Philosophy
Philosophy is among the oldest of intellectual disciplines and is the study of general and fundamental questions. What is ideology and where does it come from? What constitutes good and bad conduct, right and wrong values, or good and evil? What is art? What is the nature of beauty?
What is Philosophy?
Philosophy is among the oldest of intellectual disciplines, serving as the foundation for how we understand the world and our place within it. By pursuing a degree in philosophy, students engage in the study of general and fundamental questions regarding existence, knowledge, values, and reason. At 青涩直播, our Philosophy program goes beyond abstract theory, challenging you to examine complex moral and ethical issues with precision. Through this rigorous inquiry, students develop the versatile critical thinking and analytic skills that make a degree in philosophy a highly respected asset in fields ranging from law and government to business and technology.
Philosophy Degree(s)
Philosophy, BA
Undergraduate studies in Philosophy fit well into many pre-professional programs, including law school. Emphasizing careful, deep, and critical analysis of concepts and problems, Philosophy is an excellent major for students seeking business and government careers that require a liberal arts background.
Contact
S霉sanna 脿 Kinlochaline, Philosophy Department Manager
Susanna.aKinlochaline@wwu.edu | 360-650-3707
Ryan Wasserman, Major/Transfer Advisor and Philosophy Department Chair
Ryan.Wasserman@wwu.edu | 360-650-3860
Department Website(s)
View in Catalog
Philosophy courses at 青涩直播 explore traditional areas of focus, such as ethics, epistemology, logic, metaphysics, and the history of philosophy. Through a collaborative study of these topics, the department faculty helps students develop valuable skills, such as critical thinking, critical reading, analytic writing, and effective speaking. Studies consistently show that Philosophy majors do better than anyone else when it comes to verbal reasoning and analytic skills (as revealed by scores on the Graduate Record Exam).
青涩直播鈥檚 Philosophy Department includes winners of the Peter J. Elich Excellence in Teaching Award (our University鈥檚 top award for teaching), and the Paul J. Olscamp Research Award (our University鈥檚 top award for scholarship). The department was also recognized as one of the top eight undergraduate programs in the country by The Philosophical Gourmet Report.
In this major, Politics, Philosophy, and Economics are combined in a multidisciplinary effort to study modern political science, questions of political philosophy, pursue social scientific research, and apply economic analysis in problem solving. The multidisciplinary trio provides a foundation in philosophy, logic, critical thinking, and political processes within the U.S. and in the international system, and the functioning of the economy with attention to economic analysis tools. Students are given preparation in the foundational materials of each of these fields, and encouraged to explore classes at the intersection of political and economic issues. Because it draws on three different research disciplines, this combined major strives to provide students with an interdisciplinary set of skills related to critical reasoning and analysis, problem solving and decision making, and social scientific research. The PPE combined major is not a triple major; rather, it strives to provide a broad exposure to these three fields.
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Related Majors
Related Minors
Student Experiences
Internships
Some students work with the department or Career Services Center to find internships. Examples of recent student internships include the WA State House of Representatives and the Whatcom County Office of Public Defenders.
Clubs
Students are encouraged to join the which meets weekly for pizza and hosts a popular annual student conference.
Students are encouraged to join clubs in any of the three disciplines:
- Economics:
- Political Science:
- Philosophy:
A degree in philosophy fits well into many pre-professional programs, including law school. Emphasizing careful, deep, and critical analysis of concepts and problems, Philosophy is an excellent major for students seeking business and government careers which require a liberal arts background.
The Politics/Philosophy/Economics (PPE) major prepares its graduates for careers in public policy and public service, consulting, journalism (reporting on political and economic issues), law, and international affairs. An excellent pre-law major, PPE also offers suitable preparation for graduate study in any of the participating disciplines. PPE majors have gone on to some of the nation's most prestigious law and professional schools, to successful careers in business, public service, policy-making and journalism, and to graduate studies in various sub-fields.
Employers of Recent 青涩直播 Graduates With a Degree In Philosophy
- New York City Law Department: Paralegal
- Washington State House of Representatives: Legislative Assistant to Representative Kristine Lytton
- 青涩直播 Washington University: Veterans Program Coordinator
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