The Honours programme in Philosophy offers students the opportunity to further their studies in philosophy through individual research. The programme is a 24 point course of study that consists of two 4-point units, one of which may be a Part II Philosophy unit not previously completed for credit, together worth 8 points; an Honours Seminar worth 4 points; and a 12 point dissertation.
The Honours programme is designed for those students who would like to explore in greater depth a chosen area of special interest. To this end at least one of the elective units should be in an area relevant to the topic of the dissertation.
Honours Program Structure:
Honours Seminar/Dissertation Preliminary
4 Points
Unitwork
4 Points
Unitwork
4 Points
Dissertation
12 Points
The Honours Seminar is compulsory and common to all Honours students. It provides an opportunity for discussion, and Honours students are required to present at least one paper to the seminar. The seminar work also forms part of the preliminary work for the Honours Dissertation and is supervised by your dissertation supervisor or by another member of staff.
The Dissertation (12,000 words) focuses either on primary research or on a theoretical issue in the field. The subject is agreed upon between you and your prospective supervisor(s) and approved by the Program Committee.
When making a dissertation proposal, you should pay particular attention to the availability of both suitable source materials in Western Australia and a staff member qualified and available to supervise a thesis on that topic
Honours applicants are normally expected to have a broad research area in mind for their dissertation, and you should outline it in your application. Graduation with an average of 'D' or above in units taken for the BA in Philosophy is the minimum entry requirement. The programme may be taken in one year (full-time) or two years (part-time). In exceptional circumstances, it may be possible to take Honours externally.
Please refer to the 2010 Handbook.
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