Philosophy, B.A.
The mission of ū's Department of Philosophy is to provide a philosophical education appropriate to Catholic and Jesuit education goals. This goal is rooted in the fundamental Catholic belief that all human experience reveals and speaks to the existence and nature of God and the dignity and value of all human beings in themselves and as members of the human community.
The department strives to provide an excellent introduction to the discipline and practice of philosophy. The ū faculty seeks to build up in students the ability to understand, explain and evaluate lines of reasoning; to foster a reflective moral life; and to educate them on the history of philosophy, contemporary philosophical debate and the Catholic heritage. The faculty nurtures in each student a philosophical habit of mind, an appreciation for the Western philosophical tradition, a spirit of intellectual inquiry and a lifelong desire for wisdom.
Curriculum Overview
The Department of Philosophy in ū's College of Arts and Sciences offers a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy that provides students with a solid foundation in critical philosophical thinking while leaving significant room to focus on their interests in philosophy.
Fieldwork and Research Opportunities
The department offers a wide range of opportunities for philosophical exchange and dialogue, both within the intellectual community of the University and with the broader philosophical community. These opportunities include visiting scholars, departmental colloquia, the annual Wade Memorial Lecture, various conferences, reading groups and graduate student talks.
- Students can get to know other philosophy majors through the Philosophy Club.
- The Vatican Microfilm Library, located on campus, is the finest resource in the United States for medieval and Renaissance studies research.
- The Department of Philosophy has an internationally regarded journal.
Careers
The benefits of ū's philosophy program include several career opportunities. Students who pursue a degree in philosophy at ū will find themselves well-prepared for many career options. Philosophy provides, for example, excellent training for those interested in pursuing professional degrees in law, business or medicine.
Not only do philosophy majors at ū excel on entrance exams for professional programs, but the analytical and communication skills they develop in their philosophical studies are essential for their future success in these programs. The study of philosophy is excellent preparation for any career that focuses on clarity, concision and analytic reasoning.
Admission Requirements
ū also accepts the Common Application.
Freshman
All applications are thoroughly reviewed with the highest degree of individual care and consideration to all credentials that are submitted. Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary concern in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file.
To be considered for admission to any ū undergraduate program, applicants must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test.
Transfer
Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED.
Students who have attempted fewer than 24 semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must follow the above freshmen admission requirements. Students who have completed 24 or more semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit mustsubmit transcripts from all previously attended college(s).
In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the Office of Admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of ū. Where applicable, transfer students will be evaluated on any courses outlined in the continuation standards of their preferred major.
International Applicants
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
- Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
- Proof of financial support must include:
- A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at ū
- A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
- Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken post-secondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
Tuition
Tuition | Cost Per Year |
---|---|
Undergraduate Tuition | $54,760 |
Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:
Information on Tuition and Fees
Scholarships and Financial Aid
There are two principal ways to help finance a ū education:
- Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
- Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.
ū makes every effort to keep our education affordable. In fiscal year 2023, 99% of first-time freshmen and 92% of all students received financial aid and students received more than $459 million in aid University-wide.
For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by December 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.
For more information on scholarships and financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.
- Graduates will be able to synthesize knowledge of two different periods of Western philosophy.
- Graduates will be able tocorrectly employ principles of logical reasoning in philosophical analysis.
- Graduates will be able toanalyze and defend a philosophical position on a philosophical problem.
- Graduates will be able togather sources relevant to a philosophical problem.
- Graduates will be able tointerpret sources relevant to a philosophical problem.
- Graduates will be able tosynthesize sources relevant to a philosophical problem.
Philosophy students must complete a minimum total of 30 creditsfor the major.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
University Undergraduate Core | 32-35 | |
Major Requirements | ||
ʱ1050 | Introduction to Philosophy: Self and Reality | 3 |
ǰ䰿鷡1700 | Ultimate Questions: Philosophy | |
ʱ2050 | Ethics | 3 |
ʱ4040 | Symbolic Logic | 3 |
ʱ4880 | Senior Inquiry: Project | 3 |
History of Philosophy Requirement | ||
Choose two courses with the History of Philosophy attributes, such as: | 6 | |
ʱ4400 | History of Ancient Greek Philosophy | |
ʱ4500 | Medieval Philosophy | |
ʱ4600 | History of Modern Philosophy | |
Philosophy Electives | ||
Two courses must be at the 4000 level | 12 | |
General Electives | 55-58 | |
Total Credits | 120 |
Continuation Standards
Students must have a GPA of 2.00 in philosophy major coursework to be retained in the major.
Philosophy Electives
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ʱ3250 | Philosophy of Religion | |
ʱ3300 | Philosophy of the Human Person | |
ʱ3360 | Medical Ethics | |
ʱ3380 | Business Ethics | |
ʱ3400 | Ethics & Engineering | |
ʱ3420 | Environmental and Ecological Ethics | |
ʱ3430 | Philosophy of Law | |
ʱ3450 | Disaster Narratives | |
ʱ3480 | Jewish Life: Bible to Middle Ages | |
ʱ3490 | Jewish Life: Middle Ages to Modern Times | |
ʱ3510 | Philosophy in Film | |
ʱ3600 | Science and Religion | |
ʱ3910 | Internship | |
ʱ3930 | Special Topics | |
ʱ3980 | Independent Study | |
ʱ4040 | Symbolic Logic | |
ʱ4090 | Topics in Advanced Logic | |
ʱ4120 | Topics in Epistemology | |
ʱ4150 | Philosophy of Science | |
ʱ4160 | Philosophy and Physics | |
ʱ4190 | Gender and Science | |
ʱ4210 | Topics in Metaphysics | |
ʱ4260 | Philosophy of Mind | |
ʱ4280 | Biology and Mind | |
ʱ4310 | Topics in Ethics | |
ʱ4320 | Feminism and the History of Ethics | |
ʱ4350 | Survey of Social and Political Philosophy | |
ʱ4400 | History of Ancient Greek Philosophy | |
ʱ4500 | Medieval Philosophy | |
ʱ4570 | Latin Paleography | |
ʱ4600 | History of Modern Philosophy | |
ʱ4720 | Topics Continental Philosophy | |
ʱ4740 | Philosophy of Karl Marx | |
ʱ4750 | Latin American Philosophy | |
ʱ4760 | Spanish Philosophy | |
ʱ4800 | Topics and Movements in Contemporary Philosophy | |
ʱ4810 | Philosophy of Feminism | |
ʱ4820 | Philosophy and Race | |
ʱ4840 | Catholic Social Thought | |
ʱ4850 | Topics in Philosophical Anthropology | |
ʱ4910 | Internship | |
ʱ4930 | Special Topics | |
ʱ4980 | Advanced Independent Study |
Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 120 credits (excluding pre-college level courses numbered below 1000).
- Complete the University Undergraduate Core curriculum requirements.
- Complete major requirements: minimum of 30 credits required.
- Complete remaining credits with a second major, minor, certificate or electives to reach the minimum of 120 credits required for graduation.
- Achieve at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average, a 2.00 grade point average in the major(s), and a 2.00 grade point average in the minor/certificate or related elective credits.
- Complete department- and program-specific academic and performance requirements.
- Complete at least 50% of the coursework for the major and 75% for the minor/certificate through ū or an approved study-abroad program.
- Complete 30 of the final 36 credits through ū or an approved study-abroad program.
- Complete an online degree application by the required University deadline.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollmentunless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
䰿鷡1700 | Ultimate Questions: Philosophy | 3 |
CORE1000 | Ignite First Year Seminar | 2-3 |
CORE1500 | Cura Personalis 1: Self in Community | 1 |
CORE1900 | Eloquentia Perfecta 1: Written and Visual Communication | 3 |
CORE1200 | Eloquentia Perfecta 2: Oral and Visual Communication | 3 |
General Electives | 3 | |
Credits | 15-16 | |
Spring | ||
ʱ2050 | Ethics (meets Core “Dignity, Ethics, & Just Society” attribute requirement) | 3 |
CORE2800 | Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression | 2-3 |
CORE3200 | Ways of Thinking: Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
CORE1600 | Ultimate Questions: Theology | 3 |
General Electives | 4 | |
Credits | 15-16 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
PHIL 4080 | Symbolic Logic | 3 |
CORE3800 | Ways of Thinking: Natural and Applied Sciences | 3 |
CORE3400 | Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture | 3 |
CORE2500 | Cura Personalis 2: Self in Contemplation | 0 |
General Electives | 6 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ʱ4400 | History of Ancient Greek Philosophy | 3 |
CORE3600 | Ways of Thinking: Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
General Electives | 9 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Year Three | ||
Fall | ||
ʱ4500 | Medieval Philosophy | 3 |
PHIL 3350 | Philosophy and Good Life | 3 |
CORE4000 | Collaborative Inquiry | 2-3 |
General Electives | 7 | |
Credits | 15-16 | |
Spring | ||
ʱ3250 | Philosophy of Religion | 3 |
ʱ4160 | Philosophy and Physics | 3 |
General Electives | 9 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Year Four | ||
Fall | ||
ʱ4210 | Topics in Metaphysics | 3 |
CORE3500 | Cura Personalis 3: Self in the World | 1 |
General Electives | 11 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ʱ4880 | Senior Inquiry: Project | 3 |
General Electives | 12 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Total Credits | 120-123 |
Students can complete all or part of the B.A. in philosophy at ū’s campus in Madrid.
2+ū programs provide a guided pathway for students transferring from a partner institution.