The main benefit of the study of Philosophy is developing the ability to think critically and for oneself. More than problem solving, it is the ability to make informed and reflective judgments in ambiguous situations, which is highly valued in all professions. Nationwide, Philosophy majors earn top scores on exams like the LSAT, MCAT, and GMAT, and by mid-career are among the highest earners in their chosen fields. One former CSS Philosophy student went on to complete a Masters of Education degree as part of a program supporting public education in Boston and is now teaching in Micronesia. Another is pursuing an MFA program in Creative Writing, while a third is in law school. Current CSS Philosophy students aim to become lawyers, professors, political strategists, business leaders, and more. The total number of credit requirements for the major has been kept low in order to allow students to pursue a second major in another field if they so desire, and your advisor within the program will work with you to tailor your degree to your career aspirations.
Contact Information
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Philosophy major, students will be able to:
- Articulate their own clear and nuanced positions on complex issues.
- Anticipate and respond fully to some of the most pressing challenging counter-arguments and/or objections to their own positions.
- Systematically and methodically analyze their own and others' assumptions, including the assumptions of any authors/philosophers the student engages.
- Analyze and synthesize information taken from sources in ways that is accurate, coherent, and comprehensive.
- Use delivery techniques (e.g. gestures, eye contact, vocal expressiveness) and delivery aids (e.g. slide shows, charts, props, etc.) to present positions to others in a polished and clear manner.
Requirements
Students must achieve the following program requirements for all courses listed under Program Requirements and Program Required Courses for the Philosophy major.
Program Requirements
Major Credits: 36
Major Residency Credits: 16
Minimum GPA: 2.0
Minimum Grade: C-
Program Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| PHL 1105 | Logic | 4 |
| PHL 1114 | The Philosophical Perspective | 4 |
| or PHL 2205 | Philosophy of Person | |
| PHL 2214 | Introductory Ethics | 4 |
| PHL 4444 | Seminar | 4 |
| Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 8 | |
| Ancient Philosophy | ||
| Medieval Philosophy | ||
| Modern Philosophy | ||
| Select 12 additional credits of PHL courses 1 | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
Eight credits must be completed at the 3000 to 4000 level.
Degree Requirements
To graduate from the College of St. Scholastica, baccalaureate students must meet the following minimum degree requirements.
Total Credits: 128
Upper Division Credits: 42
Residency Requirement: 32
Minimum GPA: 2.0