Overview

Course Objectives

The Graduate Certificate in Philosophical Studies will enable students to develop:

• Rigorous standards of scholarship 
• A knowledge of modern philosophical concepts and debates
• An understanding of the foundations of modern political liberalism and democratic life
• Knowledge and expertise in the areas of ethical responsibility and knowledge innovation
• Respect for social and international diversity
• An understanding of the global dimensions of thought and paradigms

Eligibility

The Graduate Certificate in Philosophical Studies is open to students who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree or equivalent in liberal arts* with a minimum Grade Point Average of 4.0.

Degrees from overseas institutions must be assessed as equivalent to a recognised Australian bachelors level degree.

Applicants with an appropriate postgraduate diploma or equivalent are also eligible to apply.

All interested students should speak to Griffith University to determine their eligibility for this course: ocahs-admin@griffith.edu.au

* Some examples of liberal arts content areas include:

• Biology, Chemistry, Physics and other Sciences
• History, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Law and other Social Sciences
• Liberal Studies · Literature and other Humanities
• Spanish, French, German, Russian and other Languages

How to Apply

This course is restricted. Students are required to apply and be approved by Griffith University before they can enrol in units through OUA.

Applications for the Graduate Certificate in Philosophical Studies are due by Friday two weeks prior to the close of enrolment.

Please complete the application form below.

1. Read information requirements

   • Select to apply for one or more courses listed on the application form, taking note of the eligibility criteria for each course. If you want to apply for a (restricted) course with a different university, you'll need to submit a separate application from the relevant course page.

   • Read all parts of the application form in advance:

     Receive a faster response by ensuring you have all the required information ready before you start. If you have a web account, sign in first to pre-fill personal details we already have for you on record.

     If you do not have a web account, you'll need to register one within the application form. Once you've registered an account, you'll then be signed in. From here you can choose to complete your application and submit it, or save and return to it later.

     Completing this application should take 15 to 20 minutes.

   • Need help completing your application? Contact us:

     If in doubt about any of the information required to support your application, the more information you can provide the better. If you have any academic queries including how to request credit transfer, contact Griffith University directly. For all other enquiries, contact us.

   • Next steps:

     After submitting your application, you should receive a confirmation email containing a copy of your application for your records.

     Your application will be assessed within 2-4 weeks, and if further information is required, we will contact you. Once your application has been assessed, we will be in touch via email to notify you of the outcome. At the latest this will be one week after the closing date for applications.

     If, after submitting your application, you wish to change your preferences or submit an additional document, please email apply@open.edu.au. Include your full name as it appeared on the application.

2. Prepare supporting documents

   • Check that you have all the required documents, according to individual course requirements and your personal circumstances, specifically:

     1. Your curriculum vitae - required for entry into postgraduate courses only.
     2. Certified copies of academic transcripts - required in most cases but check course eligibility rules.
     3. A letter of recommendation from your employer on company letterhead - recommended for entry using work experience.
     4. Certified legal documentation - if you have changed your name e.g. a marriage certificate, deed poll name change certificate.
     5. Certified legal documentation - if you need to correct an error in your date of birth e.g. a birth certificate.
     6. English language test results - if your courses were not predominantly in English e.g. IELTS or equivalent test results.
     7. Official translations of any documents not in English.

     A "certified" copy is a copy bearing the recognised mark of a Justice of the Peace, Commission of Oaths or declarations, Public Notary or a Solicitor.

   • Create an electronic copy of your attachments:

     For each certified document, scan and save it on your computer. Save your curriculum vitae to your computer, then get ready to upload all documents in the form.

   • Do not send original documents as they will not be returned.

1. After submitting your online application, you'll need to post the actual, certified copies of official documents included in your application to:

   Off Campus and Assignment Handling Services
   LO8, Room 1.68
   Griffith University - Logan Campus
   University Drive
   Meadowbrook QLD 4131

   These are required for assessing your application, and for graduation purposes. Do not fax or email these documents.

2. Do not send OUA the actual certified or original documents as they will not be returned.

Award Requirements

To qualify for the award of Graduate Certificate in Philosophical Studies students must complete four units.

Recognition of Prior Learning / Credit

RPL/Credit may be awarded according to Griffith University policies and applicants are encouraged to contact the course coordinator for further information.

Course Structure