BA in Philosophy
Susquehanna University
Key Information
Campus location
Selinsgrove, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 54,440 / per year **
Application deadline
Request info *
Earliest start date
Request info
* November 1 — Early Action 1. November 15 — Early Decision. December 1 — Early Action 2. February 1 — Regular Decision admission application deadline; late applications welcome as space permits. March 1 — International Students
** tuition 2022-23
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
Examine life from a new angle
Contemplate the complex moral and ethical issues faced by humanity — existence, meaning, values, truth, and more.
Open your eyes to ideas you didn’t even know existed. We take on complex issues that are rarely discussed.
You’ll be well-versed in classical philosophical thinking on age-old questions, like does God exist? We’re one of few universities to connect that kind of thinking to contemporary issues. We were the first university in the nation with a philosophy class on HBO’s “The Wire.” You’ll also study love and desire, environmental ethics, hip hop, and other contemporary topics from a philosophical standpoint.
Even more than thought-provoking classes and great job opportunities, studying philosophy will help you understand yourself and lead a full and satisfying life.
Practical skills for all fields
You’ll learn to analyze, write, persuade and examine both sides of an argument — allowing you to approach your life critically while improving yourself and the world around you. You’ll also be well-versed in cooperative reasoning, giving you the ability to talk rationally with people who disagree with you. Adding one of our interdisciplinary minors helps you gain an even better understanding of important topics in today’s world.
These skills apply and translate to virtually every career, including law, medicine, and business.
Philosophy graduates have the highest acceptance rate among humanities majors into medical school, outscore all other students on the LSATs, GMAT, and GREs, and have one of the fastest salary growth rates. The most successful mutual funds in the country are run by philosophy graduates.
Our graduates go on to study philosophy, law, environmental law, medicine, and more. They work as lawyers, teachers, hedge fund managers, public relations experts, paralegals, and IT professionals. We even have a graduate at TEDx!
The question is: What can’t you do?
What do the most successful mutual fund managers, the highest scorers on the GRE, and a great deal of doctors, lawyers, and entrepreneurs have in common? You guessed it—they studied philosophy.
One of the most common concerns for any student or parent is, what will I do with this degree? We hear that and can tell you that for philosophy majors, it’s about exploring what else moves you and using what you learn here to follow any career you want.
The debate isn’t whether you can get a job. The question is what can’t you do with a philosophy degree?
Gallery
Curriculum
Requirements for Major
When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.
Requirements for the Major in Philosophy
Philosophy majors complete, with a grade of C- or better, at least 36 hours in philosophy. In order to graduate with a philosophy major, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.00 in their philosophy courses. To ensure that students acquire adequate breadth and depth, they consult with a major adviser to select a balance of upper- and lower-level courses. Requirements include PHIL-241 Ancient Philosophy, PHIL-243 Modern Philosophy, PHIL-245 19th- and 20th-century Philosophy, PHIL-213 Symbolic Logic, at least one course in ethics (may be a Central Curriculum ethics course but must have a PHIL prefix), and one 300-level course.
Honors
The honors program in philosophy encourages and commends outstanding academic work. To graduate with departmental honors in philosophy, students must do the following:
- Complete requirements for the major,
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 overall and at least 3.50 in philosophy, and
- Perform outstanding academic work in at least one course of directed readings and research in philosophy.
Capstone Requirement
Students majoring in philosophy are expected to take the senior capstone requirement in the appropriate subject. A student with a double major may fulfill the university capstone requirement in a major outside of this department. Any student who elects to fulfill the capstone requirement in this manner must complete the philosophy major by successful completion of an additional four-semester-hour course, or the equivalent, in the relevant subject. Any student wishing to qualify for philosophy departmental honors must fulfill the appropriate capstone as provided by the philosophy department in addition to any capstone requirements imposed in a second major.
The course description for the departmental capstone states that it is “to serve [students] as a culmination of all their studies, allowing them to address a particular topic, issue or thinker in philosophy through the lens of their total undergraduate education.” Philosophy majors are encouraged to develop capstone projects that also draw on knowledge and strengths they have acquired in declared minors. Primary oversight of such projects will rest with the appropriate faculty supervisor in philosophy, although students will also be expected to work with an appropriate adviser from their minor area(s) of study.
Requirements for Minor
When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.
Minor in Philosophy
The philosophy minor completes, with a grade of C- or better, at least 20 semester hours in philosophy. Students consult with a minor adviser to select courses and are expected to take a balance of upper- and lower-level courses.
Courses Options
- PHIL 101 Problems in Philosophy, Credits: 4
- PHIL 105 Philosophy of Love & Desire, Credits: 4
- PHIL 115 Social Justice Leadership, Credits: 2
- PHIL 122 Resolving Moral Conflicts, Credits: 4
- PHIL 125 Justice, Credits: 4
- PHIL 140 The Good Life, Credits: 4
- PHIL 150 Race, Class, and Ethics, Credits: 4
- PHIL 210 Philosophy of Religion, Credits: 4
- PHIL 211 Existentialism, Credits: 4
- PHIL 212 Feminist Philosophy, Credits: 4
- PHIL 213 Symbolic Logic, Credits: 4
- PHIL 214 Black Existentialism, Credits: 4
- PHIL 221 Applied Ethics, Credits: 2–4
- PHIL 222 Advanced Ethical Theory, Credits: 4
- PHIL 223 Business Ethics, Credits: 4
- PHIL 224 Bioethics, Credits: 4
- PHIL 226 Philosophy, Ethics, and the Environment, Credits: 4
- PHIL 235 Aesthetics, Credits: 4
- PHIL 240 Being Awesome At Life, Credits: 4
- PHIL 241 Ancient Philosophy, Credits: 4
- PHIL 243 Modern Philosophy, Credits: 4
- PHIL 245 19th and 20th Century Philosophy, Credits: 4
- PHIL 255 The Republic & HBO’s The Wire, Credits: 4
- PHIL 301 Plato Seminar, Credits: 4
- PHIL 305 Topics in Philosophy, Credits: 2–4
- PHIL 310 Philosophy of Science, Credits: 4
- PHIL 312 Theories of Knowledge & Reality, Credits: 4
- PHIL 400 Independent Study, Credits: 1–4
- PHIL 500 Directed Reading and Research, Credits: 2–4
Program Outcome
Learning Goals
- Read texts/arguments in a reflective and critical manner.
- Write in a coherent and persuasive manner.
- Understand and apply logical thinking skills in evaluating arguments.
- Be literate with respect to various historical periods, philosophers, and sub-fields.
Career Opportunities
Recent graduates have attended:
- Duke University Graduate School (biology)
- Columbia Business School
- Columbia Journalism School
- Penn State Law School
- Johns Hopkins University Graduate School
- Michigan State Medical School
- Michigan State University (philosophy)
- New York University Graduate School (interdisciplinary studies)
- Northwestern (philosophy)
- Dickinson Law School
- Pennsylvania State University Graduate School (philosophy)
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Rutgers University Law School
- Sarah Lawrence College Graduate School
- University of Buffalo (public health)
- University of Montana (environmental philosophy)
- University of Pennsylvania Law School
- University of Vermont Law School
- University of Vermont Medical School
- Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
- Westchester University (social work)
Recent graduates are employed at:
- Fulbright Teaching Fellows
- University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
- Cengage Learning
- AmeriCorps
- Boy Scouts of America
- Legal firms throughout the United States
- New York City Teaching Fellows
- Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
- Compass Analytics and other major investment firms
- Teach for America
- Well Fargo & Co.
English Language Requirements
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