BA Philosophy and Politics

Program Overview

This joint honors degree in BA Philosophy and Politics at the University of Reading provides a comprehensive exploration of fundamental philosophical concepts and political theories. Through interactive seminars, students develop critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills highly valued in diverse career paths, including law, management, and journalism. The program offers opportunities for work placements and study abroad, enhancing students' practical experience and global perspectives.

Program Outline

Studying philosophy at the University of Reading will equip you with the ability to think logically, to evaluate arguments critically, and to challenge your own ideas and those of other people. We will give you an understanding of the central principles, concepts, problems, texts and figures of philosophy. You will be taught by leading experts whose research strengths lie especially in moral philosophy and the philosophy of the mind and language. Your first year will introduce you to the general skills required for all philosophy. In your second and final years you will have the opportunity to explore your chosen subjects in more depth, with modules such as Contemporary Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Crime and Punishment and the History of Political Philosophy. You will also have the chance to examine non-Western philosophies, such as Indian philosophy. By studying politics you will acquire a strong grounding in fundamental elements of the subject such as political ideas and democratic processes. You can study a wide range of specialist core and optional modules, which cover topics such as British government and politics, European political integration, and political thinking. You will be taught in small interactive seminar groups, encouraging discussion and debate with teaching staff and fellow students. Our small class sizes ensure you will receive dedicated, individual attention. All students are encouraged to undertake a work placement, and there is the opportunity to study abroad in your second or final year. We are ranked in the top 125 universities in the world for Arts and Humanities and those offering History, Philosophy and Theology’. (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024.)

Outline:

Year 1

• Reason and Argument
• Great Works in Philosophy
• Introduction to Contemporary Democracy
• Politics of Climate Change
• Introduction to Political Ideas

Year 2

• The Study of Politics
• Comparative Government and Politics
• OR
• Political Classics
• Ethical Argument
• Oppression, Inequality, and the Enemies of Democracy
• Meaning and the Mind
• Global Philosophies
• Aesthetics
• Philosophy through the Ages: The Minds that Shaped our World
• Ignorance, Doubt, and Relativism
• Global Order
• Political Thinking
• American Government and Politics
• The Media and Politics
• British Government and Politics
• War, Peace and International Ethics

Year 3

• Dissertation in Philosophy
• OR
• Dissertation in Politics
• OR
• Independent Learning Module
• Free Will and Responsibility
• Philosophy of Language: Animals, Babies, Colours, and Language Death
• Early Chinese Philosophy
• Current Moral Philosophy
• Fairness
• Business Ethics and Social Responsibility
• Society and State in Ancient Greece
• The Scandal of Film
• Hume and Wittgenstein
• Speech Attacks: Bullshit, Lies, Propaganda
• Paradoxes
• Metaphysics
• Philosophy of Religion
• War, Peace and International Ethics
• Karl Marx
• Risk
• Politics and International Relations of the Middle East
• The Politics of Nuclear Weapons
• International Political Economy
• Feminism and Political Theory
• Democracy, Division and Disagreement
• US Foreign Policy

Teaching:

You will be taught in small interactive seminar groups, encouraging discussion and debate with teaching staff and fellow students. Our small class sizes ensure you will receive dedicated, individual attention.

Careers:

Throughout your degree you will have the opportunity to complete career-related modules. Studying philosophy will enable you to develop a range of transferable skills in clear thinking, logical analysis and the critical assessment of argument. Such skills are greatly valued in a variety of professional careers such as law, politics, management and marketing. Overall, 89% of graduates from the Department of Politics and International Relations are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation [1]. Past students have put their political analysis skills to direct use in the home and European civil services, political research units, think tanks, non-governmental organisations and journalism. Other graduates have found employment in the civil service, journalism, consultancy, finance, local and central government, and previous employers have included the Ministry of Defence, Cambridge University Press, local authorities and other universities. Some graduates choose to continue their studies at postgraduate level, or through conversion courses and teacher training. [1] Based on our analysis of HESA data (c) HESA 2023, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020/21 includes all Politics and International Relations responders.

Other:

All students are encouraged to undertake a work placement, and there is the opportunity to study abroad in your second or final year.

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250 New international students: £22,350