Much of the specialist literature is written in English. Therefore, your English should be good enough to read and understand these original texts. English is the recognized language of science for the subject, but you do not have to provide proof of your English skills before or during your studies.

If you know a second modern foreign language and Ancient Greek or Latin, this may be helpful for you.

You should have a good grasp of the German language, both written and spoken, and be able to read and understand older forms of the language. You should also enjoy reading and composing texts and have a solid understanding of how to structure arguments in both written and spoken language.

You will study this subject as part of a two-subject bachelor’s degree program. The degree program always consists of an academic major and minor, which can be combined according to your interests or professional goals.

If you choose the subject as a minor, you will generally complete only a portion of the modules and classes taught to students of the major subject. As a result, you will focus on a selection from the content listed below.

The Philosophy degree program provides you with the following knowledge:

• Theoretical Philosophy I (metaphysics, epistemology, logic, philosophy of language)
• Theoretical Philosophy II (philosophy of science, philosophy of mind)
• Practical Philosophy (ethics, anthropology, philosophy of religion, applied philosophy)

Course sequence

First to third semesters:

• Scientific fundamentals
• Historical and systematic overview of the subject,
  including the history of philosophy (ancient philosophy, medieval philosophy, modern philosophy)

Fourth to sixth semesters:

Presentation of in-depth philosophical topics by focusing on specific philosophers and their writings

• Theoretical Philosophy I (metaphysics, epistemology, logic, philosophy of language)
• Theoretical Philosophy II (philosophy of science, philosophy of mind)
• Practical Philosophy (ethics, anthropology, philosophy of religion, applied philosophy)

Specializations

During your bachelor’s degree, you will specialize in one of the following areas:

• Ancient Philosophy
• Medieval Philosophy
• Modern Philosophy
• Theoretical Philosophy I
• Theoretical Philosophy II
• Practical Philosophy

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

Internships

This program of study does not include a mandatory internship. However, voluntary internships are a great way to gain insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

Philosophy is not a subject that qualifies students for a particular clear-cut professional field.

Through the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy program’s practical and international focus, you will acquire specific knowledge and skills which will allow you to pursue a career in both academic and non-academic professional fields. These skills include:

• Language skills
• Analytical skills
• Interpretive skills
• Public speaking skills
• Action competence
• Leadership skills
• Foreign language skills

This degree certifies not only your historical and systematic knowledge of the subject of Philosophy, but also the necessary methodical, performative, and interdisciplinary competencies of a professional philosopher.

Possible professional fields:

• Research (e.g., university, higher education institutions, research institutions, projects)
• Social organizations (educational institutions, associations, and clubs)
• Public services and administration (e.g., specialist consultant, public relations)
• Advertising, media and journalism
• Education and culture (e.g., theaters, museums, private and public educational institutions, libraries, archives, documentation)
• Business (e.g., business advisory services, consulting, marketing, human resources, corporate training, media and public relations)

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.