Study Philosophy

Philosophy at UNE enables students to engage with deep questions and provides them with the tools to critically engage with the world around them. The word 'philosophy' literally means love of wisdom. Philosophy investigates the basic claims science makes about the world as well as the principles that govern human life and morality. Topics of philosophical interest are wide-ranging — questions such as:

  • is it possible to travel into the past?
  • is euthanasia morally justified?
  • how does the brain give rise to consciousness?
  • how much of what we think we know, do we really know?
  • what is it to think and act rationally?

These questions are all of perennial interest to philosophy, while none of them have been definitively answered. The units focus on enabling students to think and engage critically, providing diverse career opportunities.

Undergraduate and postgraduate study

Philosophy is a worthwhile component of any bachelor degree. Study on campus in Armidale or fully online in your own home, or abroad.

Majors in philosophy: We offer an undergraduate major in philosophy in the Bachelor of Arts, as well as an Honours program, and degrees at Masters and PhD level.

From the courses listed below, link to the Course and Unit Catalogue, go to Course Rules and Plans, then scroll down to Program of Study.

Undergraduate courses

Undergraduate degrees

Bachelor of Arts - One of our longest-standing degrees, the Bachelor of Arts (BA) is increasingly relevant in today's agile, dynamic world. It equips you with the creative, critical and analytical skills in demand by employers, and is transferable across a range of workplaces. When you study a BA at UNE, you have the freedom to become a specialist in the discipline of your choice.

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business - Workplaces value employees who have a broad range of real-world skills, and this combined degree will equip you to excel in today’s dynamic working environment. In our Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business, you’ll gain business knowledge and learn to think like an entrepreneur. You’ll develop creative and socio-cultural knowledge, and vital skills in critical thinking and communication.

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws -  The UNE Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws provides you with the opportunity to combine your study of law with an area of interest drawn from a wide variety of the arts, humanities and social sciences. As a double degree for the future, it has been developed in response to the needs of today’s rapidly changing workplaces and a growing employer demand for double degree graduates.The UNE Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws provides you with the opportunity to combine your study of law with an area of interest drawn from a wide variety of the arts, humanities and social sciences. As a double degree for the future, it has been developed in response to the needs of today’s rapidly changing workplaces and a growing employer demand for double degree graduates.

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science - Do you dream of a career where you’re helping to address the big issues facing humanity? Or perhaps you crave the excitement of being at the forefront of scientific discovery? Maybe you wish to instil your passion for the environment into future generations? Our Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science is uniquely positioned to help you reach your goals, with wide-spanning knowledge and a diverse set of skills to be adaptable in a rapidly changing world. This combined degree will help lay the foundation for you to acquire the ability to innovate and problem-solve — attributes that are in demand more than ever by employers in Australia and internationally.

Undergraduate diplomas

Advanced Diploma in Arts - Add an area of expertise to your CV and gain an undergraduate qualification — without committing to a full bachelor's degree. You will develop research, critical thinking, and writing skills in the core units. With the minor and elective units, you tailor the course to your specific interests and career objectives by choosing from an extensive selection of arts, humanities and social science units.

Honours and postgraduate courses

Honours

Bachelor of Arts with Honours - Did your arts degree prompt a burning question or a passion for independent research? If so, consider applying for an honours year. A capstone to your formal education, honours is an opportunity to drill deeper into a specialised area, to extend your intellectual range, and sharpen your research capabilities. It will enable advanced communication techniques and deep subject knowledge, to hone your analytical abilities, and gain high-level personal and professional skills. These are valuable attributes that provide a solid foundation for postgraduate study, give you a competitive edge in the job market, and help future proof your career in a rapidly changing world.

Postgraduate Coursework

Graduate Certificate in Arts - Are you a graduate looking to add new skills to your CV to reinforce or redirect your career? Perhaps you are keen to pursue a personal interest in the arts or humanities. Or maybe you are interested in completing a master's but aren't sure if you can commit to a full degree. If any of the above fits your situation, the Graduate Certificate in Arts is the perfect course for you.

Master of Arts - UNE’s Master of Arts is designed to equip you with specialised knowledge as well as a wide range of transferrable skills that employers highly value, such as communication and critical thinking. This course is also a focused pathway to higher degree research.

Postgraduate Research

Master of Philosophy - High quality research and analysis allows us to better understand the complex issues we face in industry and society. With UNE's Master of Philosophy by research, your original findings and insights will add to the body of knowledge and inform decision-making in your specialist area.

Doctor of Philosophy - A Doctor of Philosophy is the pinnacle of academic study. Using rigorous and systematic research, combined with critical analysis, you will add to society's understanding of complex issues at the cutting-edge of your discipline or profession. When you complete your PhD at UNE, you will be recognised as an expert in your area of study. Your original discoveries and innovations will be applied to benefit society and industry in Australia and worldwide.

Units

See the list of Philosophy units in the Course and Unit Catalogue.

Majors

Study Philosophy as a Major in one of our Arts Degrees

Our staff

To contact an academic or find a research supervisor, visit our staff page.

Find a staff member

Opportunities

Studying philosophy at UNE, you will learn from teachers who are experienced researchers with good records of scholarly publications, each teacher with specific areas of expertise. These philosophical areas include:

  • personal identity
  • philosophy of biology
  • logic
  • hermeneutics
  • bioethics
  • environmental ethics
  • meta-ethics
  • philosophy of the social sciences
  • philosophy of religion
  • philosophy of language
  • philosophy of mind
  • moral philosophy
  • political philosophy
  • scientific method
  • metaphysics
  • philosophy and literature
  • continental philosophy
  • axiology, epistemology
  • feminist theory.

Career Opportunities of Philosophy graduates

Philosophy graduates have an education that fits with many career sectors. Studying philosophy provides life skills that translate as skills and abilities to:

  • think critically
  • communicate with clarity
  • solve problems
  • argue convincingly.

Famous people who were philosophy majors include:

  • Lana Del Rey (singer-songwriter): Majored in philosophy at Fordham University.
  • William Jefferson Clinton (former U.S. President): Studied philosophy as part of his Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford.
  • Jimmy Kimmel (talk show host): Majored in philosophy.
  • Harrison Ford (actor, known for Star Wars): Majored in philosophy at Ripon College.
  • Philip K. Dick (science fiction writer): Studied philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley.
  • Magda Szubanski (Australian actress and comedian, known for Kath & Kim): Studied fine arts and philosophy at the University of Melbourne.
  • Susan Sarandon, Academy Award-winning actress, majored in philosophy at The Catholic University of America.
  • Angela Davis, political activist and author, studied philosophy at Brandeis University and later earned a PhD in philosophy from the Humboldt University of Berlin.

Partnerships and networks

Australasian Association of Philosophy - Founded in 1922, the Australasian Association of Philosophy is the peak charity for the promotion of philosophical research, education and scholarship in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Membership consists of academic philosophers, students and community members with an interest in philosophy. We promote philosophy in universities, schools, and among the general public.

What Our Students Say

‘I really enjoyed the way the lectures were structured.’

‘The information within this unit was very applicable and delivered well.’

‘The best content in any unit at UNE.’

‘The lecturer’s teaching style and passion for the subject was really refreshing and so helpful.’

‘The lectures and tutorials incorporated excellent feedforward and feedback. The markers of the assessment tasks gave some great constructive feedback for lifelong learning and future development. The online learning platform was of a high standard and easy to use. All questions on the online forum were answered in a prompt manner.’

‘Clear teaching, well structured. Excellent feedback.’

‘The lectures were very clear and [the lecturer] expressed the ideas in a way just right for first year level. I was very impressed by his organisation.’

‘[The lecturer was] very helpful and knowledgeable. He was engaging with students when they needed assistance. He did a great job.’

‘Love that she touches on feminist perspectives, because (1) women made a contribution to intellectual development and naturally deserve a place in history and (2) it’s an interesting way of illustrating the intellectual shortsightedness (or fallibility, or perhaps tendency to compartmentalise between different contradictory modes of thought?) of people generally venerated as intellectual giants/ or of the discipline more broadly.

’The lecturer was knowledgeable, clear and concise. The manner in which she spoke made it feel like you were conversing and not being spoken to. She understood that this was a first year subject and taught to that level without making the students feel that should have had the highest understanding of the teachings already ‘

'Very well organised. Content was delivered clearly and enthusiastically online. Supported by very thorough and relevant visuals. Demonstrated sincere interest in every student's input and progress during the course and in assessment. Really made this unit enjoyable, stimulating and a thoroughly worthwhile study experience.’

Further information

For more information about our courses and studying at UNE, please contact AskUNE.