Philosophy MA - CKE53 (full-time), CKE57 (part-time)

This course offers you a rare chance to study Western as well as Eastern philosophy at postgraduate level. For one year, you will be involved in the study of different philosophical concepts, theories and approaches to issues concerning the mind and consciousness, action and politics, ethics and aesthetics, society and culture, globalism, power, territory and many more.

As an MA student, you will have the chance during the spring and summer months to put this to work in a sustained piece of independent research.

You can take any five modules of your choice. The modules are specifically designed to provide an overview of current work in a particular area and are aimed at first-year postgraduate students. They each involve set readings and writing assignments. It is expected that you will already be (broadly) familiar with some key philosophical concepts or approaches on starting this course. If you feel that you have some holes to fill, you can ask your lecturer to suggest some introductory readings.

For further details and module descriptions, see the Postgraduate College Calendar

Applicants will normally hold at least a Second Class Honours/Grade I primary degree (or equivalent) in philosophy. Students with degrees in cognate areas (such as social sciences, psychology, theology etc.) may be considered. Applicants who are not fully qualified may need to take a MA Qualifying Degree or Higher Diploma in Arts.

The Additional/Supplementary Statement form MUST also be completed as part of the application selection process.

Application for this programme is on-line at www.pac.ie/ucc (course codes CKE53 Full-time, CKE57 part-time). For full details of the application procedure click How to Apply.

Please note you will be required to answer specific additional/supplementary questions as part of the online applications process for this programme. A copy of these additional/supplementary questions are available to view here:- CKE53AdditionalQuestions (263kB)

All required supporting documentation (e.g. completed supplementary form, evidence of non-UCC undergraduate/postgraduate qualifications) must be UPLOADED via the PAC "Application Status" link or sent in hard copy to The Postgraduate Applications Centre, 1, Courthouse Square, Galway (marked with the applicants PAC application number)

This is a one year, full-time or two year, part-time taught course. In your modules, you will study and discuss philosophy, improve your writing skills and acquire familiarity with relevant concepts and authors so that later you will be able to undertake your dissertation with confidence.

During the two teaching periods (September to March), you will take five taught modules (10 credits each). During the second teaching period (January to March), you will write the literature review (10 credits). After the teaching periods from April to September, you will write a minor dissertation of up to 15,000 words (30 credits).

Modules are assessed by written essays and there are no final exams. During the second teaching period (January-March), you will prepare a detailed review of relevant literature under the direction of a staff member. The literature review is written in preparation for your minor dissertation. The grade for the MA is based on assessment for modules, literature review and minor dissertation, with a total of 1,800 marks awarded. Each taught module counts for 200 marks (1,000 in total), the literature review also counts for 200 marks, and the minor dissertation for 600 marks. Taught modules are assessed by written work totalling 5,000 words, which may take the form of more than one piece of work.

Professor Graham Parkes — comparative philosophy (French, German, Chinese, Japanese), environmental philosophy, philosophy of art

Dr Vittorio Bufacchi —political philosophy (especially social justice), moral theory, social contract theories, liberalism and socialism

Dr Julia Jansen — Kant, phenomenology, aesthetics, consciousness studies

Dr H-G. Moeller — Chinese philosophy, East-West comparative philosophy, systems theory, theory of society

Dr Alfred Moore — political theory, democratic theory, sociology of science, technology and environment, democratic institutions

Dr Cara Nine — normative ethics, international justice, political philosophy, applied ethics

Dr Lilian O’Brien — philosophy of mind, metaphysics, epistemology

Dr Joel Walmsley — philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, cognitive science

For further details of Staff Research Profiles, click HERE

Dr Hans-Georg Moeller
Graduate Studies Director
Email: h.moeller@ucc.ie
Tel: +353 (0)21 490 2566