Philosophy
Philosophy is for thinkers and doers. It's about solving real-life problems, and applying intellectual rigour to how we understand and interact with others, society and the world. Studying Philosophy at Waikato will teach you how to learn, think and write clearly, argue vigorously, and question deeply held assumptions and beliefs.
The study of Philosophy involves tackling ethical and science-related issues, logic problems and debates about the nature of reality. It asks fundamental questions about what it means to be human, at this time and in this place. Questions such as: what is truth; what is reality; what is the mind; and what is good?
Employers understand the value of graduates who can think, and decide, for themselves. Waikato Philosophy graduates have the practical and analytical skills needed for careers within the public and private, health, business, environmental, publishing, information technology and education sectors, among others.
Key information
| Study Locations: | Hamilton, Tauranga, Online Papers offered differ by location. The Catalogue of Papers has full location info. |
|---|---|
| Faculty: |
Study Philosophy in these qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Communication Studies
- Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with Honours
- Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Media and Creative Technologies (China only)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Science (Technology)
- Bachelor of Social Sciences
- Certificate
- Diploma
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Graduate Certificate
- Graduate Diploma
- Master of Arts
- Master of Arts (Applied)
- Master of Laws
- Master of Management Studies
- Master of Māori and Pacific Development
- Master of Philosophy
- Master of Science
- Master of Science (Research)
- Master of Science (Technology)
- Master of Social Sciences
- Postgraduate Certificate
- Postgraduate Diploma
Philosophy as a specialisation of
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Communication Studies
- Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with Honours
- Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Media and Creative Technologies (China only)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Science (Technology)
- Bachelor of Social Sciences
- Certificate
- Diploma
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Graduate Certificate
- Graduate Diploma
- Master of Arts
- Master of Arts (Applied)
- Master of Laws
- Master of Management Studies
- Master of Māori and Pacific Development
- Master of Philosophy
- Master of Science
- Master of Science (Research)
- Master of Science (Technology)
- Master of Social Sciences
- Postgraduate Certificate
- Postgraduate Diploma
Career opportunities
- Business Consultant
- Editor
- Environmental Consultant
- Health Policy Adviser
- Policy Analyst
- Public Relations Practitioner
Study in Tauranga
Students in Tauranga can complete a minor in Philosophy through a combination of papers taught at the CBD campus, and online.
Papers
Available Philosophy papers
Prescriptions for the 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 Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Office.
Prescriptions for the PGCert(Phil), PGDip(Phil), BA(Hons), BSocSc(Hons), MA and MSocSc.
To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in graduate Philosophy papers, a student should normally have at least a B average in either the best three of their 300 level Philosophy papers or all their undergraduate Philosophy papers.
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 (normally PHILO591) and at least 30 points from papers listed for Philosophy.
To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in the MA or MSocSc in Philosophy, a student should have completed either:
a) a BA or BSocSc with a major in Philosophy with at least a B grade average across the 300 level papers, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or
b) a BA(Hons) or BSocSc(Hons) in Philosophy (or equivalent) with at least second class hounours (second division).
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 PHILO588 and either a 120 point thesis, a 90 point thesis or a 60 point dissertation.
Students admitted under b) above must complete a 120 point thesis, a 90 point thesis and a further 30 points from approved 500 level papers, or a 60 point dissertation and a further 60 points from approved 500 level papers.
To be considered for enrolment in a dissertation or thesis, all students must have completed at least 60 points from approved 500 level papers and have gained at least a B average to be admitted to PHILO592, at least a B+ average to be admitted to PHILO593 and at least an A- average to be admitted to PHILO594.
Prescriptions for the 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.
The requirements for admission to Masters level study in Philosophy are set out in the Faculty Handbook.
Prescriptions for the 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.
100 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| PHILO102 | Introduction to Logic | 19B (Hamilton) |
| An easy introduction to formal logic comprising an explanation of key concepts such as validity and proof, and an introduction to propositional and predicate logic. | ||
| PHILO103 | Critical Thinking | 19A (Hamilton), 19A (Online), 19A (Tauranga), 19B (Online), 19B (Tauranga) & 19T (Online) |
| This paper helps students to engage critically with the sorts of arguments encountered both inside and outside the University. | ||
| PHILO106 | Social and Moral Philosophy | 19A (Hamilton) & 19A (Online) |
| A study of key concepts in areas of applied ethics including abortion, euthanasia, health care, children's rights, pornography, justice, environmental issues, religion and ethics, and other issues. | ||
| PHILO150 | The Big Questions: An Introduction to Philosophy | 19B (Hamilton) |
| An introduction to philosophical problems in the areas of knowledge and mind, value theory, metaphysics and religion. | ||
200 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| MAORI202 | Ngā Iho Matua: Māori Philosophy | 19A (Hamilton) & 19B (Tauranga) |
| This paper examines the philosophical underpinnings of seminal tikanga Maori concepts, and their influence both historically and in contemporary Maori culture. | ||
| PHILO204 | Wisdom, Language, and Communication | 19A (Hamilton) |
| Is language the seat of all knowledge and wisdom? The aim of this paper is to explore growing philosophical debate in epistemology and the philosophy of language. | ||
| PHILO208 | Reason, Science and Pseudoscience | 19B (Hamilton) |
| What makes science so successful? In this paper we discuss scientific reasoning, scientific methods and the social structure of science, and provide tools for differentiating science from pseudoscience. No formal knowledge of science or philosophy is required. | ||
| PHILO215 | Moral and Political Philosophy: A Historical Introduction | 19B (Hamilton) |
| A study of the moral and political philosophy of thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Hume and Mill. This paper uses Plato's Republic to introduce students to central issues in Moral and Political Philosophy, including questions about virtue, happiness, justice, liberty, democracy, tyranny, feminism, art, censorship, and moral educat... | ||
| PHILO217 | Environmental Ethics | 19S (Online) |
| 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 non-human world and ethical issues in environment and development. | ||
| PHILO218 | Ethics at Work | 19T (Online) |
| A study of ethics as it relates to business and professional practice in New Zealand including material specifically for interest groups: eg computer science, psychology and social work. | ||
| PHILO225 | Happiness and Wellbeing | 19A (Hamilton) |
| 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 go well for us. | ||
300 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| EDSOC300 | Maori Knowledge and Western Impacts in Education | 19A (Online) & 19A (Tauranga) |
| This paper explores comparisons between key Western and Maori philosophies. It considers how Maori and Western philosophies respectively describe the self's relationship with thought and knowledge in the context of education. | ||
| PHILO309 | Experiments in Ethics | 19A (Hamilton) |
| The paper uses thought experiments to introduce students to central issues in contemporary moral philosophy: What makes actions morally wrong? How can we be sure our moral judgments are right? | ||
| PHILO310 | Mind, Matter and Consciousness | 19B (Hamilton) |
| Are mental states just brain states? If not, what are they? Can we account for consciousness in purely physical terms? PHILO310 covers these central questions in the Philosophy of Mind. | ||
| PHILO315 | Democracy, Justice & Equality | 19A (Hamilton) |
| This course provides students with an in-depth introduction to contested topics in modern political philosophy. Students will be expected to analyse the theoretical basis of these positions, and to consider the practical consequences of them. | ||
| PHILO316 | Philosophy and the Arts | 19B (Hamilton) |
| The course examines philosophical questions to do with the nature and meaning of works of art, the appreciation and evaluation of them, and their function at both the personal and the societal level. | ||
| PHILO317 | Environmental Ethics | 19S (Online) |
| 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 our current ethical theories. | ||
| PHILO318 | Ethics at Work | 19T (Online) |
| This is an applied ethics paper focussing on the professions, research and business. It examines contemporary issues relevant to a wide range of occupations graduates might enter. | ||
| PHILO390 | Directed Study | 19A (Hamilton), 19B (Hamilton), 19S (Hamilton) & 19Y (Hamilton) |
| This paper offers students an opportunity to undertake advanced research on a specific topic of philosophical interest. | ||
500 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| HISTY516 | Historical Theories and Methods | 19A (Hamilton) |
| This paper prepares students for professional historical practice and higher study through an investigation of relevant historiographical theories and methodologies. | ||
| PHILO533 | Moral and Political Philosophy | 19A (Hamilton) |
| 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 will include detailed analysis of foundational problems in modern political philosophy, and exploration of the intersection of moral and political philosophy in practice. | ||
| PHILO536 | The Philosophy of Mind | 19B (Hamilton) |
| This paper will cover philosophical theories of consciousness, focusing in particular on the views of Daniel Dennett and John Searle. | ||
| PHILO545 | Aesthetics | 19B (Hamilton) |
| This paper will cover a range of topics in contemporary aesthetics. The class will choose the topics. Possibilities include but are not limited to the expression of emotion in music; the arousal of emotion by music, literature and film; the aesthetic appreciation of nature; is there a single right interpretation of a work of art?; ... | ||
| PHILO588 | Foundations of Philosophical Research | 19A (Hamilton) |
| In this paper we engage in focused analysis of a range of philosophical topics relevant to the research goals of students. The paper enhances students' knowledge of long standing and contemporary debates in philosophy. Students cultivate their research skills through seminar development and presentation, and gain a grounding in phi... | ||
| PHILO589 | Directed Study | 19A (Hamilton), 19B (Hamilton), 19S (Hamilton) & 19T (Hamilton) |
| Students have the opportunity to pursue a topic of their own interest under the guidance of academic staff. Open to selected students who meet the criteria set out in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Graduate Handbook. | ||
| PHILO591 | Dissertation | 19A (Hamilton), 19B (Hamilton) & 19Y (Hamilton) |
| A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation. | ||
| PHILO592 | Dissertation | 19C (Hamilton) |
| A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation. | ||
| PHILO593 | Philosophy Thesis | 19C (Hamilton) |
| An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research. | ||
| PHILO594 | Philosophy Thesis | 19C (Hamilton) |
| An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research. | ||
800 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| PHILO800 | Philosophy MPhil Thesis | 19C (Hamilton) & 19D (Hamilton) |
| No description available. | ||
900 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| PHILO900 | Philosophy PhD Thesis | 19C (Hamilton) & 19D (Hamilton) |
| No description available. | ||
Scholarships and prizes
New to Waikato? The International Excellence Scholarship is worth up to $10,000.
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships
Subject links
Subject Requirements
Philosophy is available as a major for the BA and BSocSc.
Philosophy is available as a major for the BA and BSocSc. Philosophy may also be taken as a second major or as a supporting subject within other undergraduate degrees, subject to academic approval of the Faculty or School of Studies in which the student is enrolled.
For more information about subject requirements please refer to the catalogue of papers for the most up to date information. If you have any questions and need more advice contact one of our friendly student advisors phone:
Please note: For all graduate subject requirements check the information provided in the papers section above.
Contacts
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4030
General and Undergraduate Email Enquiries: phil-fass@waikato.ac.nz
Graduate and Postgraduate Email Enquiries: phil-grad@waikato.ac.nz