Philosophy at Otago

The Philosophy programme at Otago has an outstanding reputation for research, in a country known internationally for its strength in philosophy. Our research specialisations include metaphysics, epistemology, ethical theory, philosophy of science, philosophical logic, early modern philosophy, philosophy of artificial intelligence, and the philosophy of language and mind.

The Philosophy programme has a friendly and open atmosphere in which staff and postgraduate students regularly socialise. We are an active community – a steady stream of visitors from across New Zealand and from overseas attend our weekly seminar programme, providing students with the opportunity to meet and attend seminars given by a wide range of leading philosophers. Our undergraduate Philosophy Club meets monthly for pizza and philosophical discussion.

What do students who've taken Philosophy say?

“The most interesting thing I've learned about in my life. Wish someone had told me about it when I first got to Uni.”

“My Philosophy degree gave me an edge over other [job] applicants. It also served me well as a social worker and an English teacher before becoming a lawyer.”

“My Philosophy degree allows me to look at the world in a meaningful way and provides me the tools to make sense of complex situations.”

“Critical thinking skills are very marketable in my profession. My Philosophy degree is a point of reference that evidences those skills, and has helped me differentiate my application from other graduates.”

Studying Philosophy

Philosophy can be studied either as a major or a minor in a Bachelor of Arts (BA). Some Philosophy papers can be taken as Science subjects and Critical Thinking (PHIL 105) may be taken as part of a Humanities, Science, or Commerce course. Many students choose to add Philosophy to their skill set by doing a double major or double degree such as BA/ LLB, BA/BSc or BA/BCom. Philosophy forms part of the interdisciplinary PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) Arts major. It also may be taken as part of the Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc), which provides the competitive advantage of a double degree in arts and science in a shorter time frame.

Recommended background

No previous acquaintance with philosophy is needed to take any of our 100-level papers, or many of our 200-level papers.

Further study opportunities

Whether you are looking to bridge your undergraduate studies to advanced knowledge or aiming to specialise in a specific field, Otago offers a range of graduate and postgraduate options to suit your aspirations.

Programme details

Compare programmes for this subject as a major and minor (where available).

Papers

View a list of all related papers below.

More information

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