Analytic Philosophy

The master's degree in Analytic Philosophy is mainly intended for students who want to pursue advanced research in theoretical and practical philosophical considerations from an analytical perspective. 
The programme is open to students who have not gained sufficient familiarity with the assumptions and methods of analytical philosophy during their undergraduate studies. It is also open to students who have completed undergraduate degrees in disciplines other than philosophy, who will be asked to complete bridging subjects worth up to 30 credits, selected in agreement with their tutor.
The origins of analytical philosophy go back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and the works of authors like Frege, Russell, Moore and Wittgenstein, who wrote on logic, language, ontology, epistemology and ethics. Today, the analytical tradition informs the predominant approach of most universities across the English-speaking world. In Spain, analytical philosophy is a relatively minor tradition at universities and in the media, yet the group of four Catalan universities that offers the master's degree (which uses English as the predominant language of instruction) has been very active in research in recent years, due in part to the ICREA and Ramón y Cajal programmes, which have made it possible to attract leading thinkers from international universities.
As a discipline, analytical philosophy relies heavily on clarity of argumentation, perspicuity of thought and an imaginative critique of approaches that are further removed from common intuition. In the Anglo-Saxon world, it has proved to be a fundamental tool in training professionals in the most widely-sought cross-disciplinary competences, such as the ability to identify and articulately express the central points of a debate, to apply thought and expression precisely in the analysis of complex problems, and to consider propositions with intellectual curiosity and a critical eye. Students who are not looking to pursue an academic career will find good opportunities to put their knowledge into practice in public administration and the private sector.

To get the degree Master in Analytic Philosophy students need to earn a total of 60 master credits (ECTS) in the following master courses:

• 15 credits of general mandatory courses: Metaethics, Models of Justice and Human Rights and Research Methods in Analytic Philosophy
• 10 credits correspond to the Research Paper (mandatory)
• 15 credits specific to the chosen itinerary, i.e. either Practical Philosophy or Theoretical Philosophy. These consist of: 5 credits from the Research Seminar and 10 credits from Module 5 or Module 7, as the case may be.
• 20 credits chosen from courses optional courses on offer

The 20 optional credits can be freely chosen from the courses in Module 3. But students can also ask for permission to take one of the mandatory courses of the other itinerary as an optional course.

Students who do not have a philosophy degree will normally be asked to acquire the necessary background knowledge and skills before being admitted to the master. We offer 30 credits that afford such a background (but these are offered in Spanish or Catalan only).

Module 1, Practical Philosophy (mandatory for both itineraries)

• Metaethics
• Models of Justice and Human Rights
• Research Methods in Analytic Philosophy 

Module 2, Research Paper (mandatory)

• Research paper

Module 3, Issues of Contemporary Theoretical and Practical Philosophy (optional courses)

• Distributive Justice Today
• Foundation of Philosophy of Science
• Philosophical Logic 
• Topics in Epistemology
• Topics in Ontology
• Topics in Semantics and Pragmatics

Module 4, Research Seminar in Theoretical Philosophy (mandatory for theoretical itinerary)

• Debates in Contemporary Theoretical Philosophy

Module 5, Language and Mind (mandatory for theoretical itinerary)

• Philosophy and Cognitive Sciences
• The Nature of Language

Module 6, Research Seminar in Practical Philosophy (mandatory for practical itinerary)

• Modern Political Philosophy

Module 7, Theories of Rationality (mandatory for practical itinerary)

• Philosophy of Action
• Topics in Philosophy of Mind

Background courses

• Introduction to Logic
• Philosophy of Language and Mind
• Philosophy of Language I
• Philosophy of Language II
• Philosophy of Science

Requirements

• An official Spanish degree.
• A degree issued by a higher education institution within the European Higher Education Area framework that authorizes the holder to access university master's degree courses in the country of issue.
• A qualification from outside the framework of the European Higher Education Area. In this case, the qualification should be recognized as equivalent to an official Spanish degree. If it is not recognized, the University of Barcelona shall verify that it corresponds to a level of education that is equivalent to official Spanish degrees and that it authorizes the holder to access university master's degree courses in the country of issue. Admission shall not, in any case, imply that prior qualifications have been recognized as equivalent to a Spanish master's degree and does not confer recognition for any purposes other than that of admission to the master's degree course.
• Candidates should have a bachelor's degree or equivalent undergraduate degree in humanities, psychology, linguistics, philology, translation and interpreting, journalism, mathematics, physics, biology, or a related discipline. 
• Commitment to conduct a significant piece of research, expressed in a statement indicating the applicant's interests and how these interests are related to the course content. 
• Two letters of reference, for candidates with degrees from universities not participating in the programme. 
• A sample of the candidate's work (between 2000 and 4000 words in length).
• Level of English equivalent to B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, 7.00 on the IELTS exam, or 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based) or 100 (internet-based) on the TOEFL exam.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Scholarships

• General grant
• Mobility grant – Erasmus
• UB collaboration grant
• Departmental collaboration grant (MECD)
• MAEC-AECID grants
• Financial aid for participation in international mobility programs
• UB grants for exchanges with foreign universities
• UB grants for Els Juliols summer courses
• Drac Program grants
• Ajuts de matrícula per als estudiants amb circumstàncies personals sobrevingudes