Philosophy Minor
Studying philosophy will help you to confront in a methodical and constructive way fundamental questions and problems, both theoretical and practical, about yourself, your culture, and the natural world. Philosophy addresses the “big questions,” including: What is the meaning of life? What duties do we have to others? What makes a society or law just? Is faith compatible with reason? What is the relation of mind to brain? As the oldest and most basic of the liberal arts disciplines, philosophy provides a foundation for addressing such questions, but also cultivates skills in reasoning and argumentation that are critical to graduate studies, law school, employment, and, indeed, to being an informed and engaged citizen.
Program Highlights
Highlights of the philosophy minor program include:
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Development of the interpretive, critical, and argumentative skills necessary for academic excellence, career success, and civil engagement
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Gaining knowledge of the major figures, issues, and debates in the history of Western philosophy, both ancient and modern
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Explaining, analyzing, and evaluating the ethical and social issues that inform our personal and social lives
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Creating a perspective from which you can synthesize all your studies and develop a sense of how philosophy bears on other disciplines
Minor Requirements
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15 credit hours
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Must maintain GPA of 2.25 in courses applied to minor
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All courses for the minor must be completed with a grade of C- or higher
Employment Opportunities
The study of philosophy develops skills essential to success in future education and employment, including: critical thinking, evaluation and construction of sophisticated arguments, consideration of many different perspectives on a single subject, clear written communication on complex topics, and the ability to synthesize and organize complex information. A minor in philosophy, in tandem with a major in a narrower professional field or other academic discipline, will serve you well as career advancement comes to require flexibility of mind and insight into the essentials of a situation as well as analytical skills.
