The programme is situated in the School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion and draws on some of the strongest aspects within the School in terms of expertise and teaching excellence, including two research centres: The Centre for Global Ethics and the John Hick Centre for the Philosophy of Religion. The programme will allow you to address issues and questions that occur at the ‘borderlands’ between Philosophy and Theology/Religion. In doing so, it will seek to provide you with an understanding and appreciation of key areas in philosophy, ethics, theology and the study of religion, develop your interest in and enthusiasm for critical issues and foster within you good argumentative skills, critical and reflective thinking, and a familiarity with a range of academic methods. Finally, it aims to provide you with the opportunity to engage with the range of expertise and internationally recognised research undertaken within the School.

The First Year: offers students a broad foundation for the academic study of philosophy, religion and ethics. At this stage the modules are mainly compulsory and introduce the broad themes and issues in philosophy, religion and ethics. Single Honours students take the three core modules, a 'module outside the main discipline' (MOMD) and any 40 credits from the optional modules.

Core modules

• Introduction to Study of Religion (T&R 20)    
• Knowledge and Reality (Phil 20)   
• Individual and Society  (Phil 20)  
• MOMD (20)

Optional modules

• Introduction to Islam (T&R 20)
• Contemporary Christianity (T&R 10)
• Introduction to Jewish Studies (T&R 10)
• Introduction to the Study of the Holocaust (T&R 10)
• Global Christianity (T&R 10)

The Second Year: here there is a focus on ‘paradigms of belief’: the different structures, worldviews and systems that inform and direct human life and activity in its global variety. Students are also required in engage in independent study – a short writing and research project in the field of philosophy, religion or ethics. Additionally, there are a range of optional modules - divided into philosophical/ethical and religious/theological streams - so that students can develop their own interests and specializations. Single Honours students take the two core modules and any 80 credits from the optional modules.

Core modules 

• Independent Study (Philosophy or Theology) (20)
• Paradigms of Belief  (Phil 20)    

Optional modules 

• Religion in Contemporary Society (T&R 20) 
• Placement (T&R 20)
• Theological Ethics (T&R 20) 
• Themes in Christian Theology (T&R 20)  
• Islam and the West (T&R 10)
• Hinduism (T&R 10)
• Sikhism (T&R 10)
• Philosophical Texts II (T&R 20)  
• Spinoza (Phil 20)  
• Contemporary Christian Philosophy (Phil 20)  
• Sex, Ethics and Philosophy (Phil 20) 

The Third Year: has one compulsory element: a major module in the philosophy of religion. In addition, like the Second Year, there are a range of optional modules and opportunities for independent study - divided into philosophical/ethical and religious/theological streams. Single Honours students take the compulsory module Philosophy of Religion and any other 100 credits from the optional modules available.

Core modules

• Philosophy of Religion (Phil 20)

Optional modules

• Christian/Muslim Relations (T&R 20)
• Short dissertation (T&R 20)
• Evangelical and Charismatic Theology (T&R 20)
• Intercultural Theology (T&R 20)
• Set Texts A (T&R 10)
• Set Texts B (T&R 10)
• Contemporary Christian Thought (T&R 20)
• Schopenhauer (Phil 20)
• Personhood and the Freedom of the Will (Phil 20)
• Global Bioethics (Phil 20)
• Philosophical Project (Phil 20)
• Virtue Ethics (Phil 20)
• Bible and Sacred Space (T&R 10)
  

  Sarah Edwards, 3rd year BA Philosophy 

 

  

How will I be taught?

As a Birmingham student, you are joining the academic elite and have the privilege of learning from world-leading experts in their fields. Throughout your studies, you'll be encouraged to become an independent and self-motivated learner, thriving on challenge and opportunities to think for yourself. At first, you may find these new ways of working and learning a challenge, but we'll help you to make the transition and you'll soon be benefiting from some of the most highly regarded teaching in this subject in the country.

Support

Student Mentor Scheme

Our enthusiastic established students act as mentors to our new Philosophy students. This provides you with a friendly face to help you settle in.

Academic Writing Advisory Service

The Academic Writing Advisory Service (AWAS) will provide you with individual support from an academic writing advisor and postgraduate subject-specialist writing tutors. You'll receive guidance on writing essays and dissertations at University-level which can be quite different from your previous experiences of writing. Support is given in a variety of ways, such as small-group workshops, online activities, feedback through email and tutorials.

Personal Tutor

From the outset, you will be assigned your own Personal Tutor who will get to know you as you progress through your studies, providing academic and welfare advice, encouraging you and offering assistance in any areas you may feel you need extra support to make the most of your potential and your time here at Birmingham.

Learning settings

Lectures are valuable opportunities for you to be taught and inspired by someone who is both an expert in the field and research active. Lectures are to some extent interactive, with frequent opportunities for discussion, and question-and-answer sessions.

Seminars run alongside lectures in some modules, providing you with an opportunity to prepare individual presentations, work in small groups, debate a topic and analyse primary sources in depth. This will give you a toolbox of transferable skills. All seminars require advance preparation and active student participation.

Interactive classes are offered in modules which don't feature separate seminars. Here, lecturing time and discussion time are part of the same session and the structure of the classes can be very flexible.

Supervised self study gives you the opportunity to choose a subject that you're interested in. Aided and supervised by members of staff, you'll explore sources that help you examine a philosophical problem of your choice, build skills in planning, research and time management, and develop original arguments for positions that you care about.

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is an excellent tool for supporting our academic modules, allowing you to share throughts on assignments with other students via the discussion group facilities, and even submit your work electronically.

Enquiry Based Learning (EBL) means that learning is driven by the shared enquiry of students and tutors. This places you, the student, at the centre of your own degree: you learn through involvement and ownership, not simply by being a passive recipient of information. We believe that this is the best way of learning while you're at Birmingham as it's very effective in enabling you to acquire the key skills and attributes that are valued by employers: creative and independent thinking, self-motivation, self-organisation, team-working, goal-setting and problem-solving.

As a student of Philosophy you'll have an excellent opportunity to develop skills that are highly prized by employers. Our graduates understand complex information, write clearly and effectively, can build a case for a particular view, strategy or course of action, respect the views of others even if they disagree with them, and generally think for themselves. If you're taking the year abroad option, you'll develop real confidence and independence that's valued in the working world.

70% of job vacancies advertised for new and recent graduates don't specify a degree subject, so as a graduate of Philosophy you've a vast potential to enter a wide range of careers, including law, journalism and teaching, as well as commerce and industry. Some also decide to pursue postgraduate study.

University of Birmingham Philosophy graduates are very successful after graduation. Our graduates start careers with employers including Government departments, local councils, charities and companies in many business sectors, in roles as diverse as Assistant Literary Agent, Management Consultant, Marketing Assistant and Programmes Officer. If you'd like to find out more, take a look at 'Where Next? Unlocking the Potential of your Philosophy Degree' from The Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies at the Higher Education Academy.

Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available once you have a Birmingham degree, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal. This is a unique careers guidance service tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team who can give you expert advice. This includes individual careers advice and events to give you insight into the professions and employers of interest to arts graduates.

Our 'Creative careers' series is always popular with our students, and features events with employers and professionals from areas such as advertising, PR and communications, media, journalism, publishing, advertising and politics. We also hold events covering careers in teaching, event management, marketing and working with charities, and our internship officer develops links with local arts organisations to create some amazing opportunities for students.

Extra-curricular activities

To enhance your career prospects even further, you will need to think about engaging in some extra-curricular activities while you're at university to broaden your skills and your network of contacts. This can include the many societies at the Guild of Students and also the many voluntary opportunities offered with local arts organisations. Our employer-endorsed award-winning Personal Skills Award (PSA) recognises your extra-curricular activities, and provides an accredited employability programme designed to improve your career prospects.

Our College of Arts and Law undergraduate research scholarship scheme enables interested students to work on a current academic research project being run by one of the College's academic researchers. Undergraduate research scholars gain work experience over the summer after their first or second year and have the chance to develop skills in both collaborative and independent research.

Cultural Internships

Our innovative Cultural Internships offer graduates the opportunity for a six month paid internship at a leading cultural institution in the West Midlands. These internships are a unique opportunity to learn fundamental, transferable business and interpersonal skills, through experience of real work in an established cultural institution. Our current partners include Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery, Birmingham Royal Ballet, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust and the Library of Birmingham. We have plans to expand the scheme to include our own major cultural assets, such as Winterbourne House, the Lapworth Museum, and the Barber Institute of Fine Arts. This scheme will give you professional experience to set you apart in a competitive graduate market.