Philosophy Subject regulations
Philosophy exposes and addresses problems, including ethical problems, problems about science, logical problems and problems about the nature of reality.
Philosophy is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Arts (BA), the Bachelor of Climate Change (BCC), and the Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc). Philosophy may also be taken as a second major or minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.
To complete Philosophy as a single major for the BA, BCC and BSocSc, students must gain 135 points from papers listed for Philosophy, including 105 points above 100 level, and 60 points above 200 level.
To complete Philosophy as part of a double major for the BA, BCC, BSocSc or other undergraduate degree, students must gain 120 points from papers listed for Philosophy, including 90 points above 100 level, and 45 points above 200 level.
To complete a minor in Philosophy, students must complete 60 points from the papers listed for the Philosophy major, including at least 30 points above 100 level.
Other qualifications
Prescriptions for:
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GradCert(Phil) and GradDip(Phil) A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Philosophy at an advanced level in their first degree.
For further details, contact the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Office.
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PGCert(Phil), PGDip(Phil), BA(Hons), BSocSc(Hons), MA and MSocSc To complete a BA(Hons) or BSocSc(Hons) in Philosophy, students must gain 120 points at 500 level, including at least 30 points in research and at least 30 points from papers listed for Philosophy.
The qualification regulations define the admission requirements for enrolment into the MA or MSocSc in Philosophy.
Completion requirements for the MA or MSocSc in Philosophy vary according to admission criteria:
Students admitted under a) above must complete 180 points from approved 500 level papers, including at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MA or MSocSc . Within the 180 points students must also complete ALPSS500 and PHILO588, and at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MA or MSocSc.
Students admitted under b) above must complete 120 points from approved 500 level papers, including at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MA or MSocSc.
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MPhil The Master of Philosophy is a one year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
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PhD The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
Philosophy papers
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
|
PHILO103
Critical Thinking
This paper helps students to engage critically with the sorts of arguments encountered both inside and outside the University. |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) & 27A (Online) & 27G (Online) |
|
PHILO106
Social and Moral Philosophy
An investigation of contemporary moral and social issues from a practical ethics perspective. Issues may include abortion, animal welfare... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) & 27A (Online) & 27A (Secondary School - Unistart) & 27A (Tauranga) |
|
PHILO150
The Big Questions: An Introduction to Philosophy
An introduction to philosophy that investigates a range of big questions. The big questions may include: does God exist?, does my morality apply to... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) & 27B (Online) & 27B (Tauranga) |
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
|
LEGAL203
Jurisprudence
An analysis of legal theories and ideologies, emphasising different approaches to the meaning of law, examining the relationship between theory and... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) & 27B (Tauranga) |
|
MAORI202
Ngā Iho Matua: Māori Philosophy
This paper examines the philosophical underpinnings of seminal tikanga Māori concepts, and their influence both historically and in contemporary... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO202
Biomedical Ethics
This paper examines key contemporary issues in Biomedical Ethics, including clinical ethics and public health ethics. It examines core concepts and... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO205
God, Spirituality, and the Afterlife
This paper analyses a range of conceptions of God (Ultimate reality), spirituality, and the afterlife in order to explore our place in the universe... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) & 27B (Online) & 27B (Tauranga) |
|
PHILO217
Environmental Ethics
A study of ethical questions about the relation of humans to the rest of the natural world, including the attribution of value and rights to the... |
15 | 27H (Online) |
|
PHILO218
Business Ethics
A study of ethics as it relates to business and professional practice in New Zealand including material specifically for interest groups: eg computer... |
15 | 27G (Online) |
|
PHILO225
Happiness and Wellbeing
Drawing on ancient wisdom and modern science, this paper investigates the meaning and value of happiness, and the role it plays in making our lives... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) & 27A (Online) & 27A (Tauranga) |
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
|
EDSOC300
Māori Knowledge and Western Impacts in Education
This paper explores comparisons between key Western and Māori philosophies. It considers how Māori and Western philosophies respectively describe the... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) & 27A (Online) |
|
PHILO302
Biomedical Ethics
This paper examines key contemporary issues in Biomedical Ethics, including clinical ethics and public health ethics. It examines core concepts and... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO309
Experiments in Ethics
The paper uses thought experiments to introduce students to central issues in contemporary moral philosophy. The issues may include: What makes an... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO310
Mind, Matter and Consciousness
Are mental states just brain states? If not, what are they? Can we account for consciousness in purely physical terms? PHILO310 covers these central... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO315
Democracy, Justice & Equality
This course provides students with an in-depth introduction to contested topics in modern political philosophy. Students will be expected to analyse... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO317
Environmental Ethics
Do we have moral obligations toward nature? How should human beings treat the natural world? This paper examines questions such as these in light of... |
15 | 27H (Online) |
|
PHILO318
Ethics at Work
This is an applied ethics paper focussing on the professions, research and business. It examines contemporary issues relevant to a wide range of... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) & 27B (Online) & 27G (Online) |
|
PHILO355
Reality, Society and Culture
What are social objects like political borders, money, and teams? What about genders, races, musical works, fictional characters, or persons? This... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO390
Directed Study
This paper offers students an opportunity to undertake advanced research on a specific topic of philosophical interest. |
15 | 27X (Hamilton) |
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
|
ALPSS500
Academic and Professional Research and Writing
In this course, students will gain the skills and confidence to seamlessly transition from study to work. This course works to enhance the 'skills... |
30 | 27A (Online) & 27B (Online) |
|
COMPX565
Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
Learn how the nature and use of AI can affect society. Discuss contemporary issues from how to innovate responsibly to whether AI will be the... |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO533
Moral and Political Philosophy
This paper will cover a range of current topics in moral and political philosophy. The exact content will be guided by choices made in class, but... |
15 | 27A (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO536
The Philosophy of Mind
In this paper we will discuss recent philosophical work on issues concerning consciousness and intentionality. |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO552
Existence and the Social World
This paper covers contemporary research in metaphysics, including work on social ontology and the methods that should be used in doing metaphysics. |
15 | 27B (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO588
Foundations of Philosophical Research
In this paper we engage in focused analysis of a range of philosophical topics relevant to the research goals of students. The paper enhances... |
30 | 27A (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO590
Directed Study
This paper allows students to undertake research on a specific Philosophy topic related to their major under the guidance of academic staff. |
30 | 27X (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO591
Research Project
A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation. |
30 | 27X (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO592
Dissertation
A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation. |
60 | 27X (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO593
Philosophy Thesis
An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research. |
90 | 27X (Hamilton) |
|
PHILO594
Philosophy Thesis
An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research. |
120 | 27X (Hamilton) |
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| PHILO800 Philosophy MPhil Thesis | 120 | 27X (Hamilton) |
| Code and paper title | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| PHILO900 Philosophy PhD Thesis | 120 | 27I (Hamilton) & 27J (Hamilton) & 27K (Hamilton) & 27X (Hamilton) |
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PHILO103 Critical Thinking
This paper helps students to engage critically with the sorts of arguments encountered both inside and outside the University.
Points 15An investigation of contemporary moral and social issues from a practical ethics perspective. Issues may include abortion, animal welfare...
Points 15An introduction to philosophy that investigates a range of big questions. The big questions may include: does God exist?, does my morality apply to...
Points 15 -
LEGAL203 Jurisprudence
An analysis of legal theories and ideologies, emphasising different approaches to the meaning of law, examining the relationship between theory and...
Points 15This paper examines the philosophical underpinnings of seminal tikanga Māori concepts, and their influence both historically and in contemporary...
Points 15This paper examines key contemporary issues in Biomedical Ethics, including clinical ethics and public health ethics. It examines core concepts and...
Points 15This paper analyses a range of conceptions of God (Ultimate reality), spirituality, and the afterlife in order to explore our place in the universe...
Points 15A study of ethical questions about the relation of humans to the rest of the natural world, including the attribution of value and rights to the...
Points 15A study of ethics as it relates to business and professional practice in New Zealand including material specifically for interest groups: eg computer...
Points 15Drawing on ancient wisdom and modern science, this paper investigates the meaning and value of happiness, and the role it plays in making our lives...
Points 15 -
EDSOC300 Māori Knowledge and Western Impacts in Education
This paper explores comparisons between key Western and Māori philosophies. It considers how Māori and Western philosophies respectively describe the...
Points 15This paper examines key contemporary issues in Biomedical Ethics, including clinical ethics and public health ethics. It examines core concepts and...
Points 15The paper uses thought experiments to introduce students to central issues in contemporary moral philosophy. The issues may include: What makes an...
Points 15Are mental states just brain states? If not, what are they? Can we account for consciousness in purely physical terms? PHILO310 covers these central...
Points 15This course provides students with an in-depth introduction to contested topics in modern political philosophy. Students will be expected to analyse...
Points 15Do we have moral obligations toward nature? How should human beings treat the natural world? This paper examines questions such as these in light of...
Points 15This is an applied ethics paper focussing on the professions, research and business. It examines contemporary issues relevant to a wide range of...
Points 15What are social objects like political borders, money, and teams? What about genders, races, musical works, fictional characters, or persons? This...
Points 15This paper offers students an opportunity to undertake advanced research on a specific topic of philosophical interest.
Points 15 -
ALPSS500 Academic and Professional Research and Writing
In this course, students will gain the skills and confidence to seamlessly transition from study to work. This course works to enhance the 'skills...
Points 30Learn how the nature and use of AI can affect society. Discuss contemporary issues from how to innovate responsibly to whether AI will be the...
Points 15This paper will cover a range of current topics in moral and political philosophy. The exact content will be guided by choices made in class, but...
Points 15In this paper we will discuss recent philosophical work on issues concerning consciousness and intentionality.
Points 15This paper covers contemporary research in metaphysics, including work on social ontology and the methods that should be used in doing metaphysics.
Points 15In this paper we engage in focused analysis of a range of philosophical topics relevant to the research goals of students. The paper enhances...
Points 30This paper allows students to undertake research on a specific Philosophy topic related to their major under the guidance of academic staff.
Points 30A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.
Points 30A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.
Points 60An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.
Points 90An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.
Points 120 -
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PHILO900 Philosophy PhD ThesisPoints 120
2027 Subject regulation information current as at 16 Aug 2026 01:00am