COURSE CURRICULUM

The Philosophy BA at the University of Stirling is structured to provide a comprehensive and progressively challenging exploration of philosophical thought, combining core modules with a broad range of options to suit individual interests. In the first year, students are introduced to fundamental questions and methods of philosophy through modules such as Philosophy: What is it All About? and How Should We Live? alongside optional interdisciplinary modules that span arts, sciences, and economics. The second year builds on this foundation with historical and thematic studies, including From Plato to Existentialism, Knowledge and Mind, and Moral Theory, while allowing students to select additional modules from arts and sciences to broaden their perspective. In the third year, students deepen their critical engagement with philosophy through compulsory modules such as Rationalism and Empiricism or Time and Existence, complemented by options including Disobedience and Political Resistance, Meta-ethics, and Health, Science, and Society. The fourth year emphasizes advanced study and independent research, with a 40-credit Philosophy Dissertation and optional modules that allow specialization in areas such as Ethics and Philosophy of Economics, The Nature of Reality, or Reason, Desire, and the Good. Across all four years, students develop analytical, critical, and imaginative skills, gaining a strong grounding in philosophical theory, history, and applied ethical reasoning, preparing them for a wide range of careers and lifelong intellectual engagement.