Philosophy

Philosophy examines such topics as the nature of knowledge, justice, right and wrong, good and evil, persons, freedom, determinism, moral responsibility, beauty, art, and the nature and grounds of religious experience and belief.

• Philosophy majors are thriving as attorneys in the public and private sectors; surgeons; financial advisors; teachers; ministers; and sports broadcasters. Among other professions.
• Every year, the Philosophy department welcomes several guest speakers to campus. In 2024-25, topics included what society can or should do about Artificial Intelligence; the related forces of anger and satisfaction; and several others.
• Eight Philosophy majors have earned prestigious national scholarships for further study. They include two Rhodes Scholars, five Fulbright Scholars and one Marshall Scholar. Rhodes Scholar Alice Hauser (’23) majored in Philosophy and Music.

The Philosophy degree is offered as a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a minor.

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Our model and curriculum educate the whole person and often help students discover interests they had never previously discovered. Students generally take 100-200 level courses during their first year of college, while registering for higher level courses as upperclassmen.

Sample courses that you may take as an Philosophy student include:

* Courses listed above are offered during the current academic year. Course availability and offerings can change at any time. Refer to the Academic Bulletin to view all major requirements.

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Philosophy, the subject or discipline, is not so much a body of facts as it is a way of thinking and learning. It consists of understanding and coming to intelligent and critical terms with concepts or ideas that are used to describe basic features of human experience as well as of the natural or physical world.

These ideas—sometimes referred to as Big Ideas—include, among others, concepts like the following: notions of reality and existence, matter and mind, the rational and the irrational, the meaningful, the good, the right, the just, and the sacred. Thinking intelligently and critically about Big Ideas requires powers of reason and imagination, sense and sensibility, and comprehension and judgment.

The major is designed to develop those powers or skills in students.

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Joining a club or organization is a great way to get involved and do more with your major. Our Philosophy students participate in the following programs:

• Neuroscience Club
• Pre-Law Council
• Bioethics Club
• Ethics and Leadership Debate Team

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Careers that often interest Philosophy majors, and fields our graduates work in, include:

• Advertising Specialist
• Archivist
• Attorney
• Bank Officer
• Consultant
• Counselor
• Educator
• Foreign Service Officer
• Financial Analyst
• Librarian
• Journalist
• Judge
• Missionary
• Museum Curator
• Physician
• Public Relations Representative
• Publisher

Graduates include federal judges; business owners and executives; artists; religious leaders; and educators.