UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE
Programme Specification
This Programme Specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme
and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and
demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
Sources of information on the programme can be found in Section 17
1. Awarding Institution / Body
University of Central Lancashire
2. Teaching Institution
University of Central Lancashire
3. University Department/Centre
School of Humanities and the Social Sciences
4. External Accreditation
None
5. Title of Final Award
BA (Hons) Philosophy
6. Modes of Attendance offered
Full-time and part- time
7. UCAS Code
V500
8. Relevant Subject Benchmarking
Group(s)
Philosophy
9. Other external influences
N/A
10. Date of production/revision of this
form
July 2015
11. Aims of the Programme





To provide an intellectually stimulating and rigorous programme in Philosophy, tailored to the
needs of a diverse range of students
To systematically develop students’ knowledge and understanding of a variety of foundational
areas which constitute the traditional scope of the discipline (epistemology, metaphysics, ethics,
the nature of mind and language etc.)
To explore the conceptual and practical implications of new technologies, media, and societal
transformations, in relation to the foundational issues indicated above
To provide students with the conceptual tools and reasoning skills that the study of philosophy is
known to promote
To enhance the employability of students by fostering the development of such distinctive
graduate attributes as: intellectual honesty, open-mindedness and avoidance of prejudice,
consistency and rigour, attention to detail, clarity of thought and expression, commitment to


reason over rhetoric
To develop students’ capacities for autonomous, self-initiated and independent intellectual inquiry,
and to develop their self-confidence and effectiveness in communicating the results of their
inquiries
To ensure that students benefit from teaching that is informed by research and scholarship - and
hence to encourage teaching and learning based on the various research interests which exist in
the Philosophy course team
12. Learning Outcomes, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
A. Knowledge and Understanding
Students will have knowledge and understanding of:
A1. The scope and breadth of philosophy, in light of the traditional distinction between theoretical,
practical and technical considerations.
A2. The ideas and arguments of major philosophers, representing a variety of philosophical
traditions, encountered in their own writings (where appropriate, in translation).
A3. Some central theories and arguments in the fields of Logic, Metaphysics, Epistemology or
Philosophy of Mind.
A4. Some central theories and arguments in the fields of Moral, Political or Social Philosophy.
A5. Some major issues currently at the frontiers of public concern, and philosophical debate.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Formal and informal lectures, seminar discussions, seminar presentations where appropriate,
'workshop' sessions. Individual tutorial support is available in regular tutor office hours, and via
the personal tutor system.
Assessment methods
Seminar presentations, coursework essays, longer written presentations [e.g. for student
initiated modules and third year dissertations] and examinations.
B. Subject-specific skills
Students will develop the ability to:
B1.
B2.
B3.
B4.
B5.
Abstract, analyse and construct sound arguments, and identify logical fallacies.
Evaluate a variety of patterns of reasoning, with a view to judging their ‘fit’ with particular
circumstances, audiences and contexts.
Recognise methodological errors, rhetorical devices, unexamined conventional wisdom,
unnoticed assumptions and vagueness.
Read closely and interpret complex texts, from a variety of cultures and traditions, critically
evaluating the arguments explicitly or implicitly contained therein.
Enter imaginatively into (ethically, politically, metaphysically etc.) contrasting world-views,
through an understanding of their different starting-points and presuppositions.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Formal and informal lectures, seminar discussions, seminar presentations where appropriate,
'workshop' sessions. Individual tutorial support is available in regular tutor office hours, and via
the personal tutor system.
Assessment methods
Seminar presentations, coursework essays, longer written presentations [e.g. for student
initiated modules and third year dissertations] and examinations.
C. Thinking Skills
Students will develop:
C1. A range of philosophical skills, logical distinctions and norms of discourse.
C2. A growing ability to recognise and put to use connections between different areas of philosophy,
particularly where these different areas concern themselves with the same philosophical issue
(e.g. the nature and unity of the self).
C3. An appreciation, in written and oral work, of the historical and cultural sources of some major
issues in philosophy, developed through the study of primary texts, and recognising that these
texts can be sources of truth as well as (enlightening) error.
C4. An appreciation of how philosophy adumbrates a perspective on their wider interests.
C5. An appreciation of how philosophy continuously responds to issues raised by societal change and
technological innovation.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Formal and informal lectures, seminar discussions, seminar presentations where appropriate,
'workshop' sessions. Individual tutorial support is available in regular tutor office hours, and via the
personal tutor system.
Assessment methods
Seminar presentations, coursework essays, longer written presentations [e.g. for student
initiated modules and third year dissertations] and examinations.
D. Other skills relevant to employability and personal development
Students will develop:
D1. The ability to analyse complex ideas and arguments clearly.
D2. The ability to communicate ideas and arguments effectively, in language that is both precise and
suited to the occasion.
D3. The ability to see a complex issue from a variety of standpoints, and to work towards an
overview.
D4. The ability to evaluate opposing arguments, and to formulate and consider the best arguments
for different views.
D5. Some of the skills necessary for cooperative work with others who may not necessarily share
their presuppositions, values and commitments
D6. IT skills required for successful study
Teaching and Learning Methods
Formal and informal lectures, seminar discussions, seminar presentations where appropriate,
'workshop' sessions. Individual tutorial support is available in regular tutor office hours, and via the
personal tutor system.
Assessment methods
Seminar presentations, coursework essays, longer written presentations [e.g. for student
initiated modules and third year dissertations] and examinations.
13. Programme Structures
Level
14. Awards and Credits
Module
Code
Module Title
Credit
rating
PI3991
PI3021
Philosophy Dissertation (core)
Contemporary Ethical Theory
(compulsory)
Modern European Thought
(compulsory)
Humanity, Values and the
Environment (option)
Philosophy of Language (option)
Philosophy and Popular Culture
(option)
Contemporary Anglo-American
Political Philosophy (option
20
20
Metaphysics and Epistemology
(compulsory)
Foundations of Ethics (compulsory)
Phenomenology and Existentialism
(compulsory)
Philosophy of Mind (option)
Philosophy of Religion (option)
History of Political Ideas (option)
20
Level 6
PI3006
PI3004
PI3013
PI3025
P03112
Level 5
PI2211
PI2214
PI2005
PI2212
PI2001
PO2110
20
20
20
20
BA (Hons) Degree in
Philosophy
Requires 360 credits
including a minimum of 220
at Level 5 and 100 at Level 6
BA Degree in Philosophy
Requires 320 credits
including a minimum of 180
at Level 5 and 60 at Level 6
20
20
20
20
20
20
Exit Award: Diploma of
Higher Education in
Philosophy
Requires 240 credits
including a minimum of 100
at Level 5
+ level 5 elective equivalent – social
science, volunteering or language
module
Level 4
PI1117
PI1118
PI1119
PI1005
PI1115
PO1101
CJ1004
Reason and Argument (core)
Knowledge and Freedom (core)
Problems in Contemporary Applied
Ethics (compulsory)
The Value of Knowledge: What is
Education For? (compulsory)
Science Fiction and Philosophy
Power, Politics and the State
Crime and Morality
20
20
20
Exit Award: Certificate of
Higher Education
Requires 120 credits at level
4
20
20
20
20
+ level 4 elective equivalent – social
science, volunteering or language
module
15. Personal Development Planning
PDP is a structured and supported process undertaken by individuals to reflect upon their own
learning, performance and/or achievement and to plan for their personal, educational and career
development. PDP is introduced in induction week, supported by web- and print-based materials and
maintained via the personal tutor and personal advisor systems.
16. Admissions criteria
Programme Specifications include minimum entry requirements, including academic
qualifications, together with appropriate experience and skills required for entry to study.
These criteria may be expressed as a range rather than a specific grade. Amendments to
entry requirements may have been made after these documents were published and you
should consult the University’s website for the most up to date information.
Students will be informed of their personal minimum entry criteria in their offer letter.
Applicants must have 5 GCSE passes at Grade C or above plus a 12 unit profile the equivalent of two
subjects at Advanced Level (A2). The minimum level of attainment required for entry to the start of
standard courses leading to awards at first degree level is expressed in terms of UCAS Tariff Points.
Please check the course website for the most up-to-date tariff requirements.
17. Key sources of information about the programme

Website

Student Handbook
18. Curriculum Skills Map
Note: Mapping to other external frameworks, e.g. professional/statutory bodies, will be included within Student Course Handbooks
Programme Learning Outcomes
Module
Code
PI3991
Module Title
Philosophy
Dissertation
PI3021 Contemporary
Ethical Theory
PI3006 Modern
European
Thought
PI3004 Humanity,
Values and The
Environment
Level PI3013 Philosophy of
6
Language
PI3025 Philosophy and
Popular Culture
PO3112 Contemporary
Anglo-American
Political
Philosophy
Knowledge and
understanding
A2 A3 A4
Core (C) or
Option (O)
Core
A1
x
x
x
Compulsory
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
A5
Subject-specific Skills
B1 B2 B3 B4 B5
C1
Thinking Skills
C2 C3 C4
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
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x
x
x
x
x
C5
x
Other skills relevant to
employability and personal
development
D1
D2 D3 D4 D5 D6
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Compulsory
Option
Option
x
Option
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
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x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Option
x
x
x
x
x
x
Programme Learning Outcomes
Level 5
Module
Level Code
PI2211
Core (C) or
Module Title
Option (O)
Metaphysics and Compulsory
Epistemology
PI2214 Foundations of Compulsory
Ethics
PI2005 Phenomenology Compulsory
and
Existentialism
PI2212 Philosophy of
Option
Mind
PI2001 Philosophy of
Option
Religion
PO2110 History of
Option
Political Ideas
A1
Knowledge and
understanding
A2 A3 A4 A5
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Subject-specific Skills
B1 B2 B3 B4 B5
C1
Thinking Skills
C2 C3 C4
C5
Other skills relevant to
employability and personal
development
D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
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x
Programme Learning Outcomes
Module
Level Code
PI1117
PI1118
LEVEL 4
PI1119
PI1005
PI1115
CJ1004
PO1101
Module Title
Reason and
Argument
Knowledge and
Freedom
Problems in
Contemporary
Applied Ethics
The Value of
Knowledge
Science Fiction
and Philosophy
Crime and
Morality
Power, Politics
and the State
Core (C) or
Option (O) A1
Core
x
Core
x
Knowledge and
understanding
A2 A3 A4 A5
Subject-specific Skills
B1 B2 B3 B4 B5
C1
Thinking Skills
C2 C3 C4
C5
Other skills relevant to
employability and personal
development
D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
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x
Compulsory
x
Compulsory
Option
Option
Option
x
x
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