Programme specification

This programme specification is aimed at prospective students and represents the most current course structure.

SECTION A: DETAILS OF THE COURSE AND AWARD

Programme: Philosophy and Psychoanalysis
Awarding body: University of Essex
Teaching institution: University of Essex
Department: Philosophy
Final award: MA
NQF Level of Qualification: Master
Full / Part Time Full-time or part-time
QAA Benchmark Group: None
JACS code: V5C8
Publication date: 26/04/2010
Admission criteria:
if the applicant does not meet the specified criteria, he or she may discuss the application with the Head of Undergraduate or Head of Postgraduate admissions.
BA of Upper Second Class standard or above in Philosophy or other Humanities subject, or an equivalent qualification. Language requirements : IELTS 7.0 TOEFL 600 and TOEFL (computer) 250 or comparable.

SECTION B: PROGRAMME AIMS, OUTCOMES, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT METHODS

This section provides a concise overview of the programme of study, identifying the aims, learning outcomes and the corresponding methods of learning, teaching and assessment.

Programme: MA Philosophy and Psychoanalysis

Programme aims:

1. To provide students with a knowledge of some of the principal concerns, methods and conclusions of modern philosophy in the continental European tradition. 2. To provide a thorough grounding in psychoanalytic theory in the tradition of the 'British School' of psychoanalysis and of the leading themes in this tradition, with an understanding of their relationship to each other 3. 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. 4. To develop students' own capacity to connect philosophical and psychoanalytical perspectives creatively, in the exploration of existential, ethical, social and cultural issues. 5. To develop students' capacities for independent thought and critical reflection. 6. 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 the area of intersection between the two. The outcomes listed below represent the minimum that might be expected of a graduate student. It is the intention of the School that the vast majority of graduates will achieve significantly more. Details of the different standards expected for the various classes of degree can be found in the Student Handbook produced annually by the School of Philosophy and Art History.

Programme Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:

expand paragraph   A: Knowledge and Understanding

A1 : Knowledge and understanding of some of the major concerns, methods and conclusions of modern European philosophy in the continental tradition.
A2 : Knowledge and understanding of principles of psychoanalytic theory within the 'British School', including issues involved at points of development of divergent concepts.
A3 : Knowledge and understanding of the ways in which psychoanalytic theory and philosophy have intersected in modern European thought.
A4 : Knowledge and understanding of the ways in which theoretical issues, which may be rooted in the existential, moral, social or cultural domain, can be illuminated from both a psychoanalytical and a philosophical perspective.

expand paragraph   B: Intellectual/Cognitive Skills

B1 : Ability to identify complex arguments and to present one's own evaluation of them.
B2 : Ability to use specialised philosophical and/or psychoanalytical terminology appropriately.
B3 : An awareness of the scope and limits of philosophical and psychoanalytical terminology and concepts.
B4 : Ability to identify underlying issues in philosophical and psychoanalytical texts, debates and arguments, and to highlight deficiencies such as unquestioned assumptions, superficial analogies and unsubstantiated claims.
B5 : Ability to summarise complex and demanding texts, sometimes written at considerable historical distance, and to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the views they propose.
B6 : Ability to demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and in commenting on complex information.
B7 : Ability to plan and conduct (under the guidance of a supervisor) a piece of independent research, and to present it in a clear, coherent and argumentative manner.

expand paragraph   C: Practical Skills

C1 : Ability to express oneself in writing in a clear, argumentative way.
C2 : Ability to abstract and synthesize relevant information from a range of sources, including books, journal articles, library and internet resources.
C3 : Ability to use the information thus acquired to support the exploration of, and an argument concerning, a specific issue or issues.
C4 : Ability to formulate and compose a sustained exploration of an issue or cluster of related issues.
C5 : Ability to present written work in accepted academic format, with appropriate supporting references and footnotes in a standard academic style.

expand paragraph   D: Key Skills

Communication:  D1 : Ability to write clearly, and to communicate ideas to an audience.
IT Skills:  D2 : Ability to use the relevant technology to research and present written work (including searchable databases such as library catalogues and internet resources).
Problem Solving:  D4 : Ability to specify the problem to be solved, compare different approaches to the problem, and provide arguments in support of a preferred strategy in addressing and/or resolving the problem.
Self Learning:  D6 : Ability to learn from written and oral feedback on essays so as to improve own performance; ability to improve dissertation research proposal prior to execution in collaboration with supervisor.

Learning, Teaching & Assessment Methods or Strategies for the following:

expand paragraph   A: Knowledge and Understanding

Learning Methods

Outcome A1 is achieved through attendance and participation in the philosophy modules and in PY504 and PA939. Outcomes A3 and A4 are achieved through attendance and participation in PY504 and PA939.

Reading for Seminars is carefully selected in advance for each session, and students are expected to have assimilated the appropriate passages prior to coming to class. The introductory/lecture part of the class is followed by discussion, during which students are given the opportunity to ask and answer questions, voice theoretical concerns, raise additional issues. Students are sometimes asked to give short non assessed presentations, followed by discussions.

Outcome A1 is also fostered by means of the Philosophy Departmental seminars, during which speakers, sometime world-known specialists, give presentations followed by open discussions. The Philosophy Department also organises a yearly mini-course, during which a specialist of international renown is asked to teach a series of classes on a specific topic.

Outcome A2 is achieved through attendance and participation in the module Psychoanalytic Theory 1 (PA901) or alternatively Freud and Object Relations (PA902) and Psychoanalytic Methodology (PA928). Students also prepare a dissertation on a topic of their choice which is individually supervised.


Assessment Methods

All outcomes are assessed through the essays written for each module and through the final dissertation.

expand paragraph   B: Intellectual/Cognitive Skills

Learning Methods

Skills B1 and B2 are developed in all modules by means of teaching, discussion, and assigned oral presentations, when these are used. The mode of teaching in all modules is text-based discussion. Skill B3 is developed especially in PY504 and PA939, where there is a particular emphasis in involving students in an ongoing process of philosophical and conceptual enquiry.

Skills B4-7 are developed principally through essay writing and through the exercise of selecting and researching a dissertation topic, and in writing a dissertation, that engages with issues that can be approached philosophically, psychoanalytically, or from both perspectives.


Assessment Methods

Skills B1-5 are assessed by means of the essays written during the year by students.

Skill B6 is assessed through the dissertation.



expand paragraph   C: Practical Skills

Learning Methods

Skills C1-3 and C5 are acquired through participation in seminars and the writing of essays. Considerable autonomy is encouraged in researching essays, the staff member aiming to assist in the formulation of research questions and in developing a strategy for answering them.

Skills C1 -3 and C5 are also acquired, as is skill C4, through the planning, researching and writing of the dissertation.


Assessment Methods

Skills C1-3 and C5 are assessed by writing of essays, and the dissertation. Skill C4 is assessed by the writing of the dissertation.

expand paragraph   D: Key Skills

Learning Methods

Skills D1 and D4: all modules require students to participate actively in discussion. They also require students to work independently on essays as well as on their dissertation. These have to be structured in an argumentative manner, and the arguments have to be supported by appropriate quotes or examples. Students also learn to express their views concisely and clearly when discussing the topics of their choice with their lecturers, and during supervisory sessions for the structuring and writing of the dissertation.

Skill D2 is developed by students while they do the preparatory work for their essays and dissertation. They are encouraged to use the University key skills on-line package, library searches and internet philosophy resources.

Skill D6 is developed by students during the course, in responding to the detailed comment sheets that accompany each marked essay written in the course of the year, and through discussion with the dissertation supervisor.

There is an expectation that students will build on their performance over the year in their coursework in researching and writing the final dissertation.


Assessment Methods

Skill D1, D2 and D4 are assessed by the writing of coursework. Skill D6 is assessed through the overall programme of essay and dissertation writing.


SECTION C: COURSE STRUCTURE

Please refer to your option list as issued by the department where necessary, and view module details in the module directory.

Additional notes on module choices:

We strongly recommend (but do not require) that you take the MA Writing Workshop (PY951) in the Autumn Term. This provides intensive skill-oriented training in philosophical writing at the postgraduate level.

MA students are entitled to apply for a place on a 2-week Erasmus Intensive Programme which usually takes place in July at one of the partner universities. A call for applications is normally circulated in the spring term. The topic in 2012-13 is Democracy and Cosmopolitanism.

expand paragraph   Components

Component No.Module CodeModule TitleStatus in AwardStatus in PG DiplomaStatus in PG Certificate
01PY982-7-FYDissertation: Ma in Philosophy and PsychoanalysisCoreCore
02PY938-7-SPPhilosophy and PsychoanalysisCompulsoryCompulsoryCompulsory
03PA901-7-FYPsychoanalytic TheoryCompulsoryCompulsoryCompulsory
04OPTION (15 CREDITS)OptionalOptionalOptional
05OPTION (15 CREDITS)OptionalOptionalOptional
06PA905-7-AU OR PA928-7-SP (15 CREDITS)OptionalOptionalOptional


SECTION D: RULES OF ASSESSMENT

Rules of assessment are here: http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/students/pgt/pgtrulesmenu.htm

Assessment information for individual modules can be found on the Module Directory at http://www.essex.ac.uk/courses/

See also: details of individual modules in the module directory and links to course materials and resources in the Online Resource Bank.

NOTE

The University of Essex Programme Specifications Catalogue is updated annually in April/May. The specifications represent the most current course structures and may be subject to review and change. Should you have any queries about the Catalogue's pages, please contact the Course Records Team, Systems Administration Office, Academic Section; email: crt (non Essex users should add @essex.ac.uk)