1. Study
2. Undergraduate
3. Courses
4. Philosophy

About This Course

Fact File

• Title

  Arts

• Code

  Subject available through multiple programmes.

• Subject Title

  Philosophy

• College

  Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences

• Duration

  3 or 4 years

• Qualifications

  BA (Hons)

• Fees

  See Fees and Costs for full details.

• Entry Requirements

  See Requirements for full details.

Course Outline

Studying Philosophy at University College Cork will expose you to the most important philosophical ideas, thinkers and frameworks – ancient and modern, western and eastern – enabling you to address contemporary problems in a globalised context.

In a friendly and supportive environment, you will learn to master complex material and apply it to concrete problems, to develop cogent and clear arguments and present them in professional contexts.

Philosophy at UCC has particular strengths in moral and political philosophy, as well as in philosophy of mind, body and action. Its greatest strength, however, is its commitment to pluralism and interdisciplinarity, which combines these fields with research and teaching in Aesthetics; Comparative Continental European and Asian Philosophy;  Philosophy of Science;  Philosophy of Economics; and Metaphysics and Epistemology. 

Year 1 Modules

PH1001 Introduction to Philosophy (15 credits): This may change from year to year, but is intended as an introductory survey covering some of the following areas:

• Ethics and Political Philosophy
• Metaphysics
• Philosophy of Mind
• Phenomenology

Year 2 Modules

Students taking 30 or more credits of Philosophy must take Reasoning and Argument and then at least one module from each of the following three groups:

Group	Modules
Group 1: Metaphysics & Mind	Philosophy of Mind, Knowledge and Reality; Philosophy of Science, Agency and Rationality; Phenomenology
Group 2: Value Theory	Political Philosophy; Applied Ethics; Violence and War; Feminist Philosophy; Philosophy of Art
Group 3: Comparative & Historical	History of Philosophy 1 & 2; Chinese Philosophy; Great Books in Philosophy; Continental Philosophy

Students taking fewer than 30 credits of Philosophy may take any combination of modules.

 

Year 3 Modules

All students must take at least two modules from each of the following three groups:

Group	Modules
Group 1: Metaphysics & Mind	Mind and Machine; Social Reality; Free Will and Human Nature; Philosophy of Language
Group 2: Value Theory	Responsibility; Moral Psychology; Professional Ethics; Philosophy of Education, Displacement and the Home
Group 3: Comparative & Historical	History of Philosophy 3 & 4; Korean Philosophy; Japanese Philosophy; Political Philosophy in Theory and Practice

Year 3 students may also choose the option of completing an extended essay under the close supervision of one member of the teaching staff.

 

Note: Specific module offerings may vary from year to year. Please see the Department of Philosophy webpage here for up-to-date information on course content.

See the Academic Calendar (BA Arts) for more information on BA content.

Course Practicalities

Expected lecture hours

In Year 1 you will have three hours of lectures a week, plus one hour of tutorials. In Years 2 and 3 all modules are two hours per week. 

Expected reading hours

You will be expected to read somewhere in the region of 25 to 35 pages per week per module.

Assessment

Written exams will take place at the end of each semester. Not all modules will have formal examinations. Many modules use other types of assessment including in-class tests, attendance, and participation during tutorials etc.

In Years 2 and 3, all courses are assessed by a mix of continuous assessment and exams. The exam will be either at the end of the first semester, or at the end of the academic year.

Who teaches this course

Our teaching staff is drawn from the Department of Philosophy. Tutorials are conducted by our PhD students, closely supervised by the lecturers in the Department.

Why Choose This Course

UCC’s philosophy department has a unique commitment to pluralism (in terms of historical periods studied, methodologies used, and the traditions from many different geographic locations), and to interdisciplinary collaboration with other academic areas.

Apart from standard issues in the western philosophical tradition, Philosophy at UCC has particular strengths in Comparative and East-Asian Philosophy, as well as in Political Philosophy.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

Study abroad

If you are studying Philosophy through BA International, you will spend Year 3 studying at one of our partner universities abroad. We currently have links with universities in Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden Mexico, and the USA.

Work placement

If you study Philosophy through the BA or the BA International, you will have the opportunity to avail of a work placement in Year 2. See our Go Abroad with UCC page here.

Skills and Careers Information

Critical thinking and clear, analytical writing are the most important skills students of philosophy will acquire. These skills have immediate practical applications in a range of professions, such as law, teaching, journalism, business and management.

Philosophy graduates are most sought after in the fields of finance, health, social work and business.

Requirements

Refer to CK101 and CK108.

Mature entry applicants: Find out about the mature entry requirements here.

Fees and Costs

Refer to CK101 and CK108.

How Do I Apply

Refer to CK101 and CK108. Students choose Arts subjects when registering for first year.