(BA) Bachelor of Arts
Philosophy, Ethics and Sustainability (Including Foundation Year)
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Essex Pathways
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Full-time
Philosophy
BA V5L6
13/06/2023
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
UK and EU applicants:
All applications for degree courses with a foundation year (Year Zero) will be considered individually, whether you
- think you might not have the grades to enter the first year of a degree course;
- have non-traditional qualifications or experience (e.g. you haven’t studied A-levels or a BTEC);
- are returning to university after some time away from education; or
- are looking for more support during the transition into university study.
Standard offer:
Our standard offer is 72 UCAS tariff points from at least two full A-levels, or equivalent.
Examples of the above tariff may include:
- A-levels: DDD
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma: MMP
- T-levels: Pass with E in core
If you are unsure whether you meet the entry criteria, please get in touch for advice.
Mature applicants and non-traditional academic backgrounds:
We welcome applications from mature students (over 21) and students with non-traditional academic backgrounds (might not have gone on from school to take level 3 qualifications). We will consider your educational and employment history, along with your personal statement and reference, to gain a rounded view of your suitability for the course.
International applicants:
Essex Pathways Department is unable to accept applications from international students. Foundation pathways for international students are available at the University of Essex International College and are delivered and awarded by Kaplan, in partnership with the University of Essex. Successful completion will enable you to progress to the relevant degree course at the University of Essex.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 5.5 overall. Specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK.
Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels required. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications
If you are an international student requiring a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Additional Notes
Our Year 0 courses are only open to UK and EU applicants. If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to your chosen degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College.
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
Dr Josiah Saunders
Associate Professor
Durham University
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
The BA Philosophy, Ethics and Sustainability at Essex University helps students to better understand and to generate ethically sound answers to the environmental crises of today.
- The BA Philosophy, Ethics and Sustainability familiarises students with different areas and methods of philosophy, improves their ability to describe and analyse complex theoretical and real-world problems, and encourages them to creatively re-think our relationship to the non-human world.
- The BA Philosophy, Ethics and Sustainability familiarises students with the core issues of ethics and applied ethics and enables them to ethically evaluate complex social issues and policies (including those pertaining to environmental questions such as climate justice or animal ethics).
- Students will learn to engage with environmental issues from an interdisciplinary perspective, to make sense of the science behind these environmental challenges (by taking Life Sciences modules such as "Addressing Global Sustainability Challenges"), and to effectively cooperate with scientists in addressing these challenges.
- Our BA prepares students to get actively involved in tackling environmental challenges (via Interdisciplinary Studies modules such as "Social Entrepreneurs, Sustainability and Community Action" and "Community Engagement: Group Projects or Global Challenges").
- Students will learn to conduct their own research in philosophy as well as environmental ethics and policy.
- Students will develop a range of transferable skills including problem solving, source analysis, methodological and interdisciplinary thinking, presentation skills and IT skills.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
A1: Demonstrate knowledge of disciplines such as philosophy, ethics, life science.
A2: Demonstrate that they can draw on these disciplines to make sense of the environmental (as well as social, political, and ethical) challenges we are facing today.
A3: Demonstrate understanding of these environmental challenges and how to respond to them sensitively.
A4: Demonstrate the ability to apply the research methods associated with philosophy, ethics, and life science (environmental science) to address complex environmental problems.
A5: Students will be able to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the climate crisis and the role of sustainability in responding to it.
Learning methods
Seminars (involving a diverse range of teaching methods), lectures (with accompanying teaching materials), and dissertation support learning outcomes A1-A4.
Compulsory Sustainability modules support learning outcome A5.
The different ways of engaging with the material, coupled with the relatively small size of the classes, will ensure that all students are able to engage with the course in a manner
appropriate to each of them.
Assessment methods
Assessments are set every year by module leaders. We ensure that every module has a participation and a scaffolding element. Typical assessments are essay plans, essays, presentations, critical reflections, in class reading quizzes, individual supervisions, which all support learning Outcomes A1-A5.
For each assessment adjustments can be made to reflect special circumstances, as
appropriate.
B: Intellectual and cognitive skills
B1: The ability to assemble information and to evaluate the merits of arguments.
B2: Ability to deal with complex issues both systematically, methodologically, and creatively, make sound evaluations, communicate outcomes clearly.
B3: Ability to plan and conduct independent research with guidance from a supervisor and to present it in a coherent manner.
Learning methods
Intellectual/cognitive skills B1-B3 are obtained through seminars, where there is an
emphasis on group discussion, group work, and critical problem-solving.
All skills are further developed by essay plans, presentations, essays, and other forms of coursework. Skill B3 is fostered in particular through the essay plans and their execution.
The different ways of engaging with the material, coupled with the relatively small size of the classes, will ensure that all students are able to engage with the course in a manner
appropriate to each of them.
Assessment methods
B1-B3 are assessed through assessments that are set and revised (in light of feedback and the latest educational strategy) every year by module leaders. We ensure that every module has a participation and a scaffolding element. Typical assessments are essay plans, essays, presentations, critical reflections, and in class reading quizzes. All Students have weekly access to individual supervisions.
For each assessment adjustments can be made to reflect special circumstances, as
appropriate.
C: Practical skills
C1: The ability to identify, select and retrieve a range of primary source material, and/or relevant theoretical and methodological materials.
C2: The ability to design, use and reflect on various research/study techniques.
C3: Ability to compose bibliographies, using relevant reference systems according to established conventions.
C4: Ability to plan, manage, and complete a work of independent study.
Learning methods
Skills C1-C4 are developed through seminar discussion and group work, research for essays, presentations and other written work, and through feedback and discussions with module tutors.
The different ways of engaging with the material, coupled with the relatively small size of the classes, will ensure that all students are able to engage with the course in a manner
appropriate to each of them.
Assessment methods
Skills C1-C4 are assessed through essays and other coursework, as well as the
dissertation.
For each assessment adjustments can be made to reflect special circumstances.
D: Key skills
D1: An ability in presenting ideas, problems, arguments, and evidence, in a clear, concise and accessible manner, to others both orally and in
writing.
D2: Ability to collect and present (and visualise) information using information technology (such as Word and Power Point).
D3: Ability to make sense of graphs etc. used by environmental scientists to communicate their findings.
D4: Ability to identify relevant questions and challenges and apply relevant research methodologies and techniques address them systematically and creatively.
D5: Ability to reflect on their own contributions to group work and to respond constructively to the comments of others.
D6: Ability to reflect on their own learning, to seek and make use of feedback on their own performance, to recognise when further knowledge is required and to undertake the necessary research.
Learning methods
Key skills D1- D6 are acquired through seminars and individual supervisions where students debate methodologies and challenges, as well as through the essays and dissertation.
Skill D2 can also be obtained through the University’s Academic Skills Online course at
https://moodle.essex.ac.uk/enrol/index.php?id=5143
The different ways of developing skills, coupled with the relatively small size of the classes, will ensure that all students are able to engage with the course in a manner
appropriate to each of them.
Assessment methods
Key skills D1-D6 are assessed throughout the degree through continuous assessed
coursework. The BA capstone research project is an overall assessment of all skills, namely communication, research management, problem solving skills and improving learning and performance.
For each assessment adjustments can be made to reflect special circumstances.