BA in Philosophy

This major is a strong fit if you want to let your curiosity guide you as you build the skills to think deeply about enduring questions. Philosophy prepares you to think carefully, write clearly and engage complex ideas, skills that matter in graduate school and across professional fields.

As a philosophy major, you will:

• Develop advanced analytical skills
• learn how to construct and defend clear arguments
• develop ethical judgment for real world decisions
• gain confidence discussing ideas with people who see problems differently
• prepare for graduate study in philosophy or professional paths like law, policy, health and technology

The BA in Philosophy is designed to give you both breadth and choice. You will take courses across the core areas of philosophy, then deepen your interests through upper-level electives.

Your coursework includes:

• Ethics, where you study moral reasoning and social values
• Logic, where you learn how arguments work and how to reason precisely
• Metaphysics and epistemology, where you explore questions about reality, knowledge and mind
• History of philosophy, where you engage major thinkers and traditions across time
• Upper-level philosophy electives, where you focus on topics that match your interests

You will take courses with multiple philosophy faculty members so you experience different perspectives and approaches. As you move into junior and senior level work, you will read original texts, engage current debates and develop your own ideas through writing and discussion.

All required courses are taken for a letter grade. Detailed requirements and approved course lists are maintained in the official catalog.

By the time you graduate, you will be able to think carefully about hard questions and communicate your ideas clearly in writing and conversation.

Students who complete the BA in Philosophy develop: 

• a broad understanding of major figures in the history of philosophy, including Descartes, Locke, Hume and Kant
• the ability to explain core debates in central areas of contemporary philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of mind and philosophy of language
  
• the ability to use core moral theories to assess the ethical dimensions of real situations, behaviors and choices
• familiarity with formal logic, including understanding logical symbolism and completing proofs and derivations
  
• the ability to think analytically and creatively about philosophical texts and issues
• the ability to express and defend philosophical ideas effectively, both in writing and orally 

These skills support success in many careers and in graduate or professional school.

Many students pair philosophy with another field.

Philosophy combines especially well with fields like political science, economics, computer science, psychology, health related majors and the arts.

The BA in Philosophy prepares you for many paths. Some students enter the workforce directly. Others continue on to graduate or professional school.

Graduates often pursue careers in:

• law and public policy
• education and research
• health care and bioethics
• technology and data related fields
• business, communications and nonprofit work

If you want a major that strengthens how you think, write and lead while preparing you for a changing job market, the BA in Philosophy is a smart choice. You can tailor the degree to your interests and goals and graduate with skills that matter.

For questions about the BA in Philosophy, advising and planning: