BA in Philosophy
See the Senior Project Guidelines for more information.
Philosophy is much more practical than you might think! Because philosophy is so far-reaching, the method it uses for study enhances the study of other fields such as art, math, science, language, and law with tremendous success. It can also be a great complement to other majors as a second major or a minor.
As a philosophy BA student, you will develop vital writing, discussion, and critical thinking skills that are applicable across all professions. You will learn to critically analyze problems and solve them efficiently. Sometimes, it's not about the material you learn, but how you learn it. Philosophy will prepare you to tackle issues using critical thinking and collaboration. These abilities are critical in any profession and highly valued by many employers.
Tracks
Ethics and Civic Life
The ethics and civil life concentration allows students interested in ethics and community service to relate their experiences in the classroom to their work in the community, and vice-versa.
This track is optional for philosophy majors; those who complete it will receive acknowledgement on their transcripts of their accomplishments in this concentration.
Transfer Guide
Recommendations from the Department of Philosophy
There is no specific course that students are required to take to prepare for the Philosophy major. If you are considering a major in Philosophy you are encouraged to take a 1xxx-level (lower division) Philosophy course early in your college career to explore your interest. A lower division course can provide a broad introduction to philosophy or explore a specific area of study such as logic, ethics, political philosophy, philosophy and culture.
The Philosophy major does require a logic course and most students will take PHIL 1001, Introduction to Logic, to fulfill that requirement. This requirement can also be satisfied by an upper level course, PHIL 5201, Symbolic Logic I. Make sure to check Transferology to see if the logic course offered at your college has been evaluated as equivalent to our PHIL 1001.
A grade of C- or better is required in all courses approved to satisfy major requirements.
See the catalog for all courses in the major.
Remember, when using Transferology to plan courses for the major, look for courses that transfer as direct equivalents to UMTC major courses.
In CLA, each department has a process to declare the major. This is a necessary step for the major to be added to the student record. New transfer students do not declare their majors until after they attend orientation.
To declare a major in Philosophy, students must meet with the Philosophy departmental advisor in a scheduled declaration appointment.
While there is no specific course that must be completed in order to declare the Philosophy major, it is recommended that students take a Philosophy course prior to declaring as a way to explore their interest.
We recommend that you meet with the Philosophy departmental advisor during your first semester in CLA to discuss your interest and the declaration process. This meeting allows the departmental advisor to tell you about opportunities within the major and department, as well as help you plan your Philosophy coursework effectively and efficiently.
Lower division coursework – A maximum of eight credits of 1xxx-level coursework can count towards the major requirements.
Beginning logic courses must include predicate logic in order to be approved to satisfy the major’s logic requirement.
Major residency requirement – The Philosophy Department requires at least 11 credits of coursework at the 3xxx-level or higher be completed with UMTC PHIL coursework.
Transfer courses are evaluated by the department for use towards the major. Check Transferology to see if an evaluation already exists for the courses you would like to use toward the major. If you find a course that has not been evaluated you can submit the course for review. A copy of the course syllabus is required.
If you are planning to transfer to CLA for Philosophy and you are attending a community college or other two-year institution, keep in mind the major only allows up to eight credits of 1xxx-level coursework. The department recommends that you limit the number of 1xxx-level Philosophy courses that you take prior to transferring, and use your time at the community college to work on your second language coursework and other degree requirements. Be sure to talk with a CLA transfer advisor about any questions you have about completing the CLA Second Language requirement.
The Philosophy major offers an Ethics and Civic Life concentration. This concentration allows students interested in ethics and community service to relate their experiences in the classroom to their work in the community, and vice-versa. Students completing the concentration must take three courses from a list of choices in moral and political philosophy, as well as complete a community service requirement. This track is optional for philosophy majors; those who complete it will receive acknowledgement on their transcripts of their accomplishments in this concentration.
PHIL 4326 (popularly known as Philosophy Camp) is offered every May Session. It is a residential program in rural Minnesota. Students live in intentional community, getting to know the land, their fellow residents, and themselves. Story circles, reflections, field experiences, opportunities for creative expression, and great conversations offer students tools to create their own philosophies for lives worth living. This course counts for elective credit within the PHIL major
Prospective students are encouraged to contact the Philosophy departmental advisor with any questions.
Career Paths
All liberal arts degrees help CLA students develop their Core Career Competencies, and philosophy majors develop specific skills that are applicable to lots of different careers. These skills include strong verbal and written communication skills, analytical and reasoning skills, and the ability to formulate clear and persuasive messages.
Students who take the SuperStrong Interest Inventory receive a three-letter interest code, which identifies their top three areas of interest, work activities, potential skills, and personal values. The interest code "SAI" is often associated with this major, however, the SuperStrong assessment can help you understand how your interests connect to a variety of majors and career options. You can learn more about common employer types and occupations associated with this major. You can also see CLA specific examples of alumni careers below.
Internship & Job Search Websites
- Handshake
- HECUA internship program
- The Social Service Job Site
- USA Jobs
- Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
- Idealist (Nonprofit positions in the US and internationally)
- USA Jobs
- Public Service Careers (Check out “Why Public Service?”)
Student Groups
Professional Organizations
Graduate Programs in Philosophy
This is a small sample of programs alumni have gone onto, to find graduate programs in this field, search the Grad School Directory or Peterson's Guide.
- Master of Arts, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Columbia University
- Master of Arts, Philosophy, University of Chicago
- Master of Arts, Philosophy & Religious Studies, University of Houston
Alumni Career Examples
Below is a small sampling of what alumni with this major have pursued, organized by the most common career fields they go into (although keep in mind that there are alumni in all eight of the career fields). You can also utilize the LinkedIn's Alumni Tool and the Maroon and Gold Network to further explore alumni career pathways and connect directly with professionals.
Click to expand each accordion panel below for opportunities pursued by alumni in this major!
Note: *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required
Internships
- Academic Intern, Ramsey County Attorney
- Intern, Office of Senator Al Franken
- Event Planning Intern, CommonBond Communities
- Public Policy Intern, United States Senate
- Legal Intern, Gonko & Vavreck PLLC
- Legal Intern,
- Crow Wing County Attorney
- Intern, Hennepin County SCOPE Service Center Intern
Entry-Level
- Law Clerk, The Adkins Law Group
- Bookkeeper/File Clerk, The Law Office of Katherine L Mackinnon PLLC
- Legislative Aide, Minnesota Senate
- Crime Victim Liaison Program Secretary, Council on Crime and Justice
Experienced
- Director, Step-UP, City of Minneapolis
- Political Campaign Strategist, Independent Contractor
Graduate Programs
- JD, Hamline University. Postgrad job: Corporate Counsel, Life Time Fitness
- JD, Michigan State University College of Law
- JD, University of Minnesota
Note: *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required
Entry-Level
- Market Planning Consultant, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota
- Customer Service Representative, Aetna
- HRMS Business Analyst, University of Minnesota
Experienced
- Assistant Event Coordinator, Target Field Events
- Business Analyst Consultant, Digineer
Graduate Programs
- MBA, Delta State University
- MBA, Capella University
- MBA, St. Catherine University. Post-grad job: School Age Child Care Director, YMCA of Greater Twin Cities
- MA, Organizational Leadership
- MBA, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota
Note: *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required
Internships
- Marketing and Social Media Intern, Free Arts Minnesota
- Intern, Take Action Minnesota
- Special Events Intern, Phillips Eye Institute Foundation
- Administrative Intern, Outfront Minnesota
Entry-Level
- High School Coordinator, United Way
- Research Assessment Technician, Institute of Translational Research in Children’s Mental Health
Graduate Programs
- Master of Arts, Counseling Psychology. Postgrad job: Senior Advisor, Capella University
- Master of Divinity, St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminar
Note: *Asterisks denote that further education and/or training is often required
Internships
- Education Policy Intern, Center for Democracy and Citizenship
Entry-Level
- Teacher, Teach for America
- Minneapolis Kids Child Care Assistant, Minneapolis Public Schools
- Assistant to the Director of Admissions, University of Minnesota
- Event and Programs Coordinator-Student Unions and Activities, University of Minnesota
- Principal Office and Administrative Specialist, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
Experienced
- Curriculum Developer, Franklin Excellence
- Chief of Staff-Office of Admissions, University of Minnesota
Graduate Programs
- Master of Education, Columbia University
- PhD, Higher Education, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- MED, Youth Development Leadership