Foreign Philosophy

The Foreign Philosophy program offers you an opportunity to explore profound philosophical ideas and their long-lasting impact on Western civilization. If you are passionate about understanding great philosophical doctrines, from classical to modern, and wish to develop sharp critical thinking skills, this is the perfect program for you!

Program Overview

The Foreign Philosophy Master's program is an important branch of philosophy, dedicated to systematically studying the Western philosophical tradition and its contemporary developments. This program is research-oriented, focusing on cultivating students' solid philosophical theoretical foundations and critical thinking abilities.

Educational Objectives

• Systematically study the basic theories of Western philosophy and modern Western philosophy, and master related professional knowledge such as analytic philosophy, philosophy of language, and philosophy of mind.
• Understand the latest developments in domestic and international philosophical research, connect theory with practice, and closely observe major contemporary social issues, while thinking independently and proposing personal solutions.
• Have a solid theoretical foundation and a certain degree of independent research capability; demonstrate good expressive abilities and social practice skills.
• Be proficient in at least one foreign language and be able to read professional literature.

Study Mode and Duration

Study Duration

The standard study duration is 3 years, with the shortest duration being 2 years and the longest duration extending up to 4 years.

Credits

The total credits for the program are typically no less than 35 credits. Students from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and international students may have their credits adjusted based on exemptions from political theory and foreign language courses.

Curriculum

Professional Practice

The professional practice for Foreign Philosophy Master’s students primarily includes:

• Academic: Participate in classic readings, academic conferences, and philosophical translation.
• Teaching: Serve as a teaching assistant for philosophy courses and engage in popularizing philosophy activities.
• Applied:
  • Publishing industry (editing philosophical books)
    Policy research (participating in think tank projects)
  • Technology ethics (joining AI ethics groups)
  • International exchange: overseas academic visits, participation in international academic communities
  • Employment preparation: internships in universities/government organizations, learning digital tools

It is recommended to combine 2-3 areas of practice, such as "academic conference + teaching + publishing internship," to deepen expertise and expand employment options.

Research Directions

1. Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy
2. Medieval Philosophy
3. Modern Western Philosophy
4. Contemporary Anglo-American Philosophy
5. Contemporary Continental Philosophy
6. Comparative Philosophy between the East and West

Training Methods

1. Supervision Format: The program combines collective guidance from the mentor group and individual mentorship by professors for each student.
2. Student Development: Emphasizes a combination of developing students' learning and research abilities.
   Teaching Process: Combines teacher explanations and student discussions in the classroom.

Thesis

The thesis is a critical part of the Master's program, and students must select a research topic with high academic value, aiming to align with national and provincial-level funding projects. After selecting the thesis topic, students must submit a research proposal, which must be approved by their mentor group before proceeding to write the thesis. The Master’s thesis typically has a word count of no less than 30,000 words, and the Doctoral thesis is no less than 100,000 words.

Degree Awarding

The Master's degree in Foreign Philosophy is awarded upon successful completion of coursework, research training, and the thesis defense, signifying that the student has systematically mastered theoretical knowledge and research capabilities in the field of foreign philosophy, thus laying a foundation for further academic advancement or related career development.

Career Development

1. Academia/Education: University lecturers, researchers, secondary school political teachers (must obtain teaching certification)
2. Publishing/Media: Philosophy editors, academic journal writers, cultural communication
   Public Affairs: Policy research, think tank analysis, theoretical positions in government and party agencies
3. Enterprise/Technology: Technology ethics consultants, corporate culture planners, humanities and social sciences consultants

Related Majors

1. Marxist Philosophy (Western Marxism Research)
2. Chinese Philosophy (Comparative East-West Philosophy)
3. Ethics (Applied Ethics, Political Philosophy)
4. Religious Studies (Christian Philosophy, Buddhist Philosophy, etc.)
5. Logic (Related to Analytic Philosophy)

Leading Universities in This Field in China

The leading universities in China for Foreign Philosophy include:

1. Peking University 
2. Fudan University
   Renmin University of China 
3. Sun Yat-sen University 
4. Nanjing University