The University is no longer taking applications to the philosophy program. Current students enrolled in this program can view program details on this page. This program emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for one's views, carrying on respectful dialogue with others, and helps satisfy the human need for understanding, constructive use of intelligence and imagination.
Full TimeBachelor of Arts
36
Minor
18
Philosophy promotes clear, systematic thinking that can benefit any profession. Ethically, it emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for one's views and of carrying on respectful dialogue with others. Most importantly, it helps satisfy the human need for understanding and the constructive use of intelligence and imagination.
Our philosophy program is excellent preparation for a career in business, education, law, public service, management, and medicine, or for graduate school. You gain extensive training in logic, critical analysis, and creative problem solving, while having the flexibility to customize independent study courses based on your own interests and career goals.
The philosophy program also offers a Concentration in Philosophy and Social Justice. This dynamic and interdisciplinary program allows you to count courses from the Africana Studies, Environmental Studies, and Gender and Sexuality Studies minors toward a philosophy degree. The curriculum synthesizes applied and theoretical frameworks for social justice. You will learn about the causes of inequality and injustice, as well as how to apply moral and political philosophy to these issues.
Take a look at some of the course requirements.
It is recommended that majors take one or more years of a foreign language. Greek, Latin, French, German, and Spanish are strongly encouraged. Also accepted are Italian, Japanese, Hebrew, or Arabic. Writing assignments in upper-level philosophy courses will involve a minimum of 3,000 words of college-standard English.
For more information, and to see a complete list of additional degree requirements, visit the Course Catalog.
You take a minimum of 9 credits in a social justice area program (Africana Studies, Environmental Studies, and Gender and Sexuality Studies) and can count up to 15 credits from these courses toward the philosophy degree. This program is structured such that the philosophy curriculum draws on and supplements the empirical work completed in the three social justice area classes. If you are pursuing a minor in any of three social justice area programs, this concentration is a good option.
Examples of courses include:
Africana Studies:
The Study of the Black Experience
The Black Family in American Society
Environmental Studies:
Mind and Nature
Living in the Environment
Gender and Sexuality Studies:
Women’s and LGBTQ+ Social Movements
Philosophy of Love and Sexuality
For more information, and to see a complete list of additional degree requirements, visit the Course Catalog.
You must earn 18 credits of philosophy, and two history courses, and three additional philosophy electives. Course examples include:
For more information, and to see a complete list of minor requirements, visit the Course Catalog.
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy students will:
Philosophy, Politics and Government , '24
My interest in social justice and ethics is highlighted in my philosophy major, and my politics and government major will give me the tools to apply these interests in law and policy reform. The elements of critical thinking and social awareness coupled with an understanding of law and politics will help me to become a civil rights attorney that is able to best serve people who look like me.
You'll study American industry and the development of American labor, world wars and America’s growing influence on world affairs, the impact of immigration, the birth and explosive growth of mass culture, and the struggles to extend American democracy to excluded groups.