The program focuses on values in world philosophies, understanding contemporary issues as historically and culturally informed.
The Philosophy Major is organized into two field areas, “Values, Nature, & Culture,” and the “History of World Philosophies.” Students practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills in historical and contemporary issues and theory. They practice philosophical analysis and argument in written and verbal communication.
The Applied Philosophy Major is an interdisciplinary major, applying Philosophy to a field of concentration the student chooses. It applies the critical thinking tools and problem-solving skills of a Philosophy major, including a “bridge” course to the applied field. These include a choice of Political Science, Economics, Sociology, the Environment, the Sciences, Chinese, and more.
According to the American Philosophical Association, there is evidence that the study of Philosophy prepares students well for pursuit of advanced degrees. Philosophy majors tend to score significantly higher than other fields on standardized tests including the LSATs, the entrance exams for Law School, and the GRE Verbal, an entrance exam for graduate study (Justin Weinberg, Daily Nous, July 2025). In addition, there is some evidence that Philosophy majors tend to earn more over their lifetimes than any other field in the Humanities (American Philosophical Association, data gathered by PayScale 2020-1).
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