Philosophy majors at St. Edward’s examine both classic and contemporary philosophy texts to learn how to:
Graduates have a wide spectrum of marketable skills, including rational analysis, analytical thinking, critical inquiry and logical problem solving that can lead to a wide set of career opportunities in academia, law, politics, publishing, teaching, management, and many more.
The return on your money for majoring in philosophy: A Philosophy Degree Earns More Than An Accounting Degree, by Jane Wells, Yahoo! Finance
The importance of philosophy today: Don’t Dismiss the Humanities, by Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times
John Cleese: Why Philosophy is Nothing to Laugh About
Philosophy's role in shaping leaders: How Philosophy Makes You a Better Leader, by David Brendel, The Harvard Business Review
How philosophy helps in business: The Unexpected Way Philosophy Majors Are Changing the World of Business, by Carolyn Gregoire, The Huffington Post
And don't just take it from professors on campus. Philosophy is a Great Major spells out all the reasons to become a lover of wisdom.
Even the editorial page of Forbes magazine thinks majoring in philosophy is well worth it.
And here is a poster of famous philosphers to hang on your wall--unless you'd rather just read a long list of famous philosophy majors.
Skeptical about all these claims? Excellent! You're ready to be a philosophy major! And don't trust us just because we said all this. Ask St. Edward's English professor (and lawyer) Drew Loewe, French professor (and Department Chair) Philippe Seminet, University Studies professor Cory Lock, Associate Director of Career Services Adrian Domingo Ramirez and Associate Vice President of Admission Tracy Manier if their B.A. degrees in philosophy prepared them for life and work. They're bound to tell you it really helped them prepare for careers and more. And don't hesitate to contact the faculty in the department for more information!
Major Requirements: The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy requires 42 hours of Philosophy major courses comprised of a combination of history of philosophy, ethics, and logic courses, as well as History of Christian Theology I or II. In addition, students are encouraged to take other support courses such as Art History, Political Theory, Literary Criticism, etc. in order to narrow their focus to the career of their choosing.
General Education Requirements: The Philosophy degree requires 57 hours of general education courses that students complete over four years in addition to their major courses and electives.
View and download the full degree plan for our Philosophy major (PDF).
A few examples of courses students in this major take:
Philosophy faculty members are active in their fields and bring their expertise to the classroom.
Mark J. Cherry, Dr. Patricia A. Hayes Professor in Applied Ethics, Professor of Philosophy, and Department Chair
Our students have access to offices and programs outside of the classroom that support their success. We encourage students to take advantage these resources that help them thrive and excel:
An ongoing lecture series featuring well known speakers from around the country, addressing topics designed to stimulate intellectual conversations about current topics. Past presentations have included...
For more info, contact: Professor Mark J. Cherry
Faculty, staff and students discuss their diverse and distinct perspectives on important and relevant issues. A brief reading is selected for discussion during lunch. Past discussions have included...
For more info, contact: Dr. Jack Musselman
The career counselors in the Career and Professional Development office (Moody Hall 134, phone 512-448-8530) can help you find an internship that works for you. Your skills as a philosophy major--i.e. critical and analytical reasoning to provide clear and compelling arguments--are in demand by non-profits, for-profits and government employers. So, go to Moody Hall 134 and talk to a career counselor to get an internship. After that, go talk to your philosophy faculty about how that internship can become a philosophy course under their supervision.
Our Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy graduates have entered the field in a wide range of professional roles. Many of our students have gone on to pursue graduate degrees in philosophy, law and medicine. Others have accepted Fulbright Scholarships.
Read about our successful alumni. See what they have to say about life after St. Edward’s.
Students who wish to earn a Philosophy Minor must take the following coursework, totaling 18 hours.
Students may choose any upper division Philosophy elective to complete their minor.
For more information about applicable coursework, please consult the undergraduate bulletin.