Philosophy

Philosophy is the active pursuit of knowledge or wisdom. The philosophy major serves a wide range of students seeking the skills and understanding of a philosophical perspective on individual areas of interest. These interests range from specific topics in biomedical or environmental ethics to highly abstract issues about knowledge, reality, religion and morality. Because of its emphasis on careful reading, conceptual analysis, and well-reasoned writing, the major provides excellent training for a variety of careers.

Admission Information

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Quality classroom experiences

Undergraduates benefit from small class sizes and exceptional access to distinguished faculty. Philosophy majors practice reasoned argumentation and critical analysis to explore the most fundamental questions concerning the nature of reality, society and humanity.

Stand Out in courses like

Medical Ethics

Environmental Ethics

Contemporary Moral Issues

Philosophy of Death and Dying

Social and Political Philosophy

Philosophy of Religion

Curriculum

The major requires work in the various areas of philosophic study: logic, history of philosophy, normative philosophy, and metaphysics and epistemology. The Philosophy Department works with each student to develop a major to meet individual needs and interests. Students who plan to pursue careers in law, business, environmental management, or health professions may choose to include relevant courses in those disciplines. Each philosophy major completes a capstone project in their senior year in which they have the opportunity to explore a topic in depth, guided by a faculty member, and to produce a polished piece of philosophical writing that can serve as a writing sample for graduate school applications.

BGSU has an international reputation for its focus on Applied Philosophy.

Internships and Careers

Students are encouraged to pursue internships in their individual areas of interest. Some philosophy majors plan to teach at the college level, but most go on to practice a variety of other careers. Philosophy teaches critical and analytical reasoning skills that are useful in every profession.

Average Starting Salary & BGSU Placement Rate

$43,585* - Philosophy graduates average starting salary according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers

100% of BGSU Philosophy graduates report they’re employed, in graduate school or starting a business within six months of graduation

Go Far in your career

Business
Education
Environmental Management
Government
Journalism
Law
Medicine
Theology

More Information

The Philosophy program is part of the Department of Philosophy in the BGSU College of Arts and Sciences.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in philosophy will be able to:

Read and understand sophisticated philosophical texts;
Critically evaluate philosophical arguments;
Construct and defend philosophical arguments in well-organized, clear and concise prose;
Demonstrate mastery of basic philosophical concepts and methods, both orally and in writing;
Apply critical-thinking and argument-evaluation skills to the philosophical issues and arguments that present themselves in everyday life;
Engage in rational, civil discourse about complex and emotionally laden topics in a manner that is respectful of others.

Accreditation

Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012-2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

The Philosophy program is currently undergoing Program/Cluster Review.

More information on accreditation

Professional Licensure

Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The philosophy program does not lead to professional licensure.

More information on professional licensure

Gainful Employment

Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

The Philosophy program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.

* Job placement and salary information was compiled by the Office of Academic Assessment through the Graduation Survey from AY2015-2018. The data are gathered around the time of Commencement and a follow-up survey six months post Commencement. For the salary question, data for programs with fewer than fifteen responses are not included. Salaries for those programs are from the National Association of Colleges and Employers Summer 2019 Survey. For questions regarding the data, contact assessment@bgsu.edu.

Updated: 03/04/2021 03:53PM