Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

From its inception in ancient Greece down to the present, philosophy has sought to examine and understand life in all its wondrous complexity. In seeking answers to enduring questions about good and evil, the nature of the real, the limits of the knowable, and the enduring power of the beautiful, philosophy discloses its faith in the ability of reason to discover and communicate truth. Philosophy's correlative respect for the authority of logic and rational argument fosters an intellectual environment wherein open dialogue is essential and conflicting opinions are respected, but in which beliefs are carefully subjected to scrutiny, claims and criticisms to validation, and actions to the guiding lights of truth, goodness, and wisdom. Students who study philosophy will find the discipline not only provides them invaluable insights into life's deepest concerns and questions, but also helps them develop an increased capacity for critical thought, perceptive judgment, and cogent argumentation. These benefits should prove invaluable for years to come in applications as diverse as raising a family, pursuing higher education, developing a career, and striving for spiritual enlightenment.

Philosophy offers excellent preparation for a variety of career paths, but especially in law, medicine, business, and the health sciences. The value of a major or minor in philosophy resides in the intellectual development it promotes and the transferable skills it nourishes. Philosophy majors perennially top the charts in standardized exams like the GRE, LSAT, and MCAT, especially on the verbal aptitude and analytic thinking sections. Partly because of those high scores, but also because the discipline is so rigorous, philosophy students generally enjoy extremely high rates of acceptance to graduate programs and professional schools--regardless of the discipline. And with increasing frequency, studies show that philosophy majors who pursue business and other non-academic careers are often out-earning their non-philosophy colleagues by mid-career. No doubt, this is because philosophy students master the logic, reading, writing, and critical thinking skills that such pursuits so often require. In short, philosophy not only prepares students for a rewarding life, but for any type of work that requires highly developed abilities in analytical reasoning and effective communication.

Program Outcomes:
History and Value of Philosophy
Students will be able to identify major philosophical figures, texts, and movements, and understand their historical context, their philosophical interrelations, and their importance.

Critical and Effective Reading, Writing, and Communicating
Students will be able to read and think critically about philosophical texts, write clear, logically sound, and well-researched essays, and effectively discuss and present philosophical topics.

Submit full documentation of all required transcripts. Some U.S. applicants may have completed foreign high school or college work. This work will need evaluation by a third-party credential evaluation company.
IELTS - 6.5 (6.5 in Speaking and 6.0 in other three components)
TOEFL iBT - 80 (20 in each Component)