Course overview
This course gives you a rigorous training in analytic philosophy. You will gain important skills in clear thinking, argument and communication, and knowledge of some main areas of philosophical thought. You will take a combination of compulsory and optional modules, mainly from those offered by the Department of Philosophy but also with a choice of subsidiary modules from outside the Department, particularly in your first and second years.
The course at Nottingham aims to introduce you to the main arguments and concepts of modern analytic philosophy as well as offering you the opportunity to study modules from a range of specialist areas within philosophy. The optional modules available to students in a given year will change, depending, in part, on the staff members we have available and their research interests.
You also have the opportunity to study abroad for one or two semesters of their course.
Year one
You will be introduced to the subject through a series of core modules in central philosophical problems and you will also be able to choose optional modules.
Year two
There is one core module, which will build on material studied in year one, to give you a solid grounding in some of the key concepts, theories, and arguments required to understand the main areas of analytic philosophy. You will always choose from a variety of optional modules that allow you to develop and broaden your philosophical skills and knowledge.
Year three
There will be free choice from a wide variety of more advanced modules, including the opportunity to write a dissertation on a topic of your own choosing.
Entry requirements
A levels: A*AB/A*AC/A*BB, plus C in maths at GCSE
We do not require any particular A-level subjects to study single honours Philosophy, and we are happy to accept most A-level qualifications. However, we are looking for a combination of A-level subjects that shows you are prepared to embark on degree-level study of Philosophy; this requires the capacity to make sense of often difficult material, think critically about the different arguments and ideas you encounter, and communicate the results of your thinking in written and verbal form. Certain A-levels – those sometimes called ‘academic’ or ‘traditional’ subjects – are better preparation for a Philosophy degree than their vocational counterparts, because they will help you to start developing these skills. Therefore we recommend that no more than one of the following is used in applying for entry to single honours Philosophy:
• Art
• Art and Design
• Ceramics
• Citizenship Studies
• Communication and Culture
• Communication Studies
• Dance
• Design and Technology
• Economics and Business
• Home Economics
• Leisure Studies
• Music Technology
• Performance Studies
• Photography
• Physical Education
• Textiles
• Theatre Studies
• Travel and Tourism
We do accept General Studies for entry to this degree programme. However, while we do not consider it to be a 'vocational’ subject, we think it is less useful as preparation for degree-level study than other A-level subjects.
• Assessment of your application: if you apply to us with General Studies, you must also be studying at least two more 'academic' subjects at A-level, and you must be predicted at least a B in both subjects.
• Satisfying your offer: if we then make you an offer, General Studies can be included as one of your grades, either with one 'academic' and one 'vocational, subject, or with two 'academic' subjects.
Please feel free to contact the department for further advice.
English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element)
TOEFL iBT 100 (no less than 21 in listening and writing, 22 in reading and 23 in speaking)
Alternative qualifications
For details please see the alternative qualifications page
Modules
The modules we offer are inspired by the research interests of our staff and as a result, may change from year to year. The following list is therefore subject to change but should give you a flavour of the modules we offer.
Year-one modules
The core modules in year one are:
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Elementary Logic
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Locke, Appearance and Reality
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Moral Philosophy
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Reasoning and Argument: An Introduction to Philosophical Method
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Self, Mind and Body
The optional philosophy modules on offer change each year depending on which staff are teaching, but modules taught in recent years include:
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Plato
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Issues in Feminist Philosophy
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Reasons for Action
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Applied Ethics
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Philosophy of Religion
Year-two modules
The core module in year two is:
The optional modules in year two are:
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Epistemology
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History of Philosophy
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Metaphysics
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Normative Ethics
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Philosophy of Mind
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Political Philosophy
Year-three modules
There are no core modules in year three, instead, students can choose from a range of specialist modules in Philosophy, with the option of a dissertation. The modules on offer will vary depending on which staff are teaching, but modules on offer in recent years include:
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Advanced Logic
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Environmental Ethics
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Free Will and Action
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Issues of Indeterminism
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Marx
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Merleau-Ponty
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Metaethics
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Naming and Necessity
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Narrative, Language, and Mind
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Reality, Representation, and Truth
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Philosophy of Art
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Philosophy of Science
Skills and careers
You will graduate with a broad knowledge of a variety of philosophical theories. You will also have developed skills in independent thinking and study, and the ability to communicate your ideas clearly and precisely. You will be able to abstract, analyse, and construct logical arguments, and to recognise the strengths and weaknesses on both sides of a philosophical debate.
Average starting salary
The average starting salary for 2009/10 full-time graduates of the Department of Philosophy was £18,359.38.*
*Average starting salary from known destinations of first-degree leavers who studied full-time, 2009/10.