"the highest endeavour of the mind, and the highest virtue, is to understand things by intuition" Spinoza

MA Philosophy and Psychoanalysis

Aims:

  • To provide students with a knowledge of some of the principal concerns, methods and conclusions of modern philosophy in the continental European tradition. 

  • To provide a thorough grounding in psychoanalytic theory in the tradition of the ‘British School’ of psychoanalysis and a sound knowledge of the leading themes in this tradition, with an understanding of their relationship to each other. 

  • To develop students’ awareness of the ways in which psychoanalytical and philosophical perspectives can fruitfully interact, in the exploration of existential, ethical, social and cultural issues. 

  • To develop students’ own capacity to connect philosophical and psychoanalytical perspectives creatively, in the exploration of existential, ethical, social and cultural issues. 

  • To develop students’ capacities for independent thought and critical reflection.

  • To provide students with knowledge, understanding and skills constituting a firm basis for suitably qualified students to proceed to a research degree in continental European philosophy, psychoanalytic studies, or any area of intersection between the two.

Course Structure:

Module Code Module Title Credit value
PY504-7-AU Psychoanalysis, Symbolism and the Unconscious (compulsory) 15
PA901-7-FY Psychoanalytic Theory 1 (compulsory) 30
PY501-7-SP Heidegger (recommended), or an option from the list below 15
PY503-7-AU Nietzsche (recommended), or an option from the list below 15
PA902-7-SP OR
PA928-7-SP		 Freud and Object Relations 
OR
Psychoanalytic Methodology
15
  MA Writing Workshop (recommended) None
PY982-7-FY DISSERTATION which may be in any relevant area of philosophy, psychoanalytic theory, or the domain of intersection between the two.  The length of the dissertation is 15-16,000 words (core) 90
Total   180

Module Options:   Updated August 11

Not all modules will be available every year.

Full code Module Title Credit value
PY501-7-SP Heidegger 15
PY503-7-AU Nietzsche 15
PY930/936-7-AU MA Seminar Continental Philosophy I/III 15
PY931/937-7-SP MA Seminar Continental Philosophy II/IV 15
PA902-7-SP Freud and Object Relations 15
PA928-7-SP Psychoanalytic Methodology 15

More information on all of the modules described above can be found on the online module catalogue.

More information

For a detailed programme specification of this and other degree schemes, please see the Philosophy entries in the University's Programme Specifications Catalogue.

MA Philosophy and Psychoanalysis Module Map.