Academics

Undergraduate Programs in Philosophy

The Philosophy Department offers a traditional major and minor in Philosophy as well as a major in Philosophy with a concentration in The Philosophy of Brain and Mind and a major in Philosophy with a concentration in Ethics, Law, and Social/Political Philosophy. 

The traditional major and minor provides a strong background in the core areas of philosophy (logic, ethics, epistemology, metaphysics, and the history of philosophy).  The traditional major and minor are excellent choices for students wanting a wide-ranging understanding of the diversity of philosophical questions and styles.

The major with a concentration in The Philosophy of Brain and Mind focuses on philosophical questions related to consciousness, language and mental representation, judgment and decision-making, and the like. The major in The Philosophy of Brain and Mind will be especially attractive to students with interest in philosophical questions related to neuroscience, psychology, and decision science.

The major with a concentration in Ethics, Law, and Social/Political Philosophy focuses on philosophical questions concerning our rights and responsibilities as individuals and citizens.  The Ethics, Law, and Social/Political Philosophy concentration will be particularly attractive for students with an interest in philosophical questions related to political science, history, law, and public service.

What can I do with a major in Philosophy?

The abilities to reason clearly about complex issues, think creatively about problems, and communicate clearly are essential in a wide range of professional fields in which Philosophy majors traditionally have excelled, from business and law to journalism and public administration. Our graduates have been employed as attorneys, teachers, small business owners, software developers, web designers, teachers, and social workers. Philosophy majors historically have been among the strongest performers on entrance exams to professional programs (like the LSAT and GMAT)

Philosophy courses emphasize the development of:

• Critical Reasoning - The ability to understand the key issues in decision-making or problem solving; to identify general principles that link related problems together; to evaluate the strength and weakness of evidence.

• Facility with Arguments - The ability to employ arguments to persuade others; to reason from premises to sound and cogent conclusions; to assess the implications of a position.

• Communication Skills - The ability to clarify, simplify, and convey arguments and information to others; to listen carefully and understand different points of view.

• Information Management - The ability to organize complex information and use it to solve problems.

• Design and Planning Skills - The ability to look at a problem from different angles and identify alternative courses of action.

• Research and Investigation Skills - The ability to seek out information; to identify problems and needs; to systematically define a problem; to formulate questions relevant to clarifying a particular problem, topic, or issue.

• Management and Administration Skills - The ability to analyze tasks and set priorities; to identify resource materials useful in the solution of a problem.

Concentration in Philosophy of Brain & Mind

The major with a concentration in The Philosophy of Brain and Mind focuses on philosophical questions related to consciousness, language and mental representation, judgment and decision-making, and the like. The major in The Philosophy of Brain and Mind will be especially attractive to students with interest in philosophical questions related to neuroscience, psychology, and decision science.

Concentration in Ethics, Law, & Social/Political Philosophy

The major with a concentration in Ethics, Law, and Social/Political Philosophy focuses on philosophical questions concerning our rights and responsibilities as individuals and citizens.  The Ethics, Law, and Social/Political Philosophy concentration will be particularly attractive for students with a principal interest in philosophical questions related to political science, history, law, and public service.