Bachelors in Philosophy & Religion in USA

The Philosophy curriculum provides the opportunity to study a wide range of philosophical issues from a diverse array of philosophical traditions, methodologies and perspectives. Students engage important portions of their intellectual heritage through the writings of influential philosophers of the past and present, and acquire a sense of the influence of these figures on the broader society and culture.

Philosophy involves reflection upon and understanding of all phases of human activity. Philosophy especially directs itself to the nature of knowledge and the most basic concepts of human understanding and value: morality, society, art and aesthetic experience, as well as science, politics, and religion. Philosophy is thus closely involved with other disciplines because, as human activities and quests for knowledge, they and their findings provide the material for philosophical inquiry. The courses offered by the department are designed to help students develop their own capacities to reflect intelligently on questions of fundamental and lasting significance. The philosophy major is intended to meet the needs of four types of students:

those who wish to use philosophy as the organizing core of a liberal education;

those who desire to study philosophy in preparation for graduate work in some other field, such as law, government, or theology;

those who plan to major jointly in philosophy and one of the social and natural sciences or humanities; and

those who have a professional interest in philosophy and intend to do graduate work in the subject.

Philosophy is the 'love of wisdom.'  It involves a relentless probing of the most profound and difficult questions concerning human beings and their place in the universe.  It is therefore the most comprehensive study.  The Department of Philosophy offers a program designed to acquaint students with the major divisions of philosophy and with the principal historical and contemporary figures and schools.  The study of philosophy is excellent preparation for a variety of vocations and professions, as well as for graduate study in medicine, law, government, business, and journalism.

The Honors in Philosophy option provides an enriched experience to the most capable Philosophy majors. Honors students work closely with a Philosophy faculty member to write a thesis in the final year of study. This option is aimed especially at students who plan on further graduate or professional study.

Philosophy is a degree that will prepare you for the rapidly changing, increasingly complex world. Graduates have become lawyers, professors, entrepreneurs, journalists, researcher scientists, and public servants. Our program is designed to give you the flexibility you need to build the academic foundation right for your goals. In this program, you’ll become a stronger communicator who can think clearly and apply techniques of critical and constructive thinking to any situation.

Interest in studying philosophy begins with the desire to engage life’s greatest questions: finding the meaning of human existence, making sense of reality and our place in the cosmos, giving systematic form to our ethical and political intuitions, explaining the history of human ideas, and other equally significant problems. Often students wonder how the study of philosophy can provide the foundation for successful and meaningful employment. Contrary to popular belief, a philosophy major is one of the best preparations possible for careers in a large number of different areas. An article in the London Times rightly called philosophy the "ultimate 'transferable work skill'" insofar as it prepares students for a wide array of practical services. As a group, philosophy majors consistently score at or near the top on standardized tests, gain employment on graduation at higher than average rates, rank highly in median mid-career salary, and enjoy a well-earned reputation for rigorous thinking. In fact, the Association of American Colleges and Universities tells students, “[y]our specific choice of major matters far less than the knowledge and skills you gain through all your studies and experiences in college. In terms of jobs, employers don’t hire majors. They hire individuals with potential to succeed over the long term and add value to their companies or organizations.” The study of philosophy, one of the oldest and most rigorous disciplines, provides students with critical thinking, writing, and arguing skills necessary to succeed in today’s competitive working environments.

You'll be introduced to the world of philosophy and challenged to think critically. You'll gain an appreciation for the history of the discipline and analyze philosophy in ancient and medieval societies while also taking courses to study logic and professional ethics.

Not only will you expand your way of thinking, you'll also broaden your career opportunities. A degree in philosophy prepares you for a career in law, professional or medical ethics, the ministry and several other fields requiring a liberal arts background.

The William H. Miller III Department of Philosophy offers programs and courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The courses cover major periods in the history of Western philosophy and many of the main topics of systematic investigation: epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics, philosophy of language, mathematical logic, and philosophy of science.

The undergraduate courses are designed to introduce students to the history of philosophy and its place in Western civilization, to teach them how to read philosophical texts, and to help them think about philosophical problems, including those that arise in other disciplines. Students may major in philosophy or use it as a concentration for an area major in Humanistic Studies. They may also study philosophy along with another subject, either by constructing a double major or by taking courses designed to help them develop philosophical perspectives on their own fields of interest.

The graduate program is intended primarily for those planning to teach philosophy and make their own contributions to it. While the acquisition of a broad background in the history and different systematic fields of philosophy is required, students will have ample opportunity to develop their own special interests.

The word “philosophy” derives from the Greek meaning “love of wisdom.” While philosophy is an integral discipline unto itself, it is also an intellectual disposition that permeates all of academic study and has been at the heart of Jesuit and Catholic education since their inception. 

The philosophy department offers both a major and a minor in philosophy. The bachelor of arts in philosophy includes courses in the history of philosophy, logic and critical reasoning, ethics, and a variety of specialized courses such as Philosophy of Happiness, Philosophy of Death, Philosophy of Mind, Reality and knowledge, Perspectives on Evil and the Holocaust, Alternatives to Violence, Philosophical Perspectives of Women, and Philosophy and Religion of the Eastern World. It is designed to work well with a second major, and a degree in philosophy complements most other degree programs.

The BS in philosophy will teach you how to critically analyze and evaluate arguments, how to effectively communicate diverse points of view, and how to apply the tools of philosophical analysis to contemporary problems and debates. Students pursuing a degree in philosophy not only learn valuable skills that will help them in their careers. They also learn to ask important questions about how to live and live well, what it means to be a citizen in today’s world, and how to engage in a dialogue with positions and views different from their own.

Simone de Beauvoir argued that the question we all must ask is whether we want to be here, and if so, under what conditions. Philosophy—the pursuit of wisdom—is a powerful method for seeking answers to that question.

Philosophy, as a discipline, has traditionally been a steppingstone to graduate school and teaching at the college level. A Philosophy B.A. is also an asset for graduate work and careers in law, journalism, diplomacy, civil service, as well as in industry management positions where complex problem solving and effective communication are valued skills.

With a variety of philosophical methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches, students study the production and justification of knowledge, theories of reality and human existence, freedom and responsibility, and the status of values.

The Philosophy degree offers a balanced introduction to philosophy as both a theoretical and applied discipline. Effort is made to show the relationships of philosophical thought to art, education, history, literature, mathematics, politics, religion, science, and current events.

At Southern Utah University, the mission of the philosophy program is twofold: first, to provide students with a rigorous foundation in the core areas of philosophy (logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, and history of philosophy), with classes that expose students to the central concepts, thinkers, methods, and debates in these areas; and second, to nurture students’ critical thinking abilities, by showing them how to identify, analyze, construct, and evaluate arguments of all different types, and by requiring them to actively practice these skills (both orally and in written work). In this way, students are equipped for success after college, whether their plan is to pursue philosophy in graduate school, to attend professional school in another discipline, or to immediately begin their careers.

Philosophy is the quest for a comprehensive understanding of human existence. In your classes, you’ll explore the rational justification of logical inferences, human values, the criteria for establishing claims of knowledge and truth, and the interpretations of the nature of reality. You’ll study ancient and modern philosophers, from Socrates and Plato to John Locke and Immanuel Kant.

As a philosophy major, you’ll learn to analyze problems and to think and write clearly. This solid academic foundation prepares you for graduate programs in law, medicine, theology or another advanced field. In fact, philosophy majors receive some of the highest scores nationally on the LSAT exam.

At ONU, you’re guaranteed to learn just as much outside the classroom as you do inside. You can attend national academic conferences, engage in internships, undertake independent studies. You can play sports, perform with a musical ensemble or join a social club.

Philosophy is at the core of the liberal arts. The program offers a wide variety of discussions based seminars in both Western and Non Western philosophy. Working with primary texts, we help students to develop their critical thinking and writing skills. Our courses concentrate on issues, which are relevant to students' lives such as how to live, the nature of justice, the role of reason and emotion in a good life and the meaning and role of art in our lives. After graduation our students have gone on to graduate school, law school, the Peace Corps, nonprofit organizations and private industry.

Philosophy is the oldest, broadest, and most fundamental form of inquiry. Some philosophical questions have to do with the understanding of ourselves and whatever else there may be. Others focus upon the nature of different forms of knowledge and experience, and upon ethical issues and problems of value. The study of philosophy is one of the most important elements in a good liberal education. It also improves one's ability to think clearly, and to construct, analyze, and criticize arguments of any kind. The major and minor are sponsored by the Department of Philosophy. 

Upon completing the BA degree with a major in Philosophy, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the general historical development of philosophy and develop an in depth understanding of at least one historical period or movement.
2. Demonstrate the ability to read philosophical texts critically and with understanding of the problems and contexts.
3. Demonstrate the cognitive and formal abilities to evaluate critically philosophical arguments.
4. Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and logically their own views on a range of important philosophical problems.