Bachelor of Arts in Film and Philosophy

at University of Southampton - Avenue Campus United Kingdom

How should we live? What can we really know? Can religious beliefs be justified? This BA Philosophy, Ethics and Religion degree will allow you to examine far-reaching questions that have puzzled great thinkers for centuries. You’ll gain a grounding in philosophical and critical thought, and have the freedom to pursue your own interests in optional modules like metaphysics, Neolithic Britain and Islamic fundamentalism.

This degree will give you an excellent education in philosophy, ethics and religion.

In your degree you can:

• Develop an understanding of philosophical questions such as ethics, reason and responsibility
• Grapple with complex contemporary questions such as the duties of affluent people towards those living in poverty around the world
• Apply philosophical thought to language, morality, sex and other important aspects of life
• Study abroad at one of our partner institutions
• Develop research and presentation skills  

You’ll benefit from a rich, and enjoyable experience, and graduate as a confident, curious and independent self-starter equipped with the skills for a successful career.

You can take modules from other disciplines such as anthropology or psychology, studying a language, or choosing from a range of cross-disciplinary modules. These include topics such as social enterprise, risk management, and living and working on the web.

Examine the people and events of the past from different but complementary perspectives. On BA Archaeology and History with Year Abroad you'll take an in-depth look at your favourite historical subjects, choosing from options like the Cold War and 17th century witchcraft trials. You'll spend a year abroad at one of our partner institutions, such as the University of Malta or the Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona.

Archaeology looks at the past through the study of physical remains, including buildings, artefacts and the landscape itself. History draws on written and oral sources.

This degree will give you in-depth knowledge of both archaeology and history, and develop your understanding of earlier human societies. You'll learn how to use and understand historical sources. You'll also learn how to identify and excavate archaeological sites, extracting as much information as possible from materials and records.

Study history with archaeology abroad in your third year at a partner institution to broaden your knowledge and experience.

Archaeology and History with year abroad includes a wide variety of optional modules, covering subjects such as:

• American slavery
• Women's history in modern Britain
• Apocalyptic visions of history
• The French Revolution
• Human origins
• Landscapes and seascapes
• Emergence of civilisation

As part of this course, you can choose to take a minor subject in an unrelated area.

You'll develop valuable skills for any future career, including:

• Problem solving
• Teamwork
• Project management

What is freedom? What makes a state legitimate? You’ll explore questions that have challenged philosophers and political theorists throughout history on this BA Philosophy and Politics degree. Compulsory modules give a grounding in both subjects, while optional modules include topics like international relations, 21st century crises and Ancient Greek philosophy.

This degree will give you an excellent education in philosophy and politics. In your degree you can:

• Develop an understanding of philosophical questions such as ethics, reason and responsibility
• Explore fundamental and far-reaching issues about human welfare and social justice, political ideals and political realities
• Take core modules on democracy and the modern state
• Learn about subfields of political theory, comparative politics and international relations
• Conduct research and write your dissertation in one or both subjects

You’ll learn in small groups in a relaxed and friendly environment. Our academic staff's research feeds into the course content.

You can take modules from other disciplines such as anthropology or psychology, studying a language, or choosing from a range of cross-disciplinary modules.

Learn the history and theory of film and gain a global perspective on cinema on this MA Film Studies master's degree at the University of Southampton. On this course you’ll develop in-depth knowledge of the most influential theories and approaches to understanding film. You’ll also find out about the latest debates and concerns around the industry.

This MA in film studies will give you the chance to examine the evolution of cinema and develop your own analytical skills.

You’ll gain valuable insights into the movie industry, looking at everything from film theory to current issues in film distribution.

You'll also benefit from:

• Being taught by expert academics with an international reputation  
• Regular talks from industry professionals and acclaimed film scholars
• A flexible approach that allows you to pursue your own areas of interest

With the practical and theoretical skills you learn, you’ll be in a great position to move into a career in the arts or media.

Southampton is ranked 3rd in the UK for film in the Guardian University Guide 2020.

Improve your knowledge of history and literature in English by studying them together. You could read fiction from Africa to help you understand European political history. You could gain new insights into the reign of James I by immersing yourself in the theatre of his time. A year abroad will enhance your studies and let you experience a new culture.

History at Southampton covers the ancient world to the present day. Our English modules explore writing from around the world and its connection to politics, the arts, identity and more.

With our advice, you can shape your degree to suit your own development. For example, you can:

• Learn to write screenplays
• Study Victorian sensation fiction
• Take several modules on the history and literature of oceans

Your studies will include critical analysis, presentations and group work. These will help you develop your conceptual thinking, communication and research skills.

You can take modules that support your year abroad, such as a modern language or European politics.

Our year abroad partner universities in Europe include:

• Barcelona
• Prague
• Frankfurt
• Lausanne

You can also choose universities outside Europe, including locations in:

• The United States
• Canada
• Australia
• South Korea

As part of this course you can:

• Join one of 40 student-led performing arts groups
• Take part in writing workshops at Nuffield Southampton Theatres
• Use a unique collection of rare books at the Chawton House Library
• Explore experimental writing with our Entropics events
• Get one-to-one tutorials on writing from our Royal Literary Fund Fellows

You can deepen your links to our History community by:

• Joining the dynamic, student-run History Society
• Use one of the largest Jewish document centres in Europe, the Parkes Archive

On our humanities-focused maritime archaeology master’s degree you’ll explore the changing relationship people have had with the world’s oceans and seas. You’ll study the technologies of seafaring, histories of environmental change, and submerged landscapes. This subject incorporates elements of traditional archaeology, ethnography, maritime history and marine science.

You can apply to study our maritime archaeology master’s degree as either an MA or MSc at Southampton.

MA Maritime Archaeology offers the same course content as our MSc Maritime Archaeology but you’ll take a more humanities-based approach through your module choices and dissertation topic.

The course draws on the world-leading expertise of the Centre for Maritime Archaeology to offer an unparalleled breadth and depth of content. The course is designed to allow rapid development of the diverse academic knowledge and practical skills required to work in this field, including:

• The latest methods for data acquisition and integration
• Academic research and dissemination
• Archaeological fieldwork

This means you’ll cover all aspects of maritime archaeology, from those who wish to focus on field-based activities, both above and underwater archaeology, through to laboratory or library-based research.

Philosophy and English literature have between them tackled some of the biggest questions of our age: Is there a god? What is morality? What does it mean to be human? On this joint honours course you’ll examine these and other fundamental concepts from 2 complementary angles, enriching your understanding and appreciation of each discipline in the process.

This BA degree will give you an excellent education in literature, theory and critical thinking.

In your degree you can:

• Learn about philosophical questions such as ethics, reason and responsibility
• Explore philosophy and literature through diverse times and places, from Viking to Victorian eras, from Eastern to African settings
• Study themes like the Islamic Golden Age, classical Indian philosophy, and holocaust literature
• Study abroad at one of our partner institutions
• Explore contested narratives, for example, race and culture in American literature

You’ll be taught in small groups in a relaxed and friendly environment, and benefit from the expertise of academic staff whose research feeds directly into the course content.

Compulsory modules provide a strong grounding in philosophical and critical thought, while optional modules give you the freedom to pursue your own interests in subjects as varied as scriptwriting, short stories and Islamic philosophy. You can take modules from other disciplines such as anthropology or psychology, studying a language, or choosing from a range of cross-disciplinary modules.

Explore 18th century literature in depth with a master’s degree at the University of Southampton. This course gives you the chance to specialise in the culture and history of the 18th century, covering topics such as:

• 18th century fiction
• economics and class
• education
• gender and sexuality
• Jane Austen

On completion of the course, you’ll be ready for a career in teaching, publishing, librarianship or cultural heritage.

You’ll get the chance to carry out advanced-level research and independent critical thinking, and to make effective use of archives, manuscripts, and research libraries. This pathway is linked to Chawton House Library, the ‘Great House’ referred to in Jane Austen’s letters, which is now home to a unique collection of women’s writing.

We offer a flexible module structure which is designed to give you an advanced understanding of cultural analysis, textual interpretation and theoretical method.

You'll explore the interrelations of text, theory and culture across the field of English literary and cultural studies. We’ll work with you to:

• develop your knowledge of critical and research methods
• raise your awareness of the historical and critical reception of literature in various periods
• explore the role of literature in a contested cultural framework

This degree will give you complete proficiency in German and you’ll gain valuable experience spending a year living and working in a foreign country.

Following our system of language development, you’ll start at a level that matches your ability in German. This means we can personalise your learning so you make the best progress.

You’ll also have all the resources you need to support you in our excellent Centre for Language Study.

You’ll have the freedom to tailor your degree to areas that interest you. Whether you want to learn another language, take modules from other subject areas, improve your employability skills, or explore German culture, society, or history, the choice will be yours.  

In your year abroad you can choose to work as an English assistant in a school, study at a university or take a work placement. Our partner universities in the Erasmus programme are in Germany and Austria.

This German course has a strong focus on employability. You’ll have the option to take practical modules looking at teaching, you could take advantage of our vacation work placement schemes and you’ll develop a wide range of transferable skills.

Our MSc Business and Heritage Management master’s degree offers a personalised curriculum. It will develop your knowledge and skills in business and archaeology, and make you an effective manager of the world’s heritage.

The heritage industry is a major contributor to the global economy, employing an increasing number of skilled heritage managers. We’ll guide you through modules to develop your understanding of the economic and legal principles of heritage management around the world. This includes museum displays, site presentations, and how heritage shapes national identities.

You'll learn about the theory and practice of assessing, preserving, presenting and mitigating the impact of development on our shared heritage.

We’ll develop your skills in finance, project management and risk management to give you opportunities in both the public and private sectors. You’ll graduate with the skills to work in a wide range of business and management roles in the heritage, tourism and construction sectors.