Contents:
Honours in Philosophy
Programme Convener: Dr T Angier
Admission Requirements:
(a) Faculty admission requirements as set out under Rule FH3 apply.
(b) Programme admission requirements are:
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A high level of performance in a major in Philosophy, or its equivalent.
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Some students may be required by the Department to take their Honours over an eighteen month or two-year period.
Acceptance is at the discretion of the Head of Department.
Programme structure:
The coursework component of the Honours programme consists of four modules. Under normal circumstances, these modules will be those offered by the Department. (Exceptions to this will only be granted if a strong case for taking modules outside the Department is made, to the satisfaction of the Head of Department). Together, the four taught courses constitute 75% of the final mark.
The programme also requires the student to complete a research essay of not more than 10 000 words. This essay may be written on any topic of interest to the student, on condition that the Department has the capacity to provide supervision in that area and that the topic is approved by either the Postgraduate Convener or the Head of Department. In the past, some students have chosen to write their research essays on a topic from their coursework, which they explore in more detail. Other students have written on new topics not covered in coursework. Note that these are treated more like long essays rather than theses for the purposes of supervision – i.e. supervision will be provided but typically drafts will not be read.
The research essay/project is weighted at 25% of the final result and must be submitted by no later than 31 October, for graduation in December of that same year. In the past, most Honours students have elected to complete their research essay during the summer break. The Faculty requires students who do not submit by 31 October to request an extension. However, this concession, which should be sent to the Postgraduate Convener, is routinely approved. Provided that the essay is handed in by 31 January students will not have to pay any additional fees, although they will not be able to graduate until June of the following year. (Note: This delayed graduation date will not affect eligibility for commencing further graduate studies). However in order to commence further graduate studies, a final copy of the research essay must be in by 15 January.
To be awarded the degree not less than 50% must be obtained for each component of the programme. Normally the course lasts one calendar year, although some students may be required by the Department to take their Honours over an eighteen-month or two-year period.
Masters in Philosophy by coursework
Masters entry requirements:
(a) Faculty admission requirements as set out under Rule FM3 apply.
(b) Programme admission requirements are:
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A high level of performance in an Honours in Philosophy, or its equivalent.
Acceptance is at the discretion of the Head of Department.
About the programme:
Four courses of intensive study are chosen in consultation with the graduate convenor. The student will be required to write twelve substantial research papers over the course of the year. In addition, a dissertation of approximately 25 000 words is to be written under supervision. Coursework is weighted at 50% of the final result, and the minor dissertation a weighted at 50% of the final result. To be awarded the degree, not less than 50% must be obtained for each component of the programme. (For dissertation deadlines – see below).
Research Masters in Philosophy
PhD in Philosophy
Examination is by dissertation/thesis alone. A Masters dissertation should not exceed 50 000 words in length. A doctoral thesis should not exceed 80 000 words in length. (For dissertation deadlines – see below).
Masters/PhD Dissertation Deadlines:
For a Masters-by-coursework, you must register for a minor dissertation; for a Masters-by-thesis or a PhD you must register for a major dissertation. Either way, a candidature form, available from the graduate office, must be completed before you can register for the dissertation component of the course. In addition, you and your supervisor will have to complete a Memorandum of Understanding that sets out shared expectation and requirements for supervision of the dissertation.
For an end-of-year graduation, your thesis must be submitted by 14 August. Note: if your thesis is handed in after the start of the first semester in any year, you will need to re-register for that year and will incur extra fees.
Your dissertation is marked by two external examiners. Since these need to be sourced, the graduate school requires you to complete an intention to submit that functions as an alert for the faculty, so that they can source and contact external examiners, as well as inform you of the procedures and requirements of the actual hand-in of the thesis. This form should be submitted four weeks before your thesis submission for a Masters degree and earlier for a PhD. It is important that both the intention to submit form and the thesis itself are handed in by the specified dates, if you are to stand a good chance of having your result by the time graduation takes place.
Honours and Masters in Politics, Philosophy and Economics
This is a joint programme offered by the Departments of Philosophy, Political Studies and Economics. Please check with relevant departments to ensure your electives will be offered in your chosen year of study.
General Convener: Dr G Hull (Philosophy)
Politics Advisor: A/Prof Zwelethu Jolobe
Economics Advisor: Prof Eftychia Nikolaidou
Programme Structure:
The PPE programme is an interdisciplinary programme incorporating courses and research in the three disciplines of Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Students entering the programme must identify their primary disciplinary focus in order to be placed in a home department. While all PPE students will complete at least one course in each of the disciplines, their research (Honours project or Masters minor dissertation) will be based in their home department, with registration and supervision complying with that department’s requirements.
General Admission requirements:
For general admission into the programme, at both Honours and Masters level, students must have successfully completed:
• A major, or its equivalent, in either Politics, Philosophy or Economics,
• At least first year, defined as at least two semester courses at first year level, in each of the other two disciplines (excluding the major).
Acceptance to the programme is at the discretion of the Programme Convener and requires the recommendation of the Head of the Department in the home department selected by the applicant.
Admission requirements per home department:
In addition to the above requirements, there are additional, specific requirements per home department. Please refer to the handbook.
Honours Programme
At Honours level the programme comprises five taught courses as well as a research essay. The registration requirements for the programme are below. Please consult the Faculty Handbook for this years current course offerings.
1. One x PHI course from the elective PHI options listed below
2. One x ECO course from the elective ECO options listed below
3. One x POL course from the elective POL options listed below
4. One elective from home department (ECO4006F or ECO4007F or ECO4016F if Economics is your home department)
5. PHI4024F/S PPE Texts or elective
One research essay:
PHI4019W Research Essay or
POL4007H Research Essay or
ECO4021W Research and Writing (maximum 8000 words, due first Monday of 4th quarter - see Commerce Handbook)
Masters Programme
At Masters level the programme comprises a Minor Dissertation as well as four taught courses of which no more than two can be at HEQF Level 8 (4000 level). The registration requirements for the programme are as follows:
1. Four courses: one course each in Philosophy, Politics and Economics to be selected from the elective options listed below and the remaining course in the chosen home department.
2. ECO5066W Minor Dissertation or
PHI5002W Minor Dissertation or
POL5010W Minor Dissertation
Elective Option
The following is a list of courses in the various disciplines from which students may select their course options. Subject to approval by the programme convener, equivalent electives that are not listed below may be selected. Consult the course outlines at the back of the Humanities Faculty Handbook for courses currently on offer in the various departments, as well as listings in other, relevant faculty handbooks (e.g. Commerce).
PHILOSOPHY OPTIONS
PHI4004H Philosophical Texts
PHI4012F Philosophy of Psychology
PHI4015S Topics in Theoretical Philosophy
PHI4017F Aesthetics
PHI4021S Topics in Rational Decision Making
PHI4022S Moral Philosophy
PHI4023F History of Philosophy
PHI5003F Contemporary Metaphysics
PHI5004S Truth and Meaning (not offered if PHI5005S is offered)
PHI5005S Formal Logic (not offered if PHI5004S is offered)
PHI5006H Philosophical Texts
PHI5007F Philosophy of Science
PHI5008S Moral Philosophy
PHI5009S Topics in Rational Decision Making
PHI5010S Topics in Theoretical Philosophy
ECONOMICS OPTIONS (Courses may be added or withdrawn according to circumstances each year. Students need permission from the lecturer teaching the course.)
ECO4006F Macro-economics
ECO4007F Micro-economics
ECO4013S International Finance
ECO4016F Econometrics
ECO4020S Economic Challenges in Africa
ECO4026S The Economy and its Financial Markets
ECO4027S Survey Data
ECO4028S Policy Analysis
ECO4032S Economics of Industry, Regulation and Firms
ECO4051S Development Economics
ECO4052S Environmental Economics
ECO4053S Financial Economics
ECO4113S Labour Economics
ECO4114S The Economics of Conflict, War and Peace
ECO5020F Advanced Micro-economics
ECO5021F Advanced Macro-economics
ECO5026S Industrial Organisation
ECO5030S Economic Growth
ECO5046F Advanced Econometrics
ECO5052S Natural Resource Economics
ECO5062S Applied International Trade
ECO5064S Institutional Behavioural Economics
ECO5069S Applied Time Series Analysis
ECO5070S Micro-econometrics
ECO5073S Problems of Globalisation, Industrialisation and Development
ECO5074F Research and Policy Tools
ECO5075S Macro-economic Policy Analysis
ECO5076S Development Microeconomics
POLITICS OPTIONS
POL4002F Theories of International Relations
POL4006F Public Policy
POL4012F Comparative Politics
POL4013S Comparative Public Administration
POL4032F Comparative Transitional Justice
POL4033F African Politics
POL4039F Peace Operations in World Politics
POL4044F Global Political Thought
POL4048F Dialectical Political Thought
POL4049S Comparative Foreign Policy
POL5001F Comparative Politics
POL5006F Public Management
POL5007S Policy Evaluation and Implementation
POL5023S Political Behaviour and Research
POL5026F Special Topics
POL5027F Public Administration Thought
POL5029S Political Ethics
POL5032F International Political Economy
POL5034F Conflict in Africa
POL5035F Data Analysis in Political Science
POL5036S Special Topics II
POL5037S Post-conflict Justice in Africa
POL5042F Peace-building: Issues and Problems
POL5044F South African Politics
POL5045F Third World Politics
POL5046S Democratisation