Philosophy MA

Program Overview

The University of Liverpool's MA Philosophy program offers a wide range of philosophical topics and expertise, preparing students for doctoral research or a variety of careers. It includes a specialist pathway in Public Policy, emphasizes developing research skills, and provides exposure to frontier research in philosophy. Graduates are equipped with analytical, argumentative, and problem-solving skills highly valued by employers, preparing them for roles in academia, business, the arts, and more.

Program Outline

Philosophy MA - University of Liverpool

Degree Overview:

This MA program provides access to a wide range of philosophical topics and expertise within the Department of Philosophy at the University of Liverpool. It serves as an excellent preparation for doctoral research in philosophy and is also an attractive postgraduate course in itself. The program offers a specialist pathway focusing on public policy, known as MA Philosophy (Public Policy).

Objectives:

• Develop competence and understanding to pursue doctoral research in philosophy.
• Acquire professional skills needed for a broad range of careers.
• Gain exposure to frontier research in philosophy.
• Conduct independent research under the guidance of an academic expert.
• Participate actively in the research activities of the Department.
• Gain confidence and knowledge through being part of the research community.

Outline:

Structure:

• Full-time: 12 months
• Part-time: 24 months

Course Schedule:

• Semester One:
• Compulsory Modules:
• Religion, Ethics and Practical Philosophy (PHIL704) - 30 credits
• M.A.
DISSERTATION (PHIL706) - 60 credits
• Optional Modules:
• AESTHETICS (PHIL716) - 15 credits
• CONSCIOUSNESS (PHIL709) - 15 credits
• Words and Ideas: Realism, Nominalism, and the emergence of the modern concept of the Individual.
(PHIL772) - 15 credits
• Philosophy and Social Change (PHIL771) - 15 credits
• Semester Two:
• Compulsory Modules:
• Metaphysics, Language and Mind (PHIL705) - 30 credits
• M.A.
DISSERTATION (PHIL706) - 60 credits
• Optional Modules:
• METAPHYSICAL AND EPISTEMIC ISSUES IN PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION (PHIL715) - 15 credits
• PHILOSOPHY OF FILM (PHIL757) - 15 credits
• SUBSTANCE AND PROCESS IN INDIAN METAPHYSICS (PHIL726) - 15 credits
• Final Project:
• M.A.
DISSERTATION (PHIL706) - 60 credits

Module Descriptions:

• Religion, Ethics and Practical Philosophy (PHIL704): Introduces current issues in ethics, philosophy of religion, and practical philosophy, as considered by current staff actively researching them.
• AESTHETICS (PHIL716): Facilitates in-depth understanding of central themes of aesthetics and art theory, especially questions about aesthetic judgment, aesthetic experience, and aesthetic value.
• CONSCIOUSNESS (PHIL709): Provides a survey of some of the most significant debates in contemporary philosophy of mind; the topics of consciousness, perception, and artificial intelligence are examined in detail.
• Words and Ideas: Realism, Nominalism, and the emergence of the modern concept of the Individual.
• (PHIL772): Presents some of the disputes between ontological individualism (‘nominalism’), which holds that there are only particular things, and ontological holism (‘Platonism’), which maintains the basic reality of properties, structures, forms, and Ideas.
• Philosophy and Social Change (PHIL771): Explores what philosophy can contribute to our understanding of social change and even social change in practice.
• Metaphysics, Language and Mind (PHIL705): Introduces students to issues in metaphysics, philosophy of language, and philosophy of mind, as these are researched by current staff actively researching them.
• METAPHYSICAL AND EPISTEMIC ISSUES IN PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION (PHIL715): Helps students gain detailed insight into key contemporary debates in the philosophy of religion (predominantly in the Western tradition).
• PHILOSOPHY OF FILM (PHIL757): Considers what it is to think philosophically about the nature of film and critically discusses philosophical approaches to the medium.
• SUBSTANCE AND PROCESS IN INDIAN METAPHYSICS (PHIL726): Familiarizes students with the various traditions of belief and practice associated with ‘Hinduism’ and ‘Buddhism’.

Assessment:

• Primarily through a combination of formative and summative coursework.
• Coursework includes essays, essay plans, research proposals, a reflective journal, and a dissertation.
• Students are also assessed by presentations in certain modules.

Teaching:

• Delivered through a combination of seminars and workshops held on campus.
• Depending on which module options are taken, there may be lectures and separate seminar sessions scheduled.
• Class sizes for master’s programmes in the Department of Philosophy tend to be small, typically including between 8-10 students.

Careers:

• The program equips graduates with general and widely applicable analytical, argumentative, and problem-solving skills valued by employers.
• Potential career destinations include academic Philosophy, business, curating, cultural management, the media, the civil service, and education.

Other:

• The Department of Philosophy is based in the School of the Arts, although teaching will take place across the campus.
• The department has a long history of combining research excellence in core areas of philosophy with innovative work at the frontiers of the discipline.
• The department is ranked 4th in the sector for outstanding (4 ) research impact (REF 2021).
• The department is home to PHILOS-L, the largest Philosophy mailing list in the world, established in 1989.
• The department works with partners in the Bluecoat Gallery, Tate Liverpool, National Museums Liverpool, NHS, and more to inspire thinking and the practices of communities.

UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland) Full-time place, per year £10,800 Part-time place, per year £5,400 International fees Full-time place, per year £22,400 Part-time place, per year £11,200 Fees stated are for the 2024-25 academic year. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support.