The study of philosophy is relevant to all aspects of life and living well, ranging
from investigating various perspectives on the nature of reality, conditions of knowledge,
and nuances of critical reasoning to the foundations of morality, justifications for
political authority, and criteria for aesthetic evaluation.
We currently offer a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Philosophy with four concentrations
and a minor in philosophy for undergraduate students. Although there is no graduate
degree in philosophy, courses numbered 500 and above are available for graduate credit.
Degree Requirements
All philosophy majors follow the same general degree requirements, including an applied
learning experience. Philosophy majors and minors develop an individualized course
of study in consultation with a faculty advisor.
Undergraduate students pursuing their bachelor's degree in philosophy have the option
to choose from four concentrations to widen their field of study.
Students can earn multiple concentrations by completing the general requirements for
the major and the specific course requirements for each concentration. Some courses
count towards both concentrations. For example, Ancient Chinese Philosophy counts
as an Asian philosophy course as well as an ethics course.
The Analytic Reasoning Concentration provides students with a strong grounding in
logic and critical reasoning as the basis for a deeper dive into traditional analytic
philosophy.
The World Philosophy Concentration focuses on the grounds of cultural competency and
its implications for living well in a globally connected world.
Analytic Reasoning
The concentration in analytic reasoning focuses on the pillars of the Analytic tradition
of philosophy, which include formal reasoning, conceptual analysis, and linguistic
analysis as well as their implications for epistemology, philosophy of mind, and even
metaphysics. The analytical skills students develop through their coursework provide
the foundation and framework for analyses of all kinds, from data analytics to psychological
analysis.
In addition to the regular requirements of the BA in Philosophy, the concentration
in world philosophy requires students to complete relevant courses, which must include
at least one introductory-level course in logic or critical reasoning, and upper-level
courses with a substantial analytical component. Approved logic, reasoning, philosophy
of science, and analytical philosophy courses for this concentration are listed in
the catalog.
In addition to the regular requirements of the BA in Philosophy, the concentration
in ethics requires students to complete ethics courses, which must include at least
one ethical theory course and at least one applied ethics course. Approved ethical
theory and applied ethics courses are listed in the catalog.
Here at WSU, we offer two pre-law programs in philosophy: the traditional 4-year pre-law
track and the Legal Education Accelerated Degree track (LEAD) in partnership with
the KU School of Law.
Legal Education Accelerated Degree
The Legal Education Accelerated Degree (LEAD) affords qualified students majoring
in criminal justice, English, history, philosophy, or political science with an accelerated
pathway to the University of Kansas School of Law.
To earn the pre-law concentration, students must complete all graduation requirements
for the BA in philosophy, and successfully complete at least one philosophy course
in each of the four concentration areas: analytical reasoning, ethics, philosophy
of law, political and social philosophy. These courses focus on the skills and knowledge
that students need to do well on the LSAT and flourish in law school. Philosophy students
learn to analyze and construct arguments, reason abstractly, and write clearly and
cogently. Nationally, philosophy majors perennially score at or near the top of all
majors on the LSAT, consistently averaging 157.
When we think of careers in law, we typically think of policing and criminal justice
or courtroom attorneys and judges. Those are only the tip of the legal iceberg. Your
undergraduate degree in philosophy might lead you to a great career that you've never
considered. Some of these don't even require law school!
Legal secretary
Paralegal
Practice administrator
Course clerk
Mediator
Lawyer / attorney
Judge
Law professor
Political speech writer
Legislative aide
Court reporter
Consultant
Diplomatic aide
Investigator
Social justice advocate
City manager
We'll work with you to create a career path that suits your interests and needs. Our
Pre-Law Student Association and Shocker Career Accelerator can be great resources for helping you make contacts and develop your goals. For
current data on educational requirements and typical pay for common careers in law,
see the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
World Philosophy
This is a great credential for students who want to better understand the multi-cultural
global civilization in which we live, and who expect to work and live in a diverse
environment. Learn how people around the world throughout history have thought about
foundational questions concerning reality, how to live, and where we go from here.
In addition to the regular requirements of the BA in Philosophy, the concentration
in world philosophy requires students to complete topical coursework, including PHIL
100 Introduction to Philosophy, Western philosophy courses, and non-Western philosophy
courses. Eligible courses for the Western and non-Western philosophy requirements
are listed in the catalog.
Students who also want to earn a certificate in Asian Studies will need to meet additional
requirements:
Courses in Chinese, Japanese or Russian language. All courses counted must be in the
same Asian language. Students are expected to include these classes among the first
they take in fulfillment of certificate requirements.
Courses with significant Asian content (one-third or greater). Specific decisions
about appropriateness of content is decided by certificate coordinators. Students
are encouraged to take an interdisciplinary approach to facilitate understanding how
a variety of scholarly perspectives may be brought to bear on common issues, thus
studentsare not permitted to count more than two courses in this category offered by any one
department.
Courses completed as part of the world philosophy concentration may count towards the certificate, depending on course content that particular semester.
Please contact your certificate coordinator to determine eligibility.
A minor consists of philosophy courses, selected in consultation with a department
advisor, that orient students to the philosophic aspects of their major fields.
The History and Philosophy of the Physical Sciences in the 20th Century
Women and Computers: Two Historical Episodes
Philosophy of the Social Sciences
Philosophy of Medicine
Ethics of Space Exploration
Ethics and Computers
Engineering Ethics
Ethics of Big Data
Evidential Reasoning
Theory of Knowledge
Additional options for the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
Suggested courses for philosophy PhD preparation
Students who want to build a career as a professional philosopher should take courses
in each of the classic divisions. These provide excellent preparation for PhD programs
for students who want to become Professors of Philosophy.
