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Study Philosophy at Otago

Library bookshelf

Overview

The questions which philosophers discuss are so basic and so general that at some time or other most people have come across them. Philosophy is the attempt to assess the foundations of our beliefs and the principles we live by.

The basic questions of philosophy connect with almost every subject taught at university, so 100-level Philosophy papers are a useful part of any degree. Higher level Philosophy papers examine the foundations of many disciplines including the sciences, mind and language, religion, ethics, politics and logic.

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Contact details

Email philosophy@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/philosophy

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Qualifications

Papers

See the full list of Philosophy (PHIL) papers.

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Programme Requirements

Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Philosophy

Level Papers Points
100-level Two 100-level PHIL papers 36
200-level

Two 200-level PHIL papers

One further PHIL paper at 200-level or above

One of GEND 201  Introduction to Feminist Theory, POLS 202  Theories of Justice, or PSYC 204  Justice, Race and Class, may be substituted for one 200-level PHIL paper

36

18
300-level

Four 300-level PHIL papers (or three 300-level PHIL papers and one 400-level PHIL paper)

One of BITC 301  Bioethics, CLAS 340  Love, Death and the Good Life: Socrates and Plato, or POLS 301  Power and Liberty, may be substituted for one 300-level PHIL paper

 72
Plus

198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above.

Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts

 198
Total   360

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Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Philosophy

Papers

  • PHIL 490  Dissertation

  • Three further papers from 400-level PHIL papers or CLAS 440  Advanced Studies in Socrates and Plato

    Prerequisites: One of PHIL 105  Critical Thinking, or PHIL 222  Introduction to Formal Logic, or equivalent

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Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Philosophy

The Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) programme in Philosophy is the same as the programme for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)).

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Master of Arts (MA) in Philosophy

Thesis

  • Thesis: PHIL 5

Note: Students who have not completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA(Hons)) in Philosophy or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Philosophy must complete the required papers for the BA(Hons) in Philosophy prior to undertaking the thesis.

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Master of Arts (MA) in Philosophy - coursework option

Papers

CLAS 440 may be substituted for one 400-level PHIL paper.

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Minor Subject Requirements

Philosophy as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BHealSc, or BASc degree

Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), or Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) degree

Level Papers Points
100-level Two 100-level PHIL papers

36
200-level

Two 200-level PHIL papers

36
300-level

One 300-level PHIL paper

 18
Total   90

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