COURSE CURRICULUM

The Philosophy, Politics and Ethics degree at Brighton provides an interdisciplinary approach to understanding human thought, society, and global challenges. In the first year, students build foundational skills through modules in philosophical inquiry, democracy, globalisation, conflict, environmental issues, political representation, historical inquiry, and cultural studies. In the second year, students begin to specialise, choosing two option pathways from a range of subjects such as Self and Society, Morality, Politics and the Good Life, Politics-History-Ideology, Race and Resistance, and Philosophy and Literature, or selecting modules from the wider humanities. Core modules in year two, including Critical Traditions in Western Thought, support students in developing analytical and research skills in preparation for their final-year dissertation. In the final year, students continue their chosen pathways in greater depth, exploring contemporary issues, ethical and political debates, and theoretical frameworks. Topics include feminist and Black Marxist thought, surveillance, globalisation, racial politics, philosophy in literature, and post-humanist perspectives. Students complete a dissertation and participate in an oral exam, developing advanced research, presentation, communication, and critical thinking skills. The course equips students with the ability to analyse complex social, political, and ethical problems, preparing them for careers in law, education, publishing, public service, media, or further academic study, while fostering independent thought and informed global citizenship.