Academics > Majors and Areas of Study > Philosophy



Philosophy clarifies and unifies our knowledge through an examination of the various forms of justification found in science, religion, and other cultural arenas.  By uncovering the different logical mechanisms that justify our beliefs, a philosophy major can develop a coherent world view, enabling them to assess and find solutions for to both practical and theoretical problems.

Above all, a philosophy major pursues and appreciates critical, independent reasoning.  We practice such skills in a variety of venues: by examining of the history of philosophical thought, by applying consistent ethical theories to practical contemporary problems, by learning and utilizing formal logical principles, and through individualized studies of contemporary philosophical debates.

Philosophy majors are top-scorers on graduate entrance exams such as the LSAT and GRE.  However, many philosophy majors apply their skill-sets to a plurality of careers that demand a high degree of competency in analytic problem solving. Education in philosophy provides adaptability and transferrable skills that go beyond the single career mindset. Common post-college options for our majors include law school and further graduate level education in philosophy itself, or specialized certificate programs leading to careers in corporate or medical ethics.

Those who have a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy demonstrate the following abilities:

Cognitive skills:

1. Demonstrative understanding of the historically important philosophers (Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, Locke, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, etc.)

2. Demonstrative understanding of various theoretical systems in epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics. (e.g., Dualism, Materialism, Phenomenology, Positivism, Existentialism, etc.)

3. Demonstrative understanding of how these systematic approaches can be applied to current philosophical and practical concerns.

4. Demonstrative understanding of the relationship between reason and experience, and cultural, religious, or intellectual traditions.

5. Demonstrative understanding of how to construct arguments that respect the degree of certainty allowed, given various justificatory models and systems.

Practical Skills:

6. Original and reflective expressions of philosophical insights in argumentative form.

7. Critical thinking skills that can be exhibited in both an oral and written fashion.

8. Awareness of, and pre-emptive response to, counter-arguments to one’s conclusions.

Social Values :

9. Intellectual circumspection and humility expressed by the maxim:

“To know what one does not know is better than to think one knows when one does not.”

10. Openness to situations involving conflicting beliefs and an aim toward conflict resolution via reasonable debate.

11.  Appreciation of a process of skeptical inquiry.