The discipline of philosophy involves sustained, rigorous focus on some of the deepest questions human beings ask, questions about the nature of reality, thought and consciousness, the scope and limits of human knowledge, the value and essence of art, and the foundations of ethics and justice. Philosophy distinguishes itself by its methods: unpacking concepts, questioning beliefs, evaluating arguments, and examining the methods and assumptions of other disciplines, including natural science, social science, law, and fine arts. Interdisciplinary focus is inherent in philosophy, and most courses offered by the department are designed to be accessible to a broad range of students, not just those majoring in philosophy.
Students of philosophy learn to read carefully, think independently, communicate clearly, argue cogently, spot fallacies, clarify muddled reasoning, and identify questionable assumptions. Surveys show that such critical reasoning and analytical writing skills are those most sought by potential employers. Standardized exams for graduate, business, and law school test for such skills, and the data demonstrate that philosophy majors do extraordinarily well on them. Historically, according to Educational Testing Service data, philosophy majors outperform all other majors on both the Verbal Reasoning section and the Analytical Writing section of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
Students can choose between two specializations within the Philosophy major. The General Philosophy specialization is best suited for students intending a broad education in philosophy. Some philosophy majors earn advanced degrees and pursue academic careers, but most pursue careers in law, medicine, public service, business, or information technology.
Students interested in exploring interdisciplinary connections may choose the General Philosophy specialization as a second major, both for its flexibility and the new perspective it provides on the primary major. Course work in epistemology and metaphysics (PHIL 420), and the philosophy of science (PHIL 330) deepens students’ understanding of the methods and assumptions of natural science and social science. Course work in the history of ideas deepens students’ appreciation of the Western intellectual tradition and their understanding of academic pursuits, generally (PHIL 324 and PHIL 326). Course work in ethics (PHIL 122, PHIL 130, PHIL 140) and political philosophy (PHIL 323) provides orientation for work in social science, business, law, criminology, or safety science. Philosophers also take a distinctive perspective on questions about the nature of the mind (PHIL 360) and human nature (PHIL 390) of interest to psychology, biology and anthropology majors.
The second specialization within the PHIL mjaor, Philosophy, Politics and Economics, is designed to help students understand the social institutions and structures that shape our world by looking at them through the lenses of three disciplines. To understand how the social world actually is, could be, and should be, the specialization combines the expertise and perspectives of philosophy, political science, and economics: economics to explain how economic systems operate and predict the effects of potential policy changes; political science to explain how political systems operate and how those systems might be changed; and, philosophy to analyze the moral costs and benefits of different economic and political systems. This program is best suited for students concerned about the impact of law, policy, business, and government on individuals, social groups, and the broader world, preparing them for careers in law, government, public policy, public administration, the non-profit sector, advocacy, or consulting.
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