Philosophy
Philosophy (B.A.)
Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of philosophy! You’ll explore questions about human life and coexistence that have been asked for millennia. Explore the diversity of philosophical texts and experience the tension between historical depth and modern debates. At the Erlangen Institute of Philosophy, you’ll develop intellectual flexibility, ethical awareness, and analytical acuity.
- Degree
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- Duration of studies in semester
- 6
- Start of degree program
- Winter semester
- Study location
- Erlangen
- Number of students
- 150-250
- Subject group
- Language and Cultural Studies
- Special ways to study
- 2-subject Bachelor, Part-time degree program
- Teaching language
- completely in German
- Admission Requirements
- No Admissions Restrictions
What is the degree program about?
„What should I do?“, „What does a good life consist of?“, „What is justice?“, „What do we owe to future generations?“, „What is beauty?“, „What exists?“, „Does God exist?“, „What can I know?“, „What is science?“, „What is a good argument?“, „What is the relationship between language, thought and reality?“, „Are we free?“
Philosophy has always asked questions that deal with the existential conditions of human life and coexistence. In the study of philosophy, you will address these and similar questions through intensive study of philosophical texts.
Philosophy can look back on 2500 years of history. At the same time, it is a modern science with a multitude of subject-oriented debates. At the Erlangen Institute of Philosophy you will get to know the subject in its historical breadth from antiquity to the present. On the other hand, you will deal with current philosophical theories in an argumentative way during your studies.
In the course of the BA program in Philosophy, you will acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. These include intellectual history education, sharpened ethical problem awareness, structured thinking, analytical skills, sharpness of argumentation and a high degree of interpretation and writing competence.
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The degree program is divided into four phases
- In the first, one-semester study phase, students acquire basic knowledge of the content, methods and working techniques of philosophy in general and of argumentation theory and logic in particular in the module „Propaedeutics“.
- The second study phase (first to third semester) serves as a historical-systematic introduction to the most important sub-disciplines of philosophy, and also provides an overview of the history of philosophy.
- In the third study phase (third to fifth semester), students deepen their basic knowledge in selected sub-disciplines of theoretical and practical philosophy.
- The fourth study phase (fifth and sixth semester) finally serves the training for independent scientific work (in-depth modules).
After the first year, students take a basic and orientation examination. At least the basic module I (10 ECTS credits) and one of the basic modules IIA or IIIA with a total of 10 ECTS credits must be successfully completed.
Key qualifications
The study program is completed by the acquisition of 20 ECTS credits in the area of key qualifications. In particular, modules for the acquisition or deepening of knowledge of Greek or Latin are recommended, or modules offered by Medicine or Natural and Technical Sciences for the area of „Key Qualifications“.
Bachelor thesis
The bachelor thesis is written in the 1st subject. It should comprise a maximum of 40 pages of text and is assessed with 10 ECTS credits. The acquisition of 120 ECTS credits is a prerequisite for the assignment of a topic for the Bachelor’s thesis. In the subject Philosophy, successful participation in at least one main seminar from the specialization modules Phil 8 and Phil 9 must be proven.
The subject Philosophy can be chosen in the modularized two-subject Bachelor’s program as
- 1st subject (90 ECTS, 36 SWS; 10 modules including Bachelor thesis) or as a
- 2nd subject (70 ECTS, 32 SWS; 8 modules).
With regard to the ability to study, it is recommended to combine the subject Philosophy with Political Science, Sociology, Theater and Media Studies, Education, Art History, English and American Studies or German Studies.
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- a desire to read
- a feeling for argumentative-logical connections
- persistent intellectual curiosity, which does not fade even with more demanding and abstract content (no fear of difficult texts!)
- passion for clear, thoughtful, (self-)critical and open-minded thinking
- Interest in writing own scientific texts
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Many opportunities open up for philosophy graduates in the current job market, precisely because academic training in philosophy is not aimed at a specific job description. The skills that are taught can be applied in a wide variety of fields.
As in many other courses of study, there is no profession exactly tailored to the philosophy major. Experience shows that philosophy graduates typically find positions
- in media relations (radio, online media, television),
- the publishing industry,
- business and political consulting,
- public relations,
- in science management and foundations,
- partly also in the software sector
- in the software sector.
An academic career is also possible in principle, although it must be pointed out that – as in all university subjects – only a few graduates are permanently employed at the university.
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Degree program combinations
- Archaeological Sciences
- Art History
- Book Studies
- Chinese Studies
- Cultural History of Christianity
- Education
- English and American Studies
- French Roman Studies
- German studies
- Greek Philology
- Hispanic Studies
- Islamic Religious Studies
- Italian Romance Studies
- Latin Philology
- Medieval Latin and Neo-Latin
- Oriental Studies
- Political Science
- Scandinavian Studies (BA)
- Sociology
- Theater and Media Studies
Das Lehrangebot dieser Kombination ist so aufeinander abgestimmt, dass die Fächer in der Regel überschneidungsfrei miteinander kombiniert werden können.
Limited degree program combinations
- Business and Economics
- Computational Linguistics
- Digital Humanities and Social Sciences
- Geography: Cultural Geography
- History
- Indo-European and Indo-Iranian Studies
- Japanese Studies
Diese Kombination kann nur nach einer diesbezüglichen Studienberatung studiert werden. Die Überschneidungsfreiheit kann jedoch nicht garantiert werden. Die Studierenden tragen selbst die Verantwortung für die Studierbarkeit der Kombination und die Einhaltung der Fristen des § 10. Der Nachweis einer Studienberatung ist bei der Immatrikulation vorzulegen.
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- Admission requirements (first semester)
- No Admissions Restrictions
- Application deadline winter semester
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30.09.
Language skills
- German language skills for international applicants
- DSH 2 or equivalent
- Details and notes
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The application deadline for the winter semester for international applicants is July 15th.
In addition to the general qualification for university entrance (Abitur), there are other access options for studying at FAU.
Do you need help or more information?
Our Student Advice and Career Service (IBZ) is the central point of contact for all questions about studying and starting a degree programme. Our Student Service Centres and subject advisors support you in planning your studies.