English Literature and Philosophy, BA (Hons)

Joint Honours in English and Philosophy is a cross-disciplinary course, which develops and assesses skills, knowledge, and understanding across English and Philosophy, typically including a range of major philosophical and literary texts, important concepts, questions, arguments and methods. The course also fosters understanding of the relationships between English and Philosophy (through, for example, the compulsory Theory and Practice of Literary Criticism module, as well as optional modules offered by both Departments) and to develop detailed knowledge in either English or Philosophy through the preparation of a Dissertation on a chosen topic. The syllabus is equally weighted between the two subjects, although you may take one module more in one of the subjects (and therefore one less in the other) in year three.Year 1You will take three modules in English literature and three modules in Philosophy. The three first-year compulsory English modules introduce you to representative works in the major literary genres (novel, drama, and poetry), including knowledge of a range of writing before 1800. In the three first-year compulsory Philosophy modules, you will encounter the ideas and arguments of some of the major philosophers in the history of the subject, in their own writings; some central theories and arguments in the fields of Logic, Metaphysics, Epistemology, or Philosophy of Mind, broadly understood; some central theories and arguments in the fields of Moral, Political, or Social Philosophy, broadly understood.Compulsory modulesIn the first year, you will take the following English Literature and Philosophy modules:Introduction to DramaIntroduction to the NovelIntroduction to PoetryEthics and ValuesKnowledge and RealityReading Philosophy.Study AbroadYou may apply to study abroad for an additional year between Levels 2 and 3 (transferring from BA Hons in English Literature and Philosophy to BA Hons English Literature and Philosophy with a Year Abroad). Supported by the International Office and the Department’s International Co-ordinator, you can put yourself forward for the following study abroad options:The Overseas Exchange programme (university-wide links with institutions in North America, the Far East, Australasia, and so on). A list of the University’s current partners is available here: https://www.dur.ac.uk/international/studyabroad/exchange/outgoing/partnerunis/The Erasmus Programme (Departmental link maintained with universities in EU countries). For more information on this course, please see our website.