BA Philosophy

Example structure
Studying at Essex is about discovering yourself, so your course combines compulsory and optional modules to make sure you gain key knowledge in the discipline, while having as much freedom as possible to explore your own interests. Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field, therefore to ensure your course is as relevant and up-to-date as possible your core module structure may be subject to change.
For many of our courses you’ll have a wide range of optional modules to choose from – those listed in this example structure are just a selection of those available. The opportunity to take optional modules will depend on the number of core modules within any year of the course. In many instances, the flexibility to take optional modules increases as you progress through the course.
Our Programme Specification gives more detail about the structure available to our current first-year students, including details of all optional modules.
Year 1
Introduction to Philosophy
Death, God and the Meaning of Life (optional)
The Enlightenment (optional)
Critical Reasoning and Logical Argument (optional)
Skills for University Studies
Year 2
Knowledge & Reality
Modern Social and Political Thought
Ethics (optional)
Texts in Practical Philosophy (optional)
Texts in the Philosophy of Religion (optional)
Phenomenology and Existentialism (optional)
Philosophy and Medical Ethics (optional)
Ancient Philosophy (optional)
Beyond the BA: Skills for the Next Step
Final year
Research in Critical Theory (optional)
Research on German Idealism (optional)
Knowledge & Reality (optional)
19th Century Continental Philosophy
Freud and the Philosophy of the Unconscious (optional)
Nietzsche (optional)
Kant's Revolution in Philosophy (optional)
Philosophy Dissertation (optional)
Year abroad
On your year abroad, you have the opportunity to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised. The rest of your course remains identical to the three-year degree.
Teaching
Teaching takes the form of lectures and seminar sessions or discussion classes
Seminars allow your lecturer to explain new arguments and ideas, while giving sufficient time for questions and collective discussion and debate
We believe that discussion is the lifeblood of philosophy, and we try to keep our classes as small as we can for this purpose
Assessment
Usually assessed by 2,000-3,000 word essays
Most modules weighted 50% coursework and 50% exams
In your second- and third-years of philosophy modules, you may write an optional essay if you wish, in order to improve your coursework mark
First year marks do not count towards your degree class
Final-year students may carry out an optional dissertation
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