Philosophy (from Greek, meaning "love of wisdom"), in its simplest definition, is
the study of existence, reason, knowledge, values, and the mind.
About This Program
Students will study and examine rival views on morality, economic justice, political
philosophy, the existence of God, and theories of knowledge.
The B.A. program in Philosophy is designed to accommodate students who want to concentrate
in philosophy.
The program is designed to engage the student in an examination of the chief rival
philosophical approaches to life (including their historical, cultural, social, and
practical imports); to develop within the student an enlarged capacity for logical,
reflective, coherent reasoning; and to encourage the student to work out a conceptual
framework for their life commitment.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Philosophy requires 120 semester hours to complete.
The program is preparatory for advanced training in other fields, such as law, education,
international relations, statecraft, intellectual history, and philosophy.
In addition to meeting the institutional undergraduate degree requirements, majors
in the program are required to earn a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of credit
in philosophy and religion courses.
The Philosophy B.A. Major Requires:
21 hours in philosophy and, nine (9) hours in religion; and
Twelve (12) hours in a foreign language (French or Spanish).
No grade below “C” will be accepted inanymajor course
Philosophy is traditionally divided into several branches, including metaphysics (study
of reality), epistemology (study of knowledge), ethics (study of morality), logic
(study of reasoning), and aesthetics (study of beauty).
What Is Philosophy?
Philosophy literally means “the love of wisdom”, and philosophers engage with a vast
range of subject areas such as metaphysics (the nature of reality) epistemology (the
study of knowledge), value theory (ethics, political philosophy, aesthetics), and
logic (reasoning and arguments).
Job prospects for Philosophy graduates are diverse, with opportunities available in
many industries. However, competition for some positions, such as academic roles,
may be intense.
Philosophy Careers
When people ask, “what can you do with a philosophy degree?”, they are often surprised
by the universe of career opportunities. In addition to the obvious carer of philosophy
professor, philosophy majors excel in the fields of:
• Law • Business • Technology • Government • Public Policy • Teaching • Health Care • Social Work • Ministry • Non-Profits • And many more
Philosophy graduates can earn competitive salaries in a variety of professions. Careers
in law, business, consulting, and certain areas of academia can offer lucrative opportunities.
Philosophy Employment Expectations
While philosophy and religion majors have long faced negative stereotypes about employment
opportunities, these are shattered by the facts.
The median wage for philosophy and religion majors is $60,000.
The employment rate for philosophy and religion majors is consistently high (for 2018-2019
there was a 95.7% employment rate).
Given the range of careers open to philosophy and religion majors, employment opportunities
exist in all U.S. states and worldwide.
To prepare for a career in Philosophy, one can engage deeply with philosophical texts
and ideas, develop strong analytical and writing skills, pursue internships or research
opportunities, and consider graduate study for specialized career paths.
Philosophy Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Qs)
Q: What can I do with a major in philosophy? A:Almost anything. The skills developed in the major are broadly applicable to a range
of careers, including serving as the foundation for graduate and professional programs.
Q: Is philosophy just a matter of opinion? A: While philosophy begins with opinions, the practice of philosophy requires defending
and challenging those opinions with good reasoning.
Q: What benefits does philosophy provide? A: Many. These include intellectual skills such as critical thinking and logic, the
development of open-mindedness, and an enhanced perspective. In addition to the value
of these benefits in philosophy, they are also traits employers seek.
Fall 2018 (and beyond) Requirements
The curriculum presents the requirements for students who first enrolled in Fall 2018
or later. In addition to the requirements specified below, these students must complete
the civics literacy requirement. Students who enrolled prior to Fall 2018 are under
the requirements in effect when they enrolled.
Fall 2018 (and beyond) Requirements
The curriculum presents the requirements for students who first enrolled in Fall 2018
or later. In addition to the requirements specified below, these students must complete
thecivics literacy requirement. Students who enrolled prior to Fall 2018 are under the requirements in effect when
they enrolled.
FRESHMAN YEAR 29 hours
Course Number & Name
Credit Hours
ENC 1101, ENC 1102 Freshman Communication Skills I & II*
6
Mathematics Courses (see GENED course list)
6
Philosophy Courses
6
Social Science Elective (see GENED course list)
3
SPN 1120 and 1121 Elementary Spanish (with labs) or
FRE 1120 and 1121 Elementary French (with labs)**
8
SOPHOMORE YEAR 31 hours
Course Number & Name
Credit Hours
Natural Science Course (see GENED course list)
3
Natural Science Course (see GENED course list)
3
Philosophy Courses
6
FRE or SPN 2220 Intermediate French or Spanish (with lab)**
4
AMH 2091 African American History or AFA course
3
Humanities Electives
6
GENED Electives (see GENED course list)
3
Social Science Elective (see GENED course list)
3
JUNIOR YEAR 30 hours
Course Number & Name
Credit Hours
Free Electives
12
Philosophy Courses
9
Courses in Minor
9
SENIOR YEAR 30 hours
Course Number & Name
Credit Hours
Religion Courses
9
Courses in Minor
9
Electives
12
*ENC 1121, ENC 1122 Honors Freshman Composition I & II can be substituted for these
classes.
** A student earning the Bachelor of Science degree replaces the language classes with
elective classes.
