Philosophy
More information
- Degree information (Academic Calendar)
- Philosophy program information
- Honours, Major and Minor, Certificate in Ethics and Graduate study information
- Learn more about the Faculty of Arts
Philosophy not only helps you gain an understanding of a diverse range of world views, but also aids in articulating your own well-informed view of the world and your place in it. The questions that philosophers ask and attempt to answer are intrinsically interesting and for many people, this is reason enough to study philosophy.
There are also important, practical reasons to study philosophy. Most philosophers agree that among the great benefits of philosophy is that it challenges us to think critically about our beliefs and to justify them with good arguments. The development of critical thinking skills is something that can help all of us to make better decisions in many aspects of our lives. We can benefit personally because we will make better judgments about what is in our own long-term self-interest. We can benefit professionally because we will be able to think more clearly about decisions we have to make at work.
Bachelor of Arts
The Philosophy program is available as a major, double major or honours option as part of a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree. Arts is a four year program and covers a broad range of subject areas concerned with the study of human beings and the evolution and nature of global societies, ideas, and institutions. In your first two years of the program, you will select courses in fields like humanities, languages, social sciences as well as science and business to provide you with a broad foundation for advanced study in your chosen subject area during the final two years.
Careers
A background in philosophy can be of great utility in many specific career areas, such as the legal profession, the business world, journalism, science and the medical profession. In law, the prominent role played by arguments and the application of general rules to specific cases is very clear. As a result, most law schools are especially receptive to students who have a philosophical background. In addition, many businesses express a strong desire for employees who have developed the thinking and communication skills emphasized in philosophy.
This is not surprising, since business people must be able to formulate and clarify problems, analyze potential solutions, and defend their own recommendations in a clear and rational way. Journalists can also clearly benefit from being able to present clear and rational analyses of various situations. Moreover, philosophical training provides an excellent background for dealing with the ethical issues that arise in any profession, particularly the medical profession, and this is something that is increasingly recognized by medical schools and by various professional bodies.
Philosophy @ Work
A BA in Philosophy could lead to work as a:
- Politician
- Journalist
- Speech Writer
- Researcher
