Philosophy and History

A Philosophy and History degree at Southampton provides you with an opportunity to explore the events and ideas which have shaped, and continue to shape, the world around us.

As a history student you’ll be able to develop your own interpretations of disputed narratives across a wide range of periods, from Alexander the Great to New World slavery and the Space Age, and many specialist areas including East and Central European history, South East Asian history and Jewish history.

You’ll be taught in small groups in a relaxed and friendly environment. You’ll benefit from the expertise of academic staff whose research feeds directly into the course content.

Compulsory modules will give you a strong grounding in both subjects. Optional module choices will give you the freedom to pursue your own interests in topics as varied as metaphysics, Reagan’s America, and witchcraft in 17th century England.

You can broaden your knowledge by taking modules from other disciplines such as anthropology or psychology. You can also study a language.

In this degree you can:

• develop an understanding of basic philosophical arguments in matters of ethics, reason, and responsibility
• learn about different approaches to history and gain access to a large collection of primary evidence
• explore how political motives and other forms of bias shape the way we think about the past
• apply philosophical thought to language, morality, sex and other aspects of life
• study areas of history rarely taught in most other UK universities, for example: East and Central European history, South East Asian history and Jewish history