Philosophy & Computer Science
Philosophy and Computer Science is a combination that sits at one of the most intellectually exciting frontiers in contemporary thought. Philosophy is concerned with fundamental questions about the nature of reality, what we can know and how we should act, engaging with some of the most searching and influential thinkers across two and a half thousand years of human intellectual history. Computer science provides the theoretical and practical foundations of computation, algorithm design, software systems and artificial intelligence.
The two disciplines meet with particular urgency in questions about consciousness and artificial minds, the ethics of automated decision-making, the nature of information, and what it means for a machine to understand.
At Northeastern University London, this full-time three-year programme develops rigour and clarity in philosophical thinking and writing alongside the technical depth and practical capabilities of a computer science education. You will engage with central questions, arguments, theories and texts in philosophy concerning the world and our place within it, while also developing programming, systems design and computational skills. The combination is particularly well-suited to students interested in the philosophical dimensions of artificial intelligence, cognitive science, ethics and technology policy.
Philosophy and Computer Science graduates are well-placed for careers in software engineering, technology ethics, AI research and policy, data science, cybersecurity, human-computer interaction, academia and the emerging field of responsible AI development. The combination of technical competence with philosophical depth is increasingly valued in organisations building or regulating artificial intelligence systems, and in policy and advocacy roles concerned with the ethical implications of digital technology. Postgraduate study in philosophy, computer science, artificial intelligence or cognitive science is a natural continuation for those who wish to develop specialist expertise.