Major Undergraduate

Philosophy

Major details for:
Murdoch code
MJ-PHLA
Study mode
Full Time or Part Time
What is a Major?
A major is your primary area of focus within a degree. It determines the core subjects you'll study and the skills you'll master.

Major overview

Philosophy is the foundation of all other disciplines. It focuses on the very scope and limits of human understanding and deals with the most fundamental knowledge of the world and ourselves.

All systematic enquiry is ultimately grounded in philosophy. It’s the art of clear thinking, the ability to address the most fundamental questions in life and an understanding of how to revise our conceptual frameworks in order to elicit change in the world, which sets up you as a philosophy student to become a competent thinker, leader, and innovator who makes a real impact. The Philosophy course at Murdoch introduces students to the major strands of philosophical thought as well as offering three special focus areas: ethics and political philosophy, 20th century European philosophy, and history of metaphysics.

3 reasons to study Philosophy at Murdoch

  1. You’ll learn critical thinking and analytic skills – identified by employers as two of the most important attributes for the future workforce.
  2. Studying philosophy is immensely rewarding – it sets you up on a life-long trajectory of taking pleasure in learning and enables you to think outside the box.
  3. Philosophy at Murdoch is focused on real-world issues: study contemporary problems in ethics and justice, the relationship between philosophy, politics, and economics, or the relationship between power and knowledge.

What you’ll learn

Build the knowledge and skills you need to meet your career or study goals. Here are some of the things you’ll learn:

  • Critical and creative thinking
  • Logical reasoning
  • Advanced communication skills
  • Ethical problem-solving
  • History of ideas and their impact on the sciences, literature, art and society

Your future career

The written and verbal skills developed in Philosophy can be applied to almost any career. Careers could include:

  • Intelligence Services
  • Policy Advisor or Analyst
  • Public service
  • Academia/research

Previous admission information is available at Murdoch Admission Information - Arts.

Start dates

Starting period Location Face to Face Online Mixed mode
Semester 1, 2026 Murdoch Yes Yes Yes
Semester 2, 2026 Murdoch Yes Yes Yes
Semester 1, 2027 Murdoch Yes Yes Yes
Semester 2, 2027 Murdoch Yes Yes Yes

View the dates for our teaching periods or find out more about attendance modes.

Starting period Location Face to Face Online Mixed mode
Semester 1, 2026 Murdoch Yes No No
Semester 2, 2026 Murdoch Yes No No
Semester 1, 2027 Murdoch Yes No No
Semester 2, 2027 Murdoch Yes No No

View the dates for our teaching periods or find out more about attendance modes.

Major Structure

Visit the Course Handbook - Get detailed information on units, prerequisites, and pathways.

To help plan the structure of your course, search for our suggested course plans.

Unit code Unit name Credit points

How to Apply

Majors are part of a degree and can't be applied on their own. Apply for a related degree first, then choose your major once enrolled.

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