the philosophy major

Philosophy lies at the core of the liberal arts education. When studying Philosophy, one learns how questions about morality, about the existence of God, about the conditions of a just society, about people's knowledge of the world, about freedom, or about the relation between mind and body have been answered by some great thinkers. Acquaintance with the different formulations of these questions and the works of different thinkers who tried to answer them is a necessary component of a balanced liberal education.

By studying the questions and answers that constitute Philosophy, one gains knowledge of some major thinkers, periods, and fields of philosophy. At the same time, one also learns (a) how to read with sensitivity to concepts, language, meaning, and context, and effectively analyze arguments and texts, (b) how to develop arguments and communicate effectively in speech and writing in a manner that is coherent, well-articulated, creative, and expressive of complex thought.

A major in Philosophy can be useful not only for students who plan to continue in graduate studies in Philosophy, but also for those thinking of careers in law, business, government, or industry, which require creativity, logical, and analytic skills. Philosophy majors have some of the best scores on tests such as the GRE, LSAT, and GMAT, as a result of their training. See our course offerings or consult the UNIVERSITY BULLETIN for a complete listing of requirements.

Philosophy Requirements (pdf document)