{"id":2822,"date":"2022-01-11T16:44:17","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T16:44:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/?p=2822"},"modified":"2022-10-25T13:33:09","modified_gmt":"2022-10-25T12:33:09","slug":"is-ma-philosophy-the-right-course-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/2022\/01\/11\/is-ma-philosophy-the-right-course-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Is MA Philosophy the right course for you?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” fullwidth=”on” next_background_color=”#000000″ global_module=”322″][et_pb_fullwidth_menu global_parent=”322″ _builder_version=”3.17.6″ menu_id=”8″ submenu_direction=”downwards” fullwidth_menu=”off” module_class=”main-navigation” background_layout=”dark” \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”on” prev_background_color=”#000000″ next_background_color=”#1d1d1d”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″][et_pb_row_inner locked=”off”][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_post_title _builder_version=”3.0.106″ title=”on” meta=”on” author=”on” date=”on” categories=”on” comments=”on” featured_image=”on” featured_placement=”above” text_color=”dark” text_background=”off” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_layout=”light” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n

You might have already made up your mind regarding the postgraduate path you wish to follow, but if you haven\u2019t and are considering a Master\u2019s in Philosophy at Manchester, it might be worth giving this blog a quick read!<\/p>\n

The MA Philosophy<\/a> course here has a wide range of modules available, and as opposed to undergraduate courses, you get to choose most of your modules. Honestly, this is such a big plus! It allows you to explore the main branches of Philosophy (if you haven\u2019t done much before), extend your philosophical knowledge (perhaps if your undergraduate degree is in Philosophy and you\u2019re already acquainted with most introductory modules), or further explore the areas you already have an interest in.<\/p>\n

You can also choose a 15-credit module from another department, which can be helpful especially if your dissertation topic is researched from different but interconnected perspectives across departments. Take me for example: I will be writing my MA dissertation in Philosophy of Language, analysing how some slurs function, so I decided to do a formal Linguistics module on the study of meaning, where I explored central topics in semantics and pragmatics.<\/p>\n

Similarly, if there\u2019s an undergraduate module you\u2019re particularly interested in and relevant to your dissertation, you can always audit it (you attend the lectures and\/or seminars, but you\u2019re not assessed on it). That\u2019s what I\u2019ll do next semester: I will audit the third-year module Language and Oppression<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Speaking of dissertation, it\u2019s often intimidating to think about perhaps one of the biggest research projects you\u2019d ever do. Sadly, there\u2019s no recipe for how to write a perfect dissertation, but you do get a lot of guidance and support on how to approach it. There\u2019s a compulsory 2-semester MA Philosophy Research Skills<\/em><\/a> module, which is tailored to your cohort, and where you receive continuous advice on how to read Philosophy, as well as feedback on your writing style. This is also where you can discuss difficult papers or not-so-straightforward arguments with your course mates.<\/p>\n

Now, if you\u2019re not quite sure where your philosophical interests lie (which is not uncommon), then look out for modules like Landmark Papers in Analytic Philosophy<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>where every week a different lecturer leads a seminar on a different topic. Here you explore diverse philosophical questions, such as:<\/p>\n