The Department of 哲学 and Religious Studies offers a Bachelor of 艺术 degree in philosophy, a BA in 哲学 with an emphasis in Religious Studies, and a BA in 哲学 with an emphasis in Political and 法律 Studies. We also offer Minors in 哲学, Religious Studies, Political and 法律 Studies, and Applied Ethics that are easy to fit in with other majors.

In our courses and programs we provide rigorous training in analysis and 论证 in culturally- and historically-informed contexts, giving you tools for and experience in thinking about the meaning and value of human activity, both in general and within particular areas of human practices. This training best supports students who plan to go on into graduate studies, or who are independent-minded and entrepreneurial, seeking to create their own path and their own opportunities.

Studies have found that 哲学 majors have the highest composite GRE scores 这 a 哲学 BA is either the best or nearly the best undergraduate program for law school admissions.

Jokes persist about the employability of Liberal 艺术 majors, and 哲学 majors in particular, since our programs are not connected to a specific career path, but the adaptability of our programs is in reality an asset, 不是负债. Training in thought, 推理, 论证, and interpersonal and cultural understanding lets you do whatever you choose better, and is the best training for the jobs that don't exist yet—and to create those jobs yourself. Studies of median mid-career salaries of those holding terminal Bachelor's degrees bear this out, with those holding 哲学 BAs outperforming those with terminal Bachelor's degrees in some fields usually viewed as more "practical," including Chemistry, 市场营销, 会计, Business Management, 和心理学. This is not to say that a 哲学 degree is a better path to financial success, but only to say that, contrary to the common view, philosophy majors can and do make a living.

Please drop by my office on the top floor of the Batten 艺术 & 信 Building (BAL 9016) if you'd like to know more about our majors and minors, and explore whether our programs might well serve your interests and goals.

D.E. Wittkower
Chair, Department of 哲学 and Religious Studies