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The University of Notre Dame Australia

  • 2% international / 98% domestic

Bachelor of Arts (Major: Philosophy)

  • Bachelor

Who am I? What is the meaning of life? How can we be certain of the truth? A Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Philosophy deals with some of the most important questions facing each of us.

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor
Duration
3 years full-time
Course Code
3009, 015324A
Study Mode
In person

About this course

School of Arts & Sciences

Who am I? What is the meaning of life? How can we be certain of the truth? A Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Philosophy deals with some of the most important questions facing each of us. Apart from tackling such complex issues, this degree will teach you how to improve your own critical thinking abilities - a skill which you can apply to your career after university.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements for this program are outlined below. In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency. We also consider your application more broadly - your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program. See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.

Applicants with recent Secondary Education

  • Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank* of 70

OR

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) score of 25

*Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

Applicants with Higher Education

  • Successful completion of 2 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*

OR

  • Successful completion of the Notre Dame Tertiary Pathway Program (TPP), or a tertiary preparation program from another institution that is deemed to be of a similar academic rigour to the Notre Dame TPP

* Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing).

Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • Successful completion of AQF Certificate IV or higher from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

Applicants with Work and Life Experience

Applicants who left secondary education more than two years previously and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since may be considered for direct entry. This includes applicants who have completed Steiner, Montessori or home school curriculums. To qualify, applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake and meet one or more of the following:

  • Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry. Applicants must provide evidence of their work experience, including duties undertaken and years of experience, and they must demonstrate that they have the academic capability to undertake undergraduate studies. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required*.

OR

  • Completion of STAT with scores of at least 135 in the Multiple Choice section and 140 in the Written English section*.

OR

  • Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under Secondary Education section above.

*STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years in order to be considered (e.g. for 2024 admission, STAT results obtained in 2023, 2022 or 2021 can be considered).

Entry requirements NSW

Academic requirements for this program are outlined below. In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency. We also consider your application more broadly - your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program. See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.

Applicants with recent Secondary Education

  • Prescribed ATAR/Selection Rank*

OR

  • Equivalent International Baccalaureate (IB) score

*Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

Applicants with Higher Education

  • Successful completion of 2 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*

OR

  • Successful completion of the Notre Dame Tertiary Pathway Program (TPP), or a tertiary preparation program from another institution that is deemed to be of a similar academic rigour to the Notre Dame TPP

*Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing).

Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • Successful completion of AQF Certificate IV or higher from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

Applicants with Work and Life Experience

Applicants who left secondary education more than two years previously and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since may be considered for direct entry. This includes applicants who have completed Steiner, Montessori or home school curriculums. To qualify, applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake and meet one or more of the following:

  • Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry. Applicants must provide evidence of their work experience, including duties undertaken and years of experience, and they must demonstrate that they have the academic capability to undertake undergraduate studies. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required*.

OR

  • Completion of STAT with scores of at least 150 in the Multiple Choice section and 150 in the Written English section*.

OR

  • Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under Secondary Education section above.

*STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years in order to be considered (e.g. for 2024 admission, STAT results obtained in 2023, 2022 or 2021 can be considered).

Study locations

Sydney

Fremantle

What you will learn

The Philosophy Major fosters philosophical thought which is central to the way we see ourselves and the wider world. The Major provides a detailed introduction to the Western philosophical tradition, from the Ancient World right up until the present day. Along the way, you will grapple with some of the thorniest questions in moral philosophy, learn basic philosophical reasoning, and develop a capacity for critical thinking and clear expression.

Philosophy is available as a Major and Minor in the following programs, including double degree variations:

  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Arts (Architecture) (Minor only)
  • Bachelor of Behavioural Science
  • Bachelor of Communications and Media (second Major and Minor)
  • Bachelor of Science (Minor only)

You can also complete a 3 year Bachelor of Philosophy degree.

Career pathways

The transferable skills from this Major will be welcome by many employers. Many students go on to post graduate study in education, law or counselling. Career opportunities include: policy analyst, researcher, intelligence officer, and diplomat.

Course structure

The Philosophy major includes these requirements:

Fremantle

Students complete SIX of these courses:

  • PHIL2100 History of Philosophy: Ancient
  • PHIL2110 History of Philosophy: Medieval
  • PHIL2130 History of Philosophy: Modern
  • PHIL2140 History of Philosophy: Contemporary
  • PHIL3050 Aesthetics: The Philosophy of Art
  • PHIL3080 Natural Law
  • PHIL3090 Moral Philosophy
  • PHIL3150 Philosophy of Love and Friendship
  • PHIL3210 Philosophy of the Human Person
  • PHIL3300 Epistemology
  • PHIL3310 Cosmology and Philosophy of Science
  • PHIL3410 Political Philosophy
  • PHIL3510 Metaphysics: Theories of Being and Existence
  • PHIL3520 Philosophy of Religion
  • PHIL3550 Myth and Meaning
  • PHIL3710 Logical and Critical Thinking
  • PHIL3950 Special Topics in Philosophy & Ethics
Sydney

Students complete these THREE courses

  • PHIL1020 The Method & Basic Problems of Philosophy
  • PHIL1030 Critical Thinking
  • PHIL3090 Moral Philosophy

Students complete ONE of these courses:

  • PHIL2100 History of Philosophy: Ancient
  • PHIL2110 History of Philosophy: Medieval
  • PHIL2130 History of Philosophy: Modern
  • PHIL2140 History of Philosophy: Contemporary

Students complete FOUR of these courses:

  • PHIL2010 Introduction to Formal Logic
  • PHIL2060 The Philosophy of Science
  • PHIL2070 The Philosophy of Language
  • PHIL2100 History of Philosophy: Ancient
  • PHIL2110 History of Philosophy: Medieval
  • PHIL2130 History of Philosophy: Modern
  • PHIL2140 History of Philosophy: Contemporary
  • PHIL3000 Aquinas: Analytic and Phenomenological Approaches
  • PHIL3010 Business Ethics
  • PHIL3030 An Introduction to Metaphysics
  • PHIL3040 Metaphysics, Being, and God
  • PHIL3050 Aesthetics: The Philosophy of Art
  • PHIL3060 Faith and Reason
  • PHIL3080 Natural Law
  • PHIL3150 Philosophy of Love and Friendship
  • PHIL3210 Philosophy of the Human Person
  • PHIL3300 Epistemology
  • PHIL3410 Political Philosophy
  • PHIL3520 Philosophy of Religion

Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

Please note: the availability of these courses is indicative only and may be subject to change.

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Humanities, Culture & Social Sciences courses at The University of Notre Dame Australia.
87.9%
Overall satisfaction
90.9%
Skill scale
85.5%
Teaching scale
65.3%
Employed full-time
$62.6k
Average salary