Philosophy

 

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Philosophy attempts to understand and critically explore questions concerning the nature of reality (what really exists?), value (what is goodness?) and experience (what is meaning?).

As a Philosophical Studies student at Newcastle, you explore the ideas and arguments of major philosophers from the Western tradition, and engage with theories and arguments from the major branches of philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of the mind and ethics.

You also explore general topics such as the existence of God, the nature of existence, truth, time, causality, free will, mind and body, meaning, goodness and beauty, as well as topics that arise in particular areas of human enquiry, such as the natural sciences, language, politics, religion, the arts and applied ethics. 

Why Choose Newcastle?

  • Set your own research agenda on a particular topic through our project module, resulting in an extended dissertation reflecting your individual interests.
  • Benefit from the wide-ranging expertise of our staff, who have backgrounds in philosophy, natural and social sciences, and the arts.
  • Make the most of cutting-edge teaching facilities – our teaching rooms have a full suite of multimedia technologies, which are used to enhance our teaching. We also offer bespoke IT modules to familiarise you with the latest computer packages.
  • Choose from science, arts and social science optional modules at each Stage – popular choices include languages, politics, English, sociology and history of art – though the full range is much broader.
  • Take advantage of our strong relationship with potential employers, who have visited Philosophical Studies specifically to recruit our students.

Teaching and Assessment

The programme is structured around lecture-based modules, presenting the key concepts of philosophical and scientific thought. On average, you attend five lectures per week, although you will be expected to supplement this with a substantial amount of private study including project work. Project work allows you to study a particular topic relevant to the ideas being studied in more depth.

You will also take part in a number of project seminars, which integrate all aspects of the programme and provide the opportunity to debate abstract concepts in a practical context. You will attend five seminars on average each week. Your work in each module is assessed through course work and you are expected to produce around five pieces of written work each term. Assessment is entirely based on course work in the form of essays and the yearly project dissertation.

Careers

Although Philosophical Studies is generally considered to be a non-vocational degree, employers will value the specific skills that the study of philosophy develops and how you link these to the requirements of jobs.

The study of philosophy helps you to develop the ability to analyse and construct sound arguments, think logically and critically about ideas and issues, communicate clearly and persuasively, and generate solutions to problems.

You also gain crucial employability skills sought by graduate employers, including independent study and self-motivation, the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines, flexibility, creativity, the ability to identify, absorb and sift complex information, teamwork, and applications of information technology.

Throughout the course you will be encouraged to develop a personal portfolio of knowledge and skills in a field best matching your tastes and abilities. This will provide you with an opportunity to get acquainted with the work environment in an area of employment of interest to you.

Philosophical Studies graduates are found working with almost every type of employer in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Typical employers include the National Health Service, Civil Service, law firms, charities, publishing and advertising. Some graduates will continue to Masters level studies. Popular choices include law, journalism and media.

The School liaises closely with the University’s Careers Service to support you throughout your studies. Through the excellent links forged with regional and national employers, many companies visit the campus to give presentations, attend job fairs and carry out interviews. Some employers are also actively involved in work-related course projects and modules.

To find out more about how the University's award-winning Careers Service can help you make the most of your time in Newcastle and prepare you for life after graduation, go to: www.ncl.ac.uk/careers
 

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