Philosophy (Hons) Lancaster University

Overview

Throughout the Philosophy (Hons) course from Lancaster University  you’ll apply philosophy in real-world scenarios, examining philosophy’s role in addressing global, social and political challenges.

This course will provide you with rich and varied philosophical knowledge, through engaging with methodological and culturally diverse content across a broad range of topics. In your first year, you will study ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, history of philosophy, global philosophy, and political thought, developing strong foundational knowledge and confidence in key areas of the discipline.

In your second year, alongside core study in applied philosophy, you will choose subjects from amongst these and others to study in greater depth, developing a rich picture of key questions and debates in philosophy. Previous students have enjoyed:

• The philosophy of science
• Feminist philosophy
• Metaethics
• 19th century analytic philosophy
• Aesthetics

This depth of knowledge and study will prepare you for your final year of the programme, in which you will probe our specialist, cutting-edge research with topics that have ranged in the past from the ethics and politics of communication to philosophy of mental disorder, to the philosophy of war and conflict.

Career opportunities:

Employers seek individuals with the mental agility and critical thinking skills to tackle and solve complex and novel challenges. They look for independence of mind, and the ability to communicate clearly at all levels. Philosophy at Lancaster develops all of these skills, preparing you for success in a senior position in a wide variety of employment sectors.

Sectors of interest could include:

• Media, publishing or journalism
• Business including HR or consultancy
• Non-profit organisations
• Education
• Law
• Information and digital technology
• Marketing and advertising

A variety of careers are possible:

• Policy analyst
• Project manager
• Journalist
• Public relations specialist
• Civil servant
• Teacher of higher education
• Publishing specialist
• Entrepreneur
• Marketing executive
• Social researcher
• Local government officer

This course also provides a strong foundation for further study, with some students going on to take a master's in philosophy or a related field such as Public Policy.