Natural Sciences

BSc in Philosophy and Physics within the Natural Sciences programme (CFG0): 2023-2024

Entry requirements: See the Essentials

The current course structure is shown in the table below that consists of modules which must be studied in the appropriate year - click on the module code for the current module content. After Year 1, students focus solely on studying Philosophy and Physics. If students don't wish to take a particular module or include a third subject then it may be possible take up the option of the more flexible "BSc in Natural Sciences degree. The subjects in which modules have been taken successfully in the final two years are as follows: Philosophy and Physics". As the rules below permit, students may take up to 80 credits in one subject and no less than 40 credits in the other subject and always take precisely 120 credits in one year. UCAS applicants are invited to use the app to discover the key modules to self-build a degree

Year 1
Philosophy40 credits: Knowledge And Reality (PHIL1021), Science, Medicine, And Society (PHIL1111)
Physics80 credits: Foundations Of Physics 1 (PHYS1122), ((Calculus I (MATH1061) and Linear Algebra I (MATH1071)) or (Single Mathematics A (MATH1561) and Single Mathematics B (MATH1571)))
Year 2
Philosophy60 credits: Taken from the list: Philosophy Of Mind (PHIL2011); Language, Logic And Reality (PHIL2021); Early Modern Philosophy (PHIL2031); Philosophy Of Science (PHIL2151); The Philosophy Of Economics And Politics: Theory, Methods,and Values (PHIL2171); Fundamentals Of Logics (PHIL2181); History, Science And Medicine (PHIL2191).
Physics60 credits: Foundations Of Physics 2A (PHYS2581), Mathematical Methods In Physics (PHYS2611), Discovery Skills In Physics (PHYS1101)
Year 3
Philosophy40 credits: Taken from the list: Philosophical Issues In Contemporary Science (PHIL3021); Philosophy Long Dissertation (PHIL3112); Metaphysics (PHIL3171); History And Philosophy Of Psychiatry (PHIL3181); Formal And Philosophical Logic (PHIL3201); Biomedical Ethics Past And Present (PHIL3211).
Physics60 credits: Foundations Of Physics 2B (PHYS2591), Foundations Of Physics 3A (PHYS3621), Laboratory Skills And Electronics 3 (PHYS3681)
Students must take no less than 20 credits and no more than 60 Capstone Modules from the following list:
Capstone modules40 credit Philosophy Long Dissertation (PHIL3112); 20 credit Science Enterprise (NSCI3001); 20 credit Computing Project (PHYS3561); 20 credit Team Project (PHYS3581); 20 credit Advanced Laboratory (PHYS3601); 20 credit Physics into Schools (PHYS3611); 20 credit Laboratory Skills and Electronics 3 (PHYS3681); 20 credit Physics in Society 3 (PHYS3691); 20 credit BSc Project (PHYS3701);
Further details about the modules in the Philosophy list.
Further details about the modules in the Physics list.

Below is an example of modules that are timetabled to satisfy these rules except in Year 3 where the set may not include a capstone module. Click on the single digit numbered link on the left to see a sample timetable and the module code to see details about the module such as content, contact hours, teaching methods and assessment methods.

1Knowledge And Reality (PHIL1021)Science, Medicine, And Society (PHIL1111)Calculus I (MATH1061)Linear Algebra I (MATH1071)Foundations Of Physics 1 (PHYS1122)      
1Knowledge And Reality (PHIL1021)Science, Medicine, And Society (PHIL1111)Single Mathematics A (MATH1561)Single Mathematics B (MATH1571)Foundations Of Physics 1 (PHYS1122)      
2Moral Theory (PHIL2041)Political And Social Philosophy (PHIL2081)Philosophy Of Science (PHIL2151)Discovery Skills In Physics (PHYS1101)Foundations Of Physics 2A (PHYS2581)Mathematical Methods In Physics (PHYS2611)     
2Philosophy Of Science (PHIL2151)Fundamentals Of Logics (PHIL2181)History, Science And Medicine (PHIL2191)Discovery Skills In Physics (PHYS1101)Foundations Of Physics 2A (PHYS2581)Mathematical Methods In Physics (PHYS2611)     
3Metaphysics (PHIL3171)Philosophy Long Dissertation (PHIL3112)Foundations Of Physics 2B (PHYS2591)Foundations Of Physics 3A (PHYS3621)Physics In Society 3 (PHYS3691)      
3Philosophical Issues In Contemporary Science (PHIL3021)Aesthetics (PHIL3031)Metaphysics (PHIL3171)Foundations Of Physics 2B (PHYS2591)Laboratory Skills And Electronics 3 (PHYS3681)Foundations Of Physics 3A (PHYS3621)     

Note that:

  • You can vary the balance between the two subjects in all years assuming the rules below and timetable will allow it.
  • In Year 3 students are required to take no less than 20 credits and no more than 60 Capstone Modules from two subjects. The minimum number of credits is reviewed on an annual basis as we are working towards students being required to take 40 credits, when this change happens students will be informed explicitly.

  • Not all combinations of the modules which make up the degree rules are guaranteed to timetable, but one set will.
  • If no student is following the Joint-Honours degree in a given year, then we do not ask for modules to be timetabled for that cohort in the following year.
  • The timetable changes each year.
  • Future changes in the Joint-Honours rules are either flagged up in the programme regulations in the Faculty Handbook or in the Philosophy/Physics advice.
  • Students are welcome to suggest to the Director better guaranteed combinations, but due to the quality assurance process and timetabling the lead in time is one year.

For more information about the Natural Sciences degree programme, please contact:

Prof James Blowey
Deputy Head of Faculty
Faculty of Science Office
Level 3 Chemistry Building
Durham University
DH1 3LE
UK

Email: Natural Sciences Director

WWW: Natural Sciences home page

The Natural Sciences web pages are maintained by James Blowey