Majors in Philosophy

Broad Thinking Opens Abundant Career Options

As a philosophy major you are smart, disciplined, determined, and ambitious. For these reasons, your degree is the key that unlocks doors that quickly move you beyond entry-level positions. If your goal is a career in law, the IUP pre-law track is ideal for you. Yet virtually any career and academic discipline you choose will benefit from a secondary major or minor in philosophy.

BA in Philosophy

• Reach back to ancient Greek and modern European philosophy to comprehend and shape contemporary thought.
• Explore and challenge established beliefs by closely examining the assumptions of other disciplines, including the arts and sciences.
• Explore cutting-edge research at the intersection of philosophy, psychology, and biology.
• Master critical thinking and reasoning.
• Learn to construct and evaluate ethical arguments, allowing you to think clearly about the environment, justice, equality, and rights.

BA in Philosophy, Pre-Law Track

• Cultivate the skills that make philosophy majors among the best performers on the LSAT exam.
• Prepare to think independently so that your ability to create cogent, winning arguments becomes the hallmark of your skill set.

Honors Track

• If you have earned at least 60 credits in total, with a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA and a minimum 3.5 GPA in philosophy courses, you are eligible for acceptance into the honors program.
• You must complete a two-semester, 6-credit Honors Thesis Independent Study. The honors thesis is completed individually under the direction of a Philosophy Department faculty member who specializes in your area of interest and is approved by a thesis committee comprising the director and two other readers.

Minor in Philosophy

• Design your minor to fit your agenda, goals, and personal interests.
• Deepen your expertise in your major by including the fundamentals of philosophy.