includes examples of careers, employers and further study. Download a PDF from graduate destinations.
Creating employable students
UWE places strong emphasis on employability and skills development at every level. Through work placements, volunteering, study abroad and UWE initiatives which nurture talent and encourage innovation, students gain valuable real world experience and graduate with diverse career opportunities and a competitive place in the job market.
See great graduate prospects for further information.
Be inspired
Hear about Vashti's work in setting up Deki, a charity helping to reduce poverty in the developing world.
Useful links
UWE - graduate occupations
Guardian - the rise in stock of Philosophy graduates
New York Times - in a new generation of students, many opt for the life examined
McNeese University - the benefits of a Philosophy degree
The UWE careers service provides guidance and support throughout your studies in addition to useful resources, CV checks, career coaching and details of current job vacancies.
Entry
Typical offers
- Tariff points: 320
- GCSE: English Language at grade C or above required.
- Specific subjects: None specified
- Access: Achievement of the Access to HE Diploma; achievement of level 2 credits in English Language.
Advice on typical offers
In addition to the 'typical offer' given here, please read the general information about entry requirements.
How to apply
Please see the general information about applications.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011