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Studying this MA in Philosophy will hone your ability to think clearly and logically, and develop your writing, research and analytical skills. You'll study texts from different periods and philosophical perspectives, including works by Plato, Friedrich Nietzsche, Michel Foucault and Hannah Arendt; and you'll investigate contemporary debates on environmental aesthetics, consciousness, global justice, emotion, and morality in politics. Finally, you'll undertake a substantial piece of independent research, writing a dissertation on a topic of your choice.

Combines an in-depth study of philosophical texts and debates with a broad and diverse range of topics

Examines texts by philosophers working at different times and from different perspectives

Explores a variety of contemporary philosophical debates

Develops valuable transferable skills that are highly prized in the workplace, including communication, problem-solving and self-management

Provides excellent preparation for further study or research at the doctoral level.

Program Outcome

See modules and class list

To gain the 180 credits you require for this qualification, you must study the modules in the order shown below and pass part 1 before progressing to part 2:

Please note that MA Philosophy part 2 (A854) is worth 120 credits. Module fees for postgraduate modules are based on the number of credits you study. Therefore the fee for this 120-credit postgraduate module will be double that for the 60-credit postgraduate module MA Philosophy part 1 (A853).

You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.

Curriculum

How to Apply

You must hold a UK honours degree (or equivalent), in philosophy or a related subject. If you've got a degree conferred without honours, or that does not contain at least 20% philosophy related subjects, or with relevant experience in this field, you may still be eligible to study this qualification, subject to adjudication by the qualification team.

Although the foundation module, MA Philosophy part 1, will bring you up to date with the latest ideas and approaches, it assumes you'll have the knowledge and skills usually acquired by pursuing the subject at the undergraduate level. If you are in any doubt about whether you possess these skills or knowledge, you could study one of our undergraduate philosophy modules first, Exploring philosophy (A222) or Key questions in philosophy (A333), which are designed to introduce you to standard techniques of analysis and argument. You could also refer to the Preparatory reading indicated for MA Philosophy part 1.

To study successfully for this MA, you need to be able to:

read large quantities of text quickly, accurately and critically

classify evidence precisely and assess its value and reliability

argue logically, consistently and sceptically

marshal various sorts of evidence to support a logical argument.

MA in Philosophy Open University

Introduction

Key features of the course

Program Outcome

Curriculum

Course details

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