Majoring in philosophy offers students an opportunity for self-exploration, while also providing the necessary foundations for applying philosophy in real-world situations. A prime goal of the philosophy curriculum is the development of general habits of critical thought and analysis.
The program leads to a BA degree, with the completion of the general education requirements as well as those for the major.
The major in philosophy requires the study of three major periods: ancient, modern and 20th-century philosophy. Classes are discussion-oriented with students reading selected texts from a group of major philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, Mill, Marx and Foucault. The curriulum also includes extensive coursework in ethical theory and in applied ethics such as bioethics and business ethics. In addition, coursework includes inquiry into the nature of being and knowledge.