Philosophy, Ethics and Religion BA (Hons)

Philosophy and religion are fundamental to informing the way people live. The choices we make, our sense of what’s right and wrong, our understanding of what we owe to each other; all of these are shaped by our fundamental beliefs about the nature of the world and our place in it.

This course places the big questions of philosophy and ethics in conversation with the religious traditions that have shaped them across the globe and throughout history, and continue to shape them here and now.

At Chester, you will learn from subject specialists who have expert knowledge of the traditions they teach, and the experience to help you draw connections between ancient wisdom and the urgent debates of our time, including the nature of authority, how belief shapes behaviour, the relationship between rights and responsibilities, what it means to be human,  and how to balance competing claims for justice.

Our expert staff will support you in gaining skills highly valued by employers, such as religious and cultural literacy, empathy, communication, critical thinking and organisational skills.

Hear from our students and discover what the course lecturers are pursuing in their field in our blogs and news posts.

The BA in Philosophy, Ethics and Religion course introduces the core areas of both philosophy and ethics, and the study of religion to enable you to develop existing or new interests through a choice of specialist topics in the second and third years.  

In Year 1 (Level 4), you will gain a firm foundation in the study of philosophy, ethics and religion. You'll study themes and problems in world philosophy, approaches to ethical inquiry, and you'll be introduced to a breadth of religious traditions.

In Year 2 (Level 5) and Year 3 (Level 6), the modules contain specialist topics in philosophy and ethics. Through topics such as political philosophy, philosophical imagination and evil, you will be able to develop your interests and skills to an advanced level. You will also be able to explore new areas of study in religious texts, and themes including gender and violence. 

In Year 2 (Level 5), you’ll be able to apply your skills in workplace settings or to contemporary problems in our innovative module, Religion in the City.

In Year 3 (Level 6), you will have the opportunity to work individually with a subject specialist to pursue a project of your own choosing.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

While the exact details of delivery will vary depending on the content of a particular topic (or even a particular session), most class sessions will be a mix of lecture, discussion, group work and practical demonstration. Some topics may have specifically designated seminars to facilitate discussion among a smaller group of peers. Some may include field trips. You will also have one-to-one tutorials in every module to help you prepare for your assessment. Scheduled contact hours range between approximately eight and ten hours per week, depending upon the level of study.  

You should also expect to spend around 30 hours per week on independent study, which might include following asynchronous learning, tutorial time with staff, using the University’s library, working with peers and preparing work for assessment. 

Teaching will be delivered by experienced academics in the subject, drawing on their research and expertise. This will be supplemented by occasional guest lecturers and speakers.

There is a wide range of assessments designed to help you consolidate your learning and develop key skills, so you will be equipped for a variety of careers. The emphasis is on coursework rather than exams. In addition to essays, you are likely to write book reviews, text analysis, blog posts, dictionary entries, give oral presentations, video presentations, reports, research journals, workbooks, or critical reflections on your own learning. All assessments involve some element of independent choice and are supported by formative activities, such as one-to-one tutorials and feedback, which highlight the next steps to enhance your achievement. 

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Job Prosects

While studying our Philosophy, Ethics and Religion degree, you will develop skills that are in high demand with employers across all sectors. Alongside critical thinking, argumentation, independent decision making, and the ability to present complex information clearly, our course develops cultural and religious literacy, empathy and understanding of diverse perspectives, media literacy and technological skills, and helps you gain project management experience that is crucial for career advancement.

Students go on to work in a number of professions, including teaching, banking and financial business, marketing and advertising, publishing, the civil service, health and social care, counselling, customer service, church and youth work, and ordained ministry.

Careers Service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service, which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.