MA courses
Minicourses
Every year we invite distinguished philosophers from around the world to give minicourses to our students at Essex.
Our MA courses provide a rigorous grounding in modern European philosophy. You can specialise in one or more of our research
strengths, critical theory; phenomenology; and classical German philosophy.
Alternatively, you can choose modules from across all philosophical areas, according to your interests.
Our MA modules are intensive, taught in small
groups by our expert academic staff, and
provide a thorough preparation for undertaking independent research and PhD study.
Students also complete a supervised dissertation for submission at the end of the course in September.
A variety of scholarships and funding for postgraduate study are available.
MA Philosophy courses
We currently offer the following MA courses in philosophy:
Example module pathways
The following module pathways (based on our 2013-14 offering) highlight some of the possible routes available within both the
MA Continental Philosophy and MA Philosophy:
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Critical theory
If you are interested in critical theory, the Frankfurt School and Contemporary Critical Theory module will be central to your MA. This module will also
help you develop a strong proposal for your dissertation. In addition, you can study Kant and Hegel, since all critical theorists from Adorno to Honneth are
deeply influenced by this tradition. The same is true of psychoanalysis, so our module on Philosophy and Psychoanalysis will also be useful.
You also may choose to take the MA Writing Workshop to perfect your essay writing skills and take Topics in Continental Philosophy, since the 2013-14
module topic, Kant’s third Critique, was a strong influence on Adorno.
Autumn term
- Kant
- Frankfurt School and Critical Social Theory
- MA Writing Workshop
Spring term
- Hegel
- Philosophy and Psychoanalysis
- EPPP or Topics in Continental Philosophy
Plus: MA dissertation on critical theory. See the full list of modules currently available.
-
Phenomenology
If you are interested in phenomenology, our module on Heidegger will be a natural choice. In addition our 2013-14 Contemporary French Philosophy is devoted
to Foucault and Phenomenology.
You will probably also want to study Kant and Hegel, since they are the context in which phenomenology first develops, and this may include Kant’s
third Critique, the focus of this year’s Topics in Continental Philosophy module. Finally, you may wish to take our MA Writing Workshop.
Autumn term
- Kant
- Contemporary French Philosophy
- MA Writing Workshop
Spring term
- Hegel
- Heidegger
- Topics in Continental Philosophy
Plus: MA dissertation on phenomenology. See the full list of modules currently available.
-
Classical German philosophy
You will want to take Kant, Hegel and Topics in Continental Philosophy, focusing on Kant’s third Critique.
You may also want to take modules in the Frankfurt School and Heidegger to see how the tradition of Kant, Fichte and Hegel is taken up in their work,
as well as that of other nineteenth-century German philosophers, such as Marx and Nietzsche. Finally, you may wish to polish your essay writing skills
with our MA Writing Workshop.
Autumn term
- Kant
- Frankfurt School and Critical Social Theory
- MA Writing Workshop
Spring term
- Hegel
- Topics in Continental Philosophy
- Heidegger
Plus: MA dissertation on eighteenth- or nineteenth-century philosophy. See the full list of modules currently available.
Our 2013 modules list provides further information on module content and lecturers. You can also look up individual philosophy modules
on our module directory.
Joint MA courses with philosophy
We also offer joint MA courses with philosophy:
Other related courses
Examples of previous MA dissertation topics
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Continental philosophy
- Ethics and the impersonal: a critical assessment of Deleuze’s philosophy of subjectivity.
- The appropriation of Aristotle by Heidegger.
- Moral norms in Merleau-Ponty.
- Kant and Hegel on the ontological argument.
- The politics of enemies: Derrida’s reading of Nietzsche in The Politics of Friendship.
- A dialogue between the ethical and religious self in two of Kierkegaard’s pseudonymous works.
- The question of redemption in Nietzsche.
- Heidegger’s theological estrangements: St. Paul, St. Augustine and Søren Kierkegaard.
- Self-creation on concrete grounds: resistance and rebellion in Foucault and Camus.
- ‘Freedom under the Law’: Adorno’s negative dialectic of freedom.
- Nietzsche’s naturalism versus Hegel’s dialectic.
- Freedom, self-relation, and the event: Kierkegaard’s corrective contribution to Alain Badiou’s concept of decision.
- The role of the individual in Marxist philosophy of history: a comparative study of Plekhanov and Sartre.
- Carnap and Heidegger on the role of logic in philosophy.
- Recognition and the ethical relation: an encounter between Hegel and Levinas.
- Authenticity and inauthenticity in Heidegger’s Being and Time.
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Art and aesthetics
- Kant’s theory of how the dynamic sublime and the supersensible can be communicated to others through the fine art of a genius.
- Can art be conceptual?
- Adorno, Heidegger and authenticity in popular music.
- Passions for the real: Zizek, Adorno, and art after September 11.
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Philosophy and psychoanalysis
- A Wittgensteinian critique of Melanie Klein.
- A genealogy of psycho-analytic theories of pathogenesis.
- The psychoanalytic task and unconscious truth in Winnicott and Bion.
- Does the death drive have a future in psychoanalytical thinking?
- Psychoanalysis and the critique of culture.
- The role of breastfeeding. A psychoanalytical study into the role of breastfeeding in relation to the bond between mother and baby.
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Ethics, politics and public policy
- Should there be public involvement in environmental policy?
- The ethics of embryonic stem cell research.
- Where should the ethical limit on a market in human organs be placed?
- A new way forward for the oldest profession? Prostitution policy in the UK.
- Campaign finance reform in the USA: the limits of free speech.
- Is there a right to have children?
- Is ethnic profiling a justifiable measure to combat global terrorism?
- Is the principle of ‘informed consent’ appropriate or practical in the developing world?
Your academic development
You can perfect your writing skills by taking our MA Writing Workshop, learn German on our dedicated
language course and participate in the many seminars,
colloquia, minicourses and other graduate events in our School. We encourage you to be part of our philosophy research community, and to take advantage of all the opportunities available during your time here.
Applicants from North America
It is important to distinguish our Essex MA course from the Masters degree typical of many North American universities.
Our MA at Essex is a one-year course that prepares you for PhD study, whether in the UK, North America or elsewhere. It combines taught modules
(October through April) and a supervised dissertation (to be submitted by 15 September).
Our MA provides advanced module work, the opportunity for independent research and PhD application preparation. It is suitable for
applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or above for upper division module work in their major field of study.
Graduate diploma in philosophy
If you do not meet our standard postgraduate entry requirements, our International Academy offers a Graduate Diploma in philosophy with extra language and
subject support that enables you to progress onto to our postgrduate courses:
MA modules
Our MA modules are taught in small groups by expert academic staff, giving you the opportunity for thorough and intensive investigation of a
wide range of philosophers and topics.
PG open evenings
Book a place at a postgraduate open evenings to find out more about studying at a top ten UK research university. Academic and support staff will
be available to answer your questions and you can speak to students about life at Essex.
Fees and scholarships
Find out details about our fees and scholarships. If you would like any further information or have any questions, please
do not hesitate to contact us.
How to apply
Find out more about how to apply for a course in philosophy at Essex. We can provide
help and advice, and guide you through the application process.