Philosophy and Politics Bachelor of Arts - BA

Some of the major issues in recent times, such as the cost-of-living crisis, Brexit, the American presidency of Trump, climate change and Covid-19, have not only generated substantial interest in politics, but have also prompted reflection on key philosophical concepts such as democracy, freedom, truth and justice.

The BA Philosophy and Politics degree at Swansea University enables you to explore fundamental questions about the world around us and the kind of society that we want to live in. These include what it means to be free, the most desirable form of democracy, the nature of the self, and how to live a morally good life. You will also be able to engage with more theoretical issues, such as debates about truth and reality, whilst learning about political methodologies and political institutions.

The programme also offers you opportunities to develop a range of important skills, such as critical reasoning, argument development, and ethical and political analysis. By exploring the ways that philosophy and politics connect, and how they can be combined, you will be able to understand, and engage with, the major social challenges that we face.

You will study at our Singleton Park Campus, in beautiful parkland, overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula.

The first year of the programme offers a grounding in core topics in politics and philosophy, including areas such as political philosophy, which sits at the intersection of the two subjects, and demonstrates the important ways in which they can combine and enrich each other. Other modules will introduce you to essential political and research methods, alongside data analysis. This provides a fundamental basis in philosophy and politics, which is built upon in each subsequent year.

In years two and three, you can explore how philosophical visions of ideal societies have been formulated throughout the history of Western society, examining historical attempts to realise these ideals. Other modules will explore historical and contemporary issues across politics and philosophy, and will also consider how equality intersects with economic and political policy, and decision-making.

Reflecting the nature of philosophy and politics, the primary mode of assessment is written essays, in which you can undertake detailed analysis of existing philosophical ideas and arguments, as well as developing your own. However, the programme includes a diverse range of assessment types, including paired critical exchanges, policy reports and analyses, group presentations, audio-visual dialogues, reading diaries and oral exams. These are designed to foster your effective communication skills across a range of media and formats, as well as team-working skills and technological competencies.