Philosophy PgDip drafted - Queen's Univers

Tuition Fee

USD 15,279

Per year

Start Date

Medium of studying

On campus

Duration

12 months

Program Facts

About Program

About University

Admission Requirements

Video

Gallery

Easy Apply

Program Facts

Program Details

Degree

Diploma

Major

Special Education

Area of study

Humanities | Social Sciences

Education type

On campus

Timing

Full time

Course Language

English

Tuition Fee

Average International Tuition Fee

USD 15,279

Intakes

Program start date	Application deadline
2023-09-18	-
2024-09-16	-

About Program

Program Overview

The distinctiveness of the Queen’s Postgraduate Diploma in Philosophy programme lies in combining a generalist programme in postgraduate Philosophy with a curriculum that emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and social issue engagement. Students may opt to complete the Queen’s Certificate in Strategic Leadership.

The Queen’s PGDip in Philosophy is a pluralist programme that recognises and values diverse philosophical methods, histories, and scholarly approaches, while providing students with a strong grounding in core areas of philosophy. The student experience is that of a generalist MA programme informed by an inclusive approach to disciplinary history and by engagement with twenty-first century issues and debates. Students will explore historical and contemporary debates, solve abstract and concrete problems, and respond to fundamental and applied questions.

Students will learn with internationally recognised leaders in philosophical research. Our staff have strengths in ethics and epistemology, as well as philosophy of science, metaphysics, philosophy of religion, philosophy of technology, political philosophy, and post-Kantian European philosophy. There is growing expertise in comparative and diverse global philosophical traditions. Research-led teaching brings students into the middle of cutting-edge research as active participants, and our dynamic research community offers multiple opportunities for students to pursue meaningful research experiences.

PGDip in Philosophy students have opportunities to personalise their education, through the Individually Negotiated Topic module. With guidance from the supervisor, students can choose a topic that interests them for directed critical reading and analysis with a small, focussed group. Students also benefit from a wide range of interdisciplinary opportunities within the School and the Faculty of AHSS, along with the excellent postgraduate experience infrastructure at Queen’s. Students may opt to complete the Queen’s Certificate in Strategic Leadership

Philosophy at QUB is a supportive and highly research active unit—ranked joint first in the UK for Research Intensity (Complete University Guide 2022). Our programme size and location within the interdisciplinary school of HAPP means that our students’ work can receive significant individual attention, that our students can build highly productive working relationships with teaching staff from Philosophy, and that our students may also explore interdisciplinary learning and research opportunities complementing their core philosophical interests.

Philosophy highlights

Global Opportunities

Students benefit from a curriculum and learning community in which diverse perspectives are represented and valued. Students may pursue research experiences locally and internationally.

Industry Links

The School has an active Employers’ Forum that is used to forge links with national and international employers. Queen‘s philosophy graduates have an unlimited range of occupations in the public and private sectors, including the Civil Service, local government, the media, policy analysis, the voluntary sector, teaching, journalism, business, marketing and advertising. Career destinations of our students have included the BBC, the Diplomatic Service, the NHS, International House, RPS Belfast and the Belfast Education and Library Board.

Career Development

The applied and engaged philosophy emphasis of the MA is attractive to students with interests in social justice and policy careers, as well as those interested in academic and academic-related careers.

QUB is ranked 15th in the UK for graduate prospects (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023)

World Class Facilities

Queen’s is a research-intensive Russell Group university with an excellent QS ranking and offers wonderful library and digital learning resources as well as up-to-date physical learning spaces.

Queen’s was ranked 1st out of 8 UK universities for sporting facilities (International Student Barometre 2020/21)

Internationally Renowned Experts

At Queen’s, students learn with internationally recognised experts and research innovators who are actively pursuing research projects in all areas represented within the curriculum.

Student Experience

Our strong cohort model means that students learn within a supportive community of peers, which provides especially effective learning support in Philosophy.

Course content

Program Outline

Course Structure

Compulsory modules: HAP7001 research methods (20cr); PHLXXXX Applied Philosophy (new) (20cr) (Autumn)

Elective Modules: One from a choice of PHL70XX Global Histories of Philosophy (new); PHL70XX Philosophies of Habit and Addiction (new) (Autumn); Three from a choice of PHL7038 Philosophy of Conflict and War; PHL7057 Social Injustice; PHL70XX Ethics, Law, and Responsibility (new); PHL70XX Knowledge and Ignorance (new); PHL70XX Individually Negotiated Topic (new) (Spring)

Module Overview	Autumn semester • HAP7001 Approaches to Research Design • PHL70XX Applied Philosophy (new) • Students will also choose one from the following Modules: • PHL70XX Global Histories of Philosophy (new) • PHL70XX Philosophies of Habit and Addiction (new) Spring semester • Students must take THREE of the following modules: • PHL7038 Philosophy of Conflict and War • PHL7057 Social Injustice • PHL70XX Ethics, Law, and Responsibility (new) • PHL70XX Knowledge and Ignorance (new) • PHL70XX Individually Negotiated Topic (new) 1. HAP7001 Research Methods: This module is offered to all HAPP PGR students. It introduces some important themes in the philosophy of the social sciences, develops students' skills in research design through an examination of selected qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, addressing key issues in the design and preparation of the dissertation, and incorporates research ethics training. 2. PHL70XX Applied Philosophy: Our Philosophy cohort-building module in applied philosophy develops students’ philosophical methods skills through introducing current social epistemological, metaphysical, ethical, and political issues in e.g. biomedical, environmental, and information technological contexts, combining study of advanced theory with current case information. Staff will lead the module in two-week rotations, to enable students to get to know the staff, and to build community amongst staff and each cohort of students. Optional modules 1. PHL7057 Social Injustice: This module examines the problem of social injustice in contemporary, plural societies. The module explores key critiques of liberal theory as a response to the structural disadvantages associated with difference (including race, gender, sexual-orientation, religion, and class, among others), liberal policy approaches to difference (including toleration, uniform treatment, and non-discrimination), and the practical implications of both social injustice and its potential solutions. 2. PHL7038 Philosophy of Conflict and War: This module explores the moral and ethical questions posed by serious political conflict, in particular those posed by war and other forms of violent collective struggle. 3. PHL70XX Ethics, Law, and Responsibility (new): This module focuses on the theme of responsibility to engage fundamental issues in ethics and the philosophy of law, combining real-world examples with ethics and jurisprudence scholarship. 4. PHL70XX Global Histories of Philosophy (new): This module shows how historical texts within specific philosophical traditions (such as African or Indian philosophical traditions) or in comparison across diverse traditions (e.g. African, Caribbean, and Latin American philosophy, or Post-Kantian European and African philosophy) help us to engage with contemporary issues in social epistemology, social metaphysics, ethics, and politics. 5. PHL70XX Knowledge and Ignorance (new): This module explores the ways questions of knowledge and ignorance shape our social world, for better and worse. Likely topics include, but are not limited to: legal epistemology, statistical evidence use, how predictive policing algorithms can be judged to be biased, how epistemic injustice wrongs knowers, and other topics in social epistemology. 6. PHL70XX Philosophies of Habit and Addiction: This module addresses habit as an issue in the philosophy of mind, psychology and the neurosciences. It takes a historical approach by examining different philosophies of habit in 18th-century Scottish philosophy (principally in the work of Hume and Reid) and 19th-century French philosophy (principally in the work of Ravaisson and Bergson). Students will then engage with accounts of habit in the contemporary neurosciences and with phenomenological approaches (principally in the work of Merleau-Ponty and Ricoeur). The module will show how conceptions of habit involve different conceptions of what it is to be embodied and, ultimately, different philosophies of nature in general. The module will also address the impact of different conceptions of habit for our understanding of the nature of the particular form of habit that is addiction, which is a pressing contemporary social problem. 7. PHL70XX Individually Negotiated Topic (new): Like the existing History MA Individually Negotiated Topic module, this module enables students to further personalize their MA experience by working individually with a researcher or in a small study group of up to 3 students to develop knowledge and expertise in a very focused area of philosophy research. Students can thus explore topics not covered by existing modules, as a complement to, or preparation for, dissertation work.

Module Overview

Autumn semester

• HAP7001 Approaches to Research Design

• PHL70XX Applied Philosophy (new)

• Students will also choose one from the following Modules:

• PHL70XX Global Histories of Philosophy (new)

• PHL70XX Philosophies of Habit and Addiction (new)

Spring semester

• Students must take THREE of the following modules:

• PHL7038 Philosophy of Conflict and War

• PHL7057 Social Injustice

• PHL70XX Ethics, Law, and Responsibility (new)

• PHL70XX Knowledge and Ignorance (new)

• PHL70XX Individually Negotiated Topic (new)

1. HAP7001 Research Methods: This module is offered to all HAPP PGR students. It introduces some important themes in the philosophy of the social sciences, develops students' skills in research design through an examination of selected qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, addressing key issues in the design and preparation of the dissertation, and incorporates research ethics training.

2. PHL70XX Applied Philosophy: Our Philosophy cohort-building module in applied philosophy develops students’ philosophical methods skills through introducing current social epistemological, metaphysical, ethical, and political issues in e.g. biomedical, environmental, and information technological contexts, combining study of advanced theory with current case information. Staff will lead the module in two-week rotations, to enable students to get to know the staff, and to build community amongst staff and each cohort of students.

Optional modules

1. PHL7057 Social Injustice: This module examines the problem of social injustice in contemporary, plural societies. The module explores key critiques of liberal theory as a response to the structural disadvantages associated with difference (including race, gender, sexual-orientation, religion, and class, among others), liberal policy approaches to difference (including toleration, uniform treatment, and non-discrimination), and the practical implications of both social injustice and its potential solutions.

2. PHL7038 Philosophy of Conflict and War: This module explores the moral and ethical questions posed by serious political conflict, in particular those posed by war and other forms of violent collective struggle.

3. PHL70XX Ethics, Law, and Responsibility (new): This module focuses on the theme of responsibility to engage fundamental issues in ethics and the philosophy of law, combining real-world examples with ethics and jurisprudence scholarship.

4. PHL70XX Global Histories of Philosophy (new): This module shows how historical texts within specific philosophical traditions (such as African or Indian philosophical traditions) or in comparison across diverse traditions (e.g. African, Caribbean, and Latin American philosophy, or Post-Kantian European and African philosophy) help us to engage with contemporary issues in social epistemology, social metaphysics, ethics, and politics.

5. PHL70XX Knowledge and Ignorance (new): This module explores the ways questions of knowledge and ignorance shape our social world, for better and worse. Likely topics include, but are not limited to: legal epistemology, statistical evidence use, how predictive policing algorithms can be judged to be biased, how epistemic injustice wrongs knowers, and other topics in social epistemology.

6. PHL70XX Philosophies of Habit and Addiction: This module addresses habit as an issue in the philosophy of mind, psychology and the neurosciences. It takes a historical approach by examining different philosophies of habit in 18th-century Scottish philosophy (principally in the work of Hume and Reid) and 19th-century French philosophy (principally in the work of Ravaisson and Bergson). Students will then engage with accounts of habit in the contemporary neurosciences and with phenomenological approaches (principally in the work of Merleau-Ponty and Ricoeur). The module will show how conceptions of habit involve different conceptions of what it is to be embodied and, ultimately, different philosophies of nature in general. The module will also address the impact of different conceptions of habit for our understanding of the nature of the particular form of habit that is addiction, which is a pressing contemporary social problem.

7. PHL70XX Individually Negotiated Topic (new): Like the existing History MA Individually Negotiated Topic module, this module enables students to further personalize their MA experience by working individually with a researcher or in a small study group of up to 3 students to develop knowledge and expertise in a very focused area of philosophy research. Students can thus explore topics not covered by existing modules, as a complement to, or preparation for, dissertation work.

People teaching you

Dr Alexei Procyshyn

HAPP

19th-21st century German philosophy; social and political philosophy; history of philosophy; Chinese philosophy; comparative philosophy; social ontology.

Dr Jeremy Watkins

HAPP

Moral philosophy (including applied ethics), legal philosophy, political philosophy.

Dr Mark Sinclair

HAPP

Philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology, and metaphysics against the intellectual background of the history of modern European philosophy.

Dr Rebecca Bamford

Programme Convenor

HAPP

Post-Kantian European philosophy, especially 19th Century; Ethics, including normative ethics and applied ethics, especially bioethics; African philosophy; social & political philosophy.

Dr Roger Clarke

HAPP

Epistemology (especially contextualism, the nature of belief, norms of assertion, formal epistemology, scepticism); Free will/moral responsibility; philosophical logic; Buddhist philosophy (especially Nagarjuna); Daoist philosophy (particularly the Zhuangzi).

Dr Suzanne Whitten

HAPP

Political theory, including issues surrounding freedom of speech; race and gender; social equality; multiculturalism and recognition theory; social justice.

Teaching Times

Teaching times will fall Monday-Friday, between 9am and 5pm.

Career Prospects

Introduction

We anticipate that the Postgraduate Diploma programme is a perfect course to prepare students for MA entry. The applied and engaged philosophy emphasis is attractive to students with interests in social justice and policy careers, as well as those interested in academic and academic-related careers.

The programme will assist students in gaining wider skills which will be vital in their future careers, including:

• Excellent training in critical thinking, critical reading, critical writing

• Research and publication skills

• Understanding and responding to equality, diversity, and inclusion issues in applied contexts

• Project management: planning and executing components of a long-term project

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning focuses upon critical reading, writing, and thinking. Weekly module seminars are grounded in small and large group discussion, presentations, and learning activities.

Additional learning opportunities are provided by weekly research seminars in term time given by visiting speakers in Philosophy, as well as research events in HAPP and beyond.

Learning materials focus upon texts, and may also include films, blogs, and podcasts. Learning materials and issues will be drawn from a range of scholarly traditions and geographic locations.

On successful completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Cognitive Skills

• Identify and solve, resolve or dissolve conceptual problems; read and critically assess relevant academic sources; analyse and criticise arguments, identifying fallacies therein.

• Synthesise relevant information and exercise critical judgement, primarily through essay writing; identify, investigate, analyse, formulate and advocate solutions to problems; gather, organise and deploy evidence and information from a variety of secondary and some primary sources, so as to formulate and support a line of reasoning, or argument.

• Make judgments on the basis of varied and problematic evidence and according to the persuasiveness of the arguments or the reliability of the evidence used; evaluate sources critically in their context; discriminate between what is central and what is peripheral to the issue in question; assess and appraise differing views on significant areas of academic debate.

• Structure, manage and adapt strategies for self-directed independent research; work autonomously; reflect on their own learning and seek and make use of constructive feedback; produce intellectually coherent academic analysis under time-managed conditions and within word limits.

Knowledge and Understanding

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of a range of sub-fields in the discipline including ethics, epistemology, philosophy of science, political philosophy, and history of philosophy.

• Apply philosophy to practical issues, for example in the area of applied ethics.

• Critically discuss some of the central problems and issues in contemporary phi-losophy.

• Critically discuss key texts and ideas in the global history of philosophy, along with an appreciation of the plurality of global traditions and histories of philosophy and how the contemporary discipline has developed out of those histories.

• Employ key concepts and tools that are used in philosophical reasoning, with an informed understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of multiple approaches and methodologies.

Subject Specific Skills

• Read and interact with seminal philosophical texts, in appreciation of their philosophical insights and modes of argument; research philosophical topics using appropriate tools and resources.

• Solve problems, process and prioritize a wide variety of information, and express arguments and positions in oral and written form.

• Demonstrate an awareness of key debates arising out of philosophical inquiry, conducted in its various domains.

• Engage with influential primary and secondary sources in philosophy, according to contemporary canons of academic debate and critical analysis.

Transferable Skills

• Use libraries and online resources; use IT skills (word processing, use of internet re-sources); take notes and summarise accurately and effectively.

• Evaluate and judge evidence and the quality of information; digest material from various sources; collate and process information from an array of sources, including electronic media.

• Communicate and interact effectively; present ideas and arguments orally in both formal and informal contexts; present high-quality analysis cogently and succinctly; and make oral and group presentations using appropriate skills.

• Respond constructively to criticism; manage time efficiently; show self-reliance, initiative, adaptability and flexibility; work effectively both independently and in a team setting.

Assessment

Assessment associated with the course is outlined below:

HAP7001: Students complete two practice-based assignments (Methods Portfolio) and a Research Design assignment.

Modules: Students will complete at least one major paper, or scholarly writing of equivalent significance, in each module. Students also complete oral discussion/presentations during module seminars.

Overview

Modules

The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2022/23). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.

Course content

Entry Requirements

Career Prospects

Introduction

The programme will assist students in gaining wider skills which will be vital in their future careers, including:

• Excellent training in critical thinking, critical reading, critical writing

• Research and publication skills

• Understanding and responding to equality, diversity, and inclusion issues in applied contexts

• Project management: planning and executing components of a long-term project

Additional Awards Gained(QSIS ELEMENT IS EMPTY)

Prizes and Awards(QSIS ELEMENT IS EMPTY)

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Entry requirements

Fees and Funding