Course details

Summary

Your inquisitive mind can make you highly employable

The Graduate Diploma in Arts (Philosophy) will give you the equivalent of an undergraduate major in philosophy without completing a second bachelor’s degree.

What is it Like?

A Massey Graduate Diploma in Arts (Philosophy) is a bridging tool for graduates in other subjects to get the equivalent of a major in philosophy. You can then go on to postgraduate studies in philosophy if you wish.

Think deeply about the big questions

Have you ever wondered if you have free will...if God exists...how we know what’s right and wrong... how we know anything at all... or what it means to be human? If you are fascinated by the big questions, then Massey’s Graduate Diploma in Arts (Philosophy) is the programme for you.

Benefit at work and at home

Philosophy isn’t just about abstract thinking. Studying philosophy develops your critical thinking skills: your ability to assess whether arguments are rationally compelling, and to make your arguments compelling to others. This skill is important in the workplace, and is consistently ranked by employers among the most desirable attributes in an employee.

It helps you in your day-to-day life too, such as when watching the news or reading stories on the internet. Through your study of philosophy you’ll learn how to understand and evaluate what you read rather than just remembering it, and to become more aware of the reasons why you hold the views you do.

Careers

A Massey Graduate Diploma in Arts (Philosophy) gives you experience in handling unusual and difficult ideas, communicating your thinking with clarity, and being aware of the reasons for your views while being flexible and adaptive.

You’ll cope with new challenges as the needs of your work change. That adaptability and the ability to think on your feet will be a big advantage in careers in advertising, journalism, management, policy analysis, research and many more.

These skills are highly prized by employers and this means you can explore a wide range of career options. Recent graduates in philosophy have gone into jobs as diverse as:

• Advertising
• Business
• Computing
• Journalism
• Management
• Policy analysis
• Publishing
• Research
• Teaching
• Treasury

Requirements
Pass at least 90 credits in Philosophy

• With at least 60 credits at 300-level

The remaining 30 credits (two courses) for the Graduate Diploma in Arts:

• must come from the Bachelor of Arts degree schedule
• at least 15 credits must be a 300-level course
• may include further Philosophy courses

Entry criteria

Admission to a Graduate Diploma requires successful completion of a three year diploma or undergraduate degree from a recognised tertiary institution.

English language requirements:

• IELTS score of 6.0 (no band less than 5.5)
• TOEFL iBT score of 80 overall (min 19 in Writing)
• PTE Academic score of 50 Overall (min 42 in communicative skills)
• Cambridge English score of 170