Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
Investigate the deep questions that inform decision-making.
“My reasoning abilities and worldview have been dramatically altered in ways that made me a more discerning, inquisitive, and engaged human being. I am better able to question and evaluate the practices and principles I see at play around me, and I feel confident in embarking on a career in law.”
Eleanor Anthony (B.A. Philosophy and Math '16)
JD Law, Stanford Law School
About this Program
The Department of Philosophy and Religion in the College of Liberal Arts offers the B.A. in Philosophy. Philosophy is the study of the fundamental ideas underlying every dimension of human life. Using logic and reasoned argument, philosophy majors investigate core principles of ethics, ask questions about how knowledge is attained, and explore the nature of ultimate reality.
Emphasis in Religious Studies. Philosophy majors can choose the optional emphasis in religious studies. They aim to understand sympathetically, yet critically, the world’s religions, and to explore the phenomenon of religion itself as a prominent component of human life and culture.
Accelerated Master's Degree. Earn the B.A. and M.A. degrees in 5 years. Our accelerated master's program offers undergraduates the opportunity to begin earning credit towards a graduate degree while they complete the final requirements for their undergraduate degree. This saves students time and money as they complete their advanced degrees. Undergraduate philosophy students can apply to the Program for an Accelerated Advanced Degree after completing 90 credit hours with a GPA of 3.0.
The Value of a Philosophy Degree
A liberal arts education empowers and prepares students to deal with complexity and change through a broad knowledge of the world. Students gain key skills in communication, problem-solving, and working with a diverse group of people. They learn to clarify their own beliefs about the world, formulate a coherent approach to life, and they constantly practice critical thinking. Because conversation is crucial to philosophical inquiry, philosophy majors are trained to be open-minded, civil, and clear-headed even in the midst of passionate debate. Philosophy exposes students to the core arguments and principles that ground decision-making in nearly every professional venue.
Related careers in philosophy include:
- Law
- Medicine
- Non-profit work
- Education
- Business
- Corporate training
- Public relations
- Journalism
- Counseling
- Religion
- Social services
On this Page…
Program Information
Program Type
Major
Minor
Area of Study
Humanities
School
Duration
4 years
Degree
B.A. in Philosophy
Program Location
Emphases
Religious Studies
Required Credit Hours
120
Degree Requirements
See the information below on the philosophy major and minor. For a full description, visit the online catalog.
Students in the B.A. in Philosophy complete 30 credit hours of philosophy courses, including one course that is a 400 or 500-level philosophy seminar. Students also complete a minor field of study (or double major).
One Logic course from:
- Phil 103 Logic: Critical Thinking
- Phil 319: Symbolic Logic
Two Epistemology & Metaphysics courses from:
- Phil 322: Epistemology
- Phil 323: Metaphysics
- Phil 325: Theories of Truth
- Phil 332: Personal Identity and the Self
- Phil 333: Philosophy of Language
- Phil 334: Free Will and Responsibility
- Phil 340: Philosophy of Technology
- Phil 342: Philosophy of Mind
- Phil 351: Philosophy of Religion
- Phil 360: Philosophical Issues in Science/Religion
- Phil 422: Seminar in Epistemology/Metaphysics
- Phil 432: Seminar in the Philosophy of Mind/Language
- Phil 460: Seminar in the Philosophy of Science/Religion
- Phil 590: Advanced Seminar in Epistemology/Metaphysics
Two Value Theory courses from:
- Phil 102: Introduction to Professional Ethics
- Phil 104: Contemporary Moral Issues
- Phil 204: Intro to Ethical Policy Debate
- Phil 308: Buddhism
- Phil 320: Aesthetics
- Phil 321: Ethical Theory
- Phil 328: Biomedical Ethics
- Phil 331: Political Philosophy
- Phil 344: Moral Psychology
- Phil 345: Environmental Ethics
- Phil 347: Advanced Ethical Policy Debate
- Phil 349: Religious Ethics: Issues and Methods
- Phil 350: Philosophy of Law
- Phil 352: Care Ethics
- Phil 353: Consequentialism
- Phil 355: Philosophy of Film
- Phil 357: Business Ethics
- Phil 372: Conservative Political Philosophy
- Phil 390: Feminist Philosophy
- Phil 391: Philosophy of Race
- Phil 421: Seminar in Ethical Philosophy
- Phil 431: Seminar in Legal/Political Philosophy
- Phil 591: Advanced Seminar in Value Theory
Two History of Philosophy courses from:
- Phil 301: History of Philosophy I (Ancient and Medieval)
- Phil 302: History of Philosophy II (Early Modern & Modern)
- Phil 307: Medieval Philosophy
- Phil 310: Socrates and Sophistry
- Phil 311: Plato
- Phil 313: Aristotle
- Phil 314: Kant and the Problems of Philosophy
- Phil 315: Nineteenth Century Philosophy
- Phil 316: Philosophy in American History
- Phil 318: Existentialism
- Phil 324: History of Analytic Philosophy
- Phil 330: History of Western Political Philosophy
- Phil 401: Seminar in the History of Ancient Philosophy
- Phil 402: Seminar in History of Modern Philosophy
3 additional philosophy elective courses
Students who are in the B.A. in Philosophy with an emphasis in Religious Studies complete 30 credit hours of philosophy and religious studies courses, with at least one course as a 400- or 500-level seminar.
Required course
- Phil 101: Intro to Philosophy
One course from:
- Phil 103: Logic: Critical Thinking
- Phil 301: History of Philosophy I
- Phil 302: History of Philosophy II
Four philosophy elective courses, two of which must be at the 300-level or higher.
Four religious studies elective courses, two of which must be at the 300-level or higher.
- Rel 101: Introduction to Religion
- Rel 102: Introduction to Asian Religions
- Rel 103: Intro to Judaism, Christianity and Islam
- Rel 110: Biblical Hebrew I
- Rel 111: Biblical Hebrew II
- Rel 211: Intensive Intermediate Biblical Hebrew
- Rel 300: Comparative World Religions
- Rel 307: Topics in Medieval Philosophy
- Rel 308: Buddhism
- Rel 310: Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
- Rel 311: Women and the Goddess in Asian Religions
- Rel 312: The New Testament & Early Christianity
- Rel 315: Jesus and the Gospels
- Rel 320: Hinduism
- Rel 323: Islam
- Rel 325: Chinese Religions: Confucianism & Daoism
- Rel 326: Saints and Sexuality
- Rel 327: Sacred Texts in Islam
- Rel 328: Biomedical Ethics
- Rel 330: Racism and Religion
- Rel 335: Self-Harm in Religion
- Rel 340: Pilgrimage: Sacred Journeys
- Rel 341: Bible and Qur'an
- Rel 342: Jesus and Muhammad
- Rel 345: Religion & Politics
- Rel 350: Judaism
- Rel 351: Philosophy of Religion
- Rel 353: Sacred Texts in East Asian Religions
- Rel 358: Religious Implications of the Holocaust
- Rel 360: Philosophical Issues: Science & Religion
- Rel 363: Religious Perspectives on Aging & Death
- Rel 366: Sex, Gender, and the Bible
- Rel 368: Feminism, Women, and Religion
- Rel 370: Topics in Biblical Studies
- Rel 372: Rise of Christianity
- Rel 375: Christianity in America
- Rel 376: End Times: Apocalypticism in America
- Rel 378: Global Christianity
- Rel 379: Christianity in Africa
- Rel 380: Community-Based Internship
- Rel 386: Religion and Film
- Rel 387: Religious Ethics: Issues and Methods
- Rel 389: Religious Responses to Poverty
- Rel 390: Topics in Religion and the Environment
- Rel 395: Topics in Religious Studies
- Rel 396: Philosophical Topics in Religion
- Rel 399: Topics in Religion Abroad
- Rel 490: Directed Readings in Religion
- Rel 491: Honors Thesis
- Rel 497: Advanced Seminar in Religious Studies
A minor in philosophy consists of 18 credit hours of philosophy courses. The minor provides great flexibility for students to pursue their interests. Religion courses that are not cross-listed with philosophy do not count toward a philosophy minor.
What is Philosophy?
Earn your B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy in Five Years
The Accelerated B.A. and M.A. offers undergraduates the opportunity to begin earning credit towards a graduate degree while they complete the final requirements for their undergraduate degree. This will save you time and money as they complete their advanced degree.
Undergraduate philosophy students can apply to the Program for an Accelerated Advanced Degree after completing 90 credit hours with a GPA of 3.0. Accelerated BA/MA students who have performed well during their senior year may apply for a competitive graduate funding package that includes a 100% tuition waiver and a TA stipend for the Masters/fifth year.
Meet our Student Ambassadors
Maggie Wallace
Why did you choose philosophy?
See Maggie’s AnswerWhat can I do with a philosophy degree?
- Co-Founder, Emmett Till Interpretive Center
- Associate Manager, Digitas
- Physician, North Mississippi Medical Center
- Professor, University of Alabama
- President, South Coast Oil Corporation
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Dept of Justice
- Appropriations Committee Staff, U.S. Senate
- Sales Representative, Stryker Spine
- Senior Health Care Fellow, Mathematica
- Staff Council, MS Public Service Commission
- Superintendent, Vicksburg Warren School District
- Director of City Planning, Tupelo
Next Steps
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