Philosophy of Psychology

Focussing study on Philosophy of Mind and Psychology through core taught modules, together with a Dissertation which must be on a topic in this area. In addition, there is the opportunity to study one or two other specialist areas of Philosophy, or (for conversion students) to take an introductory General Philosophy course.

• Open to Philosophy graduates, but also fully accessible to those converting in from other subjects (such as Psychology).
• Trains students to a high level in Philosophy of Psychology and related fields in a short period of time.
• Offers a wide selection of other optional topics, both current and historical, covering the entire philosophical spectrum from aesthetics to logic and everything in between.
• Located in the heart of London.

Student destinations Programme leader/s Awarding Institution Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent) Duration Location Year of entry 2013
Offered by Closing date Intake Fees Contact information Email Website

This programme is suited both to students with an undergraduate philosophy degree and to those converting to philosophy from another subject (for instance, psychology) at undergraduate level. For philosophy graduates, it will consolidate and augment their existing knowledge, with a special emphasis on philosophy of psychology and philosophy of mind, and it will provide a firm foundation for subsequent independent research in this area. For conversion students, there is a General Philosophy module which is designed specifically to introduce them to key texts, concepts and arguments from right across the philosophical spectrum: by means of this module, in conjunction with their more specialised studies in the philosophy of psychology, such students will also be prepared for further research.

Students must earn a total of 180 credits.

• 60 of these will come from a dissertation of around 10,000 words, on an approved topic in the philosophy of psychology/mind, to be completed over the Summer at the end of the course. A student who satisfactorily completes the course up to the point of the dissertation may exit the programme without completing one, and will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Philosophy of Psychology on the basis of their 120 credits. 

• Of those initial 120 credits, 80 will normally be required to come from all four of the following modules:
  • Philosophy of Psychology I
  • Philosophy of Psychology II
  • Philosophy of Mind
  • Philosophy of Mind II: Special Topics.  
  In case a student has already taken a similar module in the course of their undergraduate studies, this requirement might occasionally be relaxed: although the first Philosophy of Mind module is the only one where there is a realistic prospect that this will happen.

• The remaining 40 credits can be earned through another one or two philosophy MA modules from the lists to be found under the 'Structure' tab, or, with permission, through relevant modules in other departments. For students converting into philosophy from another subject at undergraduate level, the normal expectation is that they will get these 40 credits through the General Philosophy module, introduces basic philosophical methods, techniques and terminology, and acquaints you with some of the most important and influential writings on the subject.

These modules are mostly taught through two weekly hours of lectures and seminars. Assessment methods vary from module to module, but will largely revolve around either sat examinations or submitted essays.

Full-time students will complete the programme in one year, September to September. Part-time students take two years, and are required to get 40 to 80 credits (normally 60 or 80) in the first of these, and then 100 to 140 (normally 100 to 120, including 60 from the dissertation) in the second. At least one of their compulsory modules must be taken in their first year. If General Philosophy is taken at all, that too must be taken in the first year.

All students, including part-time students, should ensure that they are available to attend seminars at least two days a week.

Core programme content

• Dissertation (on a topic in the philosophy of psychology).

Indicative non-core content

Students are expected to take the following compulsory modules (all 20 credits):

 

First semester:

• Philosophy of Mind I
• Philosophy of Psychology I

Second semester:

• Philosophy of Mind II: Special Topics
• Philosophy of Psychology II

For their remaining credits, candidates may choose from the following.
 
NB The following modules are likely to be offered in 2013-14, although this is not set in stone. Occasionally, we might need to drop a module, for instance if there is insufficient demand for it from students; but, equally, there is a chance that a few other modules not listed here might end up getting added to the list. The timings, i.e. whether a module is taught in the first or the second semester, are also subject to possible revision: but the final provision should end up looking pretty close to this. Each of these modules is worth 20 credits, except where specified.
 

Both semesters:

• General Philosophy (40 credits)

 

First semester:

• Aesthetics
• Early Modern Philosophy
• Epistemology
• Ethics
• Greek Philosophical Texts I: Plato (note: presupposes some competence in the ancient Greek language)
• Greek Philosophy I: Plato
• Indian Philosophy I: The Orthodox Schools
• Metaphysics
• Nineteenth-Century Continental Philosophy
• Philosophy of Medicine
• Philosophy of Religion
• Philosophy of Science
• Political Philosophy
• Set Theory (note: presupposes some competence in basic symbolic logic)
• Theory of Grammar

 

Second semester:

• Ethics of Science & Technology
• Foundations of Analytic Philosophy
• Greek Philosophical Texts II: Aristotle (note: presupposes some competence in the ancient Greek language)
• Greek Philosophy II: Aristotle
• Greek Philosophy III: Special Topics
• Indian Philosophy II: The Heterodox Schools
• Kant I: Critique of Pure Reason
• Kant II: Moral Philosophy
• Modal Logic (note: presupposes some competence in basic symbolic logic)
• Medieval Philosophy
• Perspectives on Death & Killing
• Philosophy of Language
• Philosophy of Physics
• Theories of Meaning

 

Mostly taught through of lectures and seminars; assessed through coursework and/or examination plus a dissertation.




General entry advice

With your application form, you must include a sample of written work totalling approximately 3,000 words. We do not routinely interview applicants, but we may call you for interview; and you are very welcome to call the department to arrange a visit. We aim to process all complete applications within four to six weeks, although this may take longer over holiday periods.

You should use your personal statement to discuss your intentions for the programme, and the route that has led you to it. Please also supply a writing sample of c.3,000 words with your application. Further details can be found on the Department website.

British and EU residents can apply for AHRC studentships. Some Graduate School and School of Arts & Humanities studentships and bursaries are also available. The Department offers scholarships up to £10,000 annually: the Sorabji Graduate bursary, the Susan Stebbing bursary (for female students only) and the Peter Goldie bursary. For further information, see the Departmental postgraduate Funding page: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/philosophy/study/funding/index.aspx