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First-year students

Welcome to the study of philosophy!

On this website, you will find detailed information about the first year of the Bachelor's degree programme in philosophy at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. Please make use of this information and our counselling services for an optimal start to your studies. For more information on all three years of the Bachelor's degree programme in philosophy, please visit the Bachelor Philosophy site.

Dates & Events

08.04.2024 Start of lectures
10.04.2024 Introduction to the Bachelor Philosophy – How to organize your studies, with Dr. Christoph Schamberger, in: Building 24.21, Room U1.82
19.07.2024 Last day of lectures

What do I study in the first year?

In your first semester, you may attend the Orientierungstutorium, which is voluntary but highly recommended. It is worth participating regularly, because there you will learn everything you need to know for a successful study of philosophy.

The modules in the first year of study (1st and 2nd semesters) are called propaedeutic modules, as they provide the foundations of the subject. Each of these modules consists of a lecture (or seminar) and an exercise. Exercises take place at multiple times, and you can choose one of the available time slots. Most modules are offered in both the winter and summer semesters. However, please consider the FAQs below when planning your courses.

In general, it is important to note that you must obtain a participation certificate called Beteiligungsnachweis (BN) in each course. Additionally, you must take a final examination called Abschlussprüfung (AP) in almost every module; only one propaedeutic module does not require an AP. The instructors will inform you in the courses on how to obtain a BN or AP. It is advisable to take a look at the Modulhandbuch and become familiar with the Prüfungsordnung at the beginning of your studies. These regulations govern the examinations and provide study plans.

Major subject

The following list contains all modules and courses of the first year in philosophy as a major subject (Kernfach). You have to complete a total of 8 courses from 4 propaedeutics modules, each consisting of 2 courses:

  • Logic: 1 Lecture/Seminar + 1 Exercise
  • Theoretical Philosophy I: 1 Lecture (Epistemology or Metaphysics) + 1 Exercise (Argumentation)
  • Practical Philosophy I: 1 Lecture (Ethics) + 1 Exercise (Scientific working methods)
  • History of Philosophy I: 1 Lecture (Ancient Philosophy or Medieval Philosophy) + 1 Exercise (Fundamentals of Philosophy)

In all 8 courses, you must obtain a BN. Additionally, in the Logic module and 2 other modules, you will take an AP in the form of a written test (Klausur). There is no need to take an AP in one module.

Admission to the AP of a basic module (second year) requires passing all 3 APs in the propaedeutic modules.

Minor subject

The following list contains all modules and courses of the first year in philosophy as a minor subjec (Ergänzungsfach). You have to complete a total of 6 courses from 3 propaedeutics modules, each consisting of 2 courses. The Logic module is compulsory:

  • Logic: 1 Lecture/Seminar + 1 Exercise

Besides, you have to choose 2 of the following modules:

  • Theoretical Philosophy I: 1 Lecture (Epistemology or Metaphysics) + 1 Exercise (Argumentation)
  • Practical Philosophy I: 1 Lecture (Ethics) + 1 Exercise (Scientific working methods)
  • History of Philosophy I: 1 Lecture (Ancient Philosophy or Medieval Philosophy) + 1 Exercise (Fundamentals of Philosophy)

In all 6 courses, you must obtain a BN. Additionally, in the Logic module and one of your chosen modules, you will take an AP in the form of a written test (Klausur). There is no need to take an AP in one of your modules.

Admission to the AP of a basic module (second year) requires passing all 2 APs in the propaedeutic modules.

Timetable

The following timetable includes all courses of the first year of study in the summer semester 2024. You can access more detailed information about the courses in the course catalog (HIS-LSF) through the links. Unless otherwise specified, courses start in the first week of the lecture period from 8th April 2024, and continue at the same time each week until the end of the lecture period on 19th July 2024. All courses are cancelled on holidays.

FAQ

Do I need to register for a course?

Yes, you must register for each course by enrolling in it through HIS-LSF. To enroll, you will need a university username (Uni-Kennung).

Are there limitations on the number of participants of courses?

There are no limitations for lectures, but the number of students is limited in most exercises. Since some time slots are very popular, it's advisable to enroll in exercises early. Remember to unregister if you decide not to attend the exercise in a given semester so that your spot becomes available to other students.

Do I need to register for a participation certificate (BN)?

Yes, if you wish to obtain a participation certificate (BN) in a course, you must register online through the student portal. The deadline for registration is the end of the lecture period. Instructions can be found here.

Do I need to register for a final examination (AP)?

Yes, if you want to take a final examination (AP), you must register online through the student portal. Instructions can be found here.

In what form can I take an AP?

For the propaedeutic modules, you can take an AP only in the form of a written test (Klausur), usually lasting 90 minutes. In the modules of the second and third years of study, you can choose other forms of the AP, such as an essay (Hausarbeit) or an oral examination.

When and where will the written tests take place?

Each written test will be held within a lecture (or seminar). There you will receive timely information about its contents and dates. The first date is usually towards the end of the lecture period or at the beginning of the holidays.

Which courses should I take in the first semester?

There is no universal answer to this question. In general, you can decide on the order in which you complete the courses in the propaedeutic modules. It is highly recommended to attend the Orientierungstutorium in the first semester, which is offered only in the winter semester. It is also recommended to take the History of Philosophy I module, because the lecture on Ancient Philosophy is usually only in the winter semester, and there is no guarantee that it will take place in the summer semester, too. The associated exercise, Fundamentals of Philosophy, can be attended in the summer semester as well, but it is advisable to take it in the first semester to gain an overview of the entire history of philosophy.

There is something to be said for completing the Logic module in the first semester, because it is the only propaedeutic module in which an AP is compulsory. Additionally, the Argumentation exercise requires knowledge of logic. Therefore, this exercise can be taken either in the same semester as the Logic module or afterwards, but not before.

Can I split a module over two semesters?

In the Logic module, you must attend both the lecture (or seminar) and the exercise in the same semester, because the written test assesses the contents of both courses. The other modules Theoretical Philosophy I, Practical Philosophy I, and History of Philosophy I can be split over two semesters. For example, you can split the Theoretical Philosophy I module by attending the lecture on Metaphysics in the winter semester and the exercise on Argumentation in the summer semester; the reverse order is possible, too. In these modules, a written test covers only the contents of a lecture (or seminar), but not the contents of an exercise. Therefore, you can take the AP in the winter semester and attend the exercise in a later semester.

Will the courses be offered again in the summer semester?

Most courses will be offered in the summer semester, too. However, there are some important exceptions that you should consider in your course planning. The lecture on Ancient Philosophy for the History of Philosophy I module is usually only in the winter semester, and there is no guarantee that it will take place in the summer semester, too. In the Theoretical Philosophy I module, where you can choose between the lectures on Metaphysics and Epistemology, only one of these lectures will be offered each semester. For example, in the winter semester 2023/24, Metaphysics will be offered, and in the summer semester 2024, Epistemology will be offered.

What happens if I don't pass all the APs in the first year of study?

In this case, you can attend courses in the basic modules and obtain BNs, but you will not be allowed to take an AP for a basic module. Admission to the AP of a basic module requires passing all the required APs in the propaedeutic modules. For students majoring in philosophy, three APs are required, and for students minoring in philosophy, two are required.

Can I attend courses of basic modules in the first year of study?

Normally, courses in the basic modules are intended for the second year of study, but if you are interested, you can attend them in the first year and even obtain a BN. Information about all three years of the bachelor's degree programme in philosophy can be found on the website Bachelor Philosophy.

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