The objective of the bachelor's programme is to provide the foundations in the studies of Philosophy and give a first complete initiation into the philosophical universe. Upon completion of the three years of the bachelor's programme, the student will, in fact, have acquired :
- A solid knowledge of the foundations in Philosophy from a two-fold angle : from that of its historical roots (by studying the great philosophers, past and present) and from that of its principal disciplines (Logic, Epistemology, Ethics, Metaphysics, Anthropology, etc.).
- A first initiation into the work and scientific research in philosophy by means of special exercises, supervised tasks, guided individual work and the end of cycle assignment.
- Insight into related subject areas : Letters, History, the Arts and Sciences.
- An academic training in other indispensable tools, such as languages (English, German, Dutch or Spanish) and computers.
The ISP places a particular accent on pedagogy in the bachelor's programme. Ready accessibility to professors facilitates students' meeting with them outside of courses, during office hours or by appointment. Moreover, via practical exercises and thanks to close accompaniment, students learn to write academic texts digitally, in conformity with publishing norms and to study important texts in supervised readings. Finally, the oral presentation exercises provide students an occasion for learning to speak in public and prepare for the oral examination system, something they are not always familiar with the first year.
There is also a bachelor's programme, an adapted programme, for students holding a bachelor's degree in a discipline other than philosophy (minimum 1 year of 60 credits and a maximum of 108 credits).
Thus, the study programme offered aims to foster :
- A progressive orientation : the bachelor's programme in Philosophy goes from the most general to the most specific. The actual philosophical part of the programme, whilst being quite signicant from the outset, is reinforced in a gradual way. This, in fact, enables the student to allow his study choice to evolve, giving him, if he so wishes, the opportunity to re-orientate his course in the most favorable of conditions.
- An active pedagogical approach : by encouraging the student to play an active role in his own learning, by encouraging him to personally put into practice the knowledge and tools he has acquired and the information he has received during the course. This is one of the main aims of the bachelor's programme of Philosophy. This becomes much more concrete in the practical sessions that the student will have to participate in and the pieces of work that he will have to produce. It is here that he will learn how to read and analyse philosophical texts and present them and comment on them with clarity and precision, as well as drafting reports and written pieces of work relating to the subject.
- Interdisciplinarity : sound academic training in Philosophy involves an opening into other domains of knowledge and culture. Therefore, the bachelor's programme in Philosophy also covers an ensemble of courses related to non-philosophical subjects. In particular, the student will need to choose a "minor" from a domain other than Philosophy. That minor, which will be followed in the second and third years of the bachelor's programme, corresponds to 30 credits and may be chosen from any other faculty of the University, in accordance with the personal ambition of the student and subject to the approval of the faculty in question.
Depending on the nature of the course and the teaching activities in question, the evaluation will take different forms. It may take the "classical" form of a final exam, held during one of the three exam sessions organised by the University (January - June - August/September), but, in the case of courses accompanied by practical exercises or supervised work tasks, it may also be based on the active participation of the student during the year and also on the final personal assignments that he may be requested to do. Details of the evaluation procedures will be specified at the beginning of each of the course activities.
