Major in Philosophy
Program Overview
Degree Type
Bachelor of Arts
Department Name
Philosophy
Department Chair Name
Department Assistant Name
What is a philosophy degree?
The study of philosophy across time and cultures promotes self-understanding and self-knowledge, the steppingstones to unraveling broader societal problems. The deep examination of knowledge, reality and existence challenges us to imagine whole new ways of living.
Why study philosophy at Furman?
Professors are accessible, caring, available and eager to mentor. Your philosophy mentors are dedicated to the art of teaching and prepared to shepherd you on your way to building self-awareness, developing reasoning skills, identifying problems and crafting creative solutions. Plan a visit to Furman’s beautiful campus or start your application today.
How will you learn?
Apart from the variety of course offerings, consider one-on-one research with professors who will prepare you to present your findings at scholarly conferences. Choose an internship at a firm devoted to public policy. Study away with fellow undergraduates to gain a new appreciation for other cultures. Take your first steps by contacting admissions or reading more about how to apply.
Careers for philosophy majors
Philosophy prepares you for any number of fields and possibilities. Hiring managers look to philosophy majors for their ability to tackle problems they’ve never before encountered.
Here are some paths our majors have taken:
- Law
- Business and finance
- Public policy
- Nonprofit sphere
- Medicine and health careers
- Ethics
- Government sector
- Real estate
- Design
Philosophy courses: What will you study?
Sample courses include:
Realizing Bodymind
Philosophy of Food
Clinical Medical Ethics
Philosophy of Sex and Love
Philosophy major requirements:
To graduate with a major in philosophy, a student must have a grade point average of 2.0 in all philosophy courses. A consists of eight courses, three of which must be numbered 300 or above, and must include:
- Introduction to Philosophy
- At least one course on the history of philosophy
- At least one course in non-Western philosophy
- At least one course in value theory
- At least one course in logic, metaphysics or epistomology
“Philosophy taught me how to think, solve problems and ask the right questions. I felt at home in the philosophy department, and the practice of constantly questioning myself, my beliefs and the world around me made me a better person. In retrospect, I couldn’t have chosen better training for becomi – Sarah Wood ’17
Our faculty
Your academic advisor will help you explore your passions, define your interests and achieve your goals. You’ll tap into a widespread network of community and alumni mentors to help you on your individual educational path – and to the opportunities at the end of it. Furman’s philosophy faculty represent decades of study and real-world expertise.
FAQ
A philosophy degree can take you almost anywhere, including business and finance, the nonprofit sector, medicine and health fields, and government. Our students have gone on to graduate school and become doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, environmental affairs specialists and journalists.
The median starting salary for philosophy graduate is $39,800, and the median mid-career salary is $75,600, according to payscale.com.
The B.A. in philosophy at Furman is a four-year program.