Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Philosophy degree program at Wayne State University provides students with the vital critical thinking and communication skills that prepare them for graduate study and the workforce.

Through the choice of a concentration, our philosophy majors can tailor their curriculum to suit their career goals. They may seek a traditional philosophy education or a foundation for pre-law.

Why Wayne State’s philosophy major?

• Learn in insightful and challenging courses led by published faculty members.
• Choose between a traditional concentration or a concentration in law, ethics and justice to prepare you for a career in law.
• Graduate early with your Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Philosophy through the Accelerated Graduate Enrollment (AGRADE) program.
• Affordable tuition rates and generous financial aid.

What is the study of philosophy?

Philosophy is a diverse study that seeks to answer the fundamental questions of existence, reason and morality. Those who study philosophy learn to hone critical skills like writing, problem-solving and effective communication to answer these pressing questions.

Many philosophy majors go on to law school or medical school; however, the skills students learn prove to be invaluable in any profession.

Learning objectives

The philosophy degree program teaches students how to:

• Examine, explain and solve complex ethical issues through respectful, precise communication.
• Demonstrate a knowledge of important historical figures, problems, methods and themes across the discipline of philosophy.
• Develop the cross-cultural competence, interpersonal communication, critical thinking and writing skills necessary to enter law school and related graduate school.

Philosophy program requirements and curriculum

To meet the requirements for degree completion, you complete the following:

• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences group requirements
• University general education requirements
• Philosophy major requirements

Courses

While your courses depend on your concentration, all philosophy majors enroll in one core logic course. Review some of the following diverse topics you may learn about:

View all available courses

Honors program

Looking to graduate with honors? Learn about our philosophy honors program.

Conduct independent philosophy research

We encourage students to seek out independent research opportunities with the guidance of a faculty member. Browse through some of our faculty member’s research interests:

• Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy
• Contemporary ethical issues
• Early modern philosophy
• Metaphysics
• Morality
• The philosophy of time

To further jump-start your research ideas, the Department of Philosophy holds its annual Seymour Riklin Memorial Lecture, a place for meaningful philosophical discussion.

Learn more about philosophy research

Earn your bachelor’s and master’s in five years

The Department of Philosophy allows eligible seniors to simultaneously earn their undergraduate and graduate degrees in philosophy through the Accelerated Graduate Enrollment (AGRADE) program. Learn more about the Master of Arts in Philosophy.

For more information about AGRADE, contact Mark Satta, director of undergraduate studies or Jada Twedt Strabbing, director of graduate studies.

Minor in pre-law, humanities, health care ethics or religious studies

We offer several minors that further enrich your philosophy degree:

• Minor in Health Care Ethics
• Minor in Humanities
• Minor in Medical Humanities
• Minor in Pre-Law
• Minor in Religious Studies

Philosophy bachelor’s degree career outcomes

Philosophy is one of the most versatile majors a student can choose. Because philosophy teaches students how to think, problem-solve, write, and communicate effectively, graduates are well-positioned to enter a wide range of industries, including:

• Business (nonprofit and for-profit)
• Education
• Finance
• Government
• Law
• Medicine
• Research

While becoming a lawyer, professor, researcher or medical professional requires additional training and education, a B.A. in Philosophy lays the foundation for career success.

For those planning to pursue a graduate degree, philosophy majors often hold the highest average score of any major on their LSAT (Law School Admission Test), the verbal section of their GREs, and the analytical writing section of GREs (Graduate Record Examinations). They also have the highest acceptance rate of any major to medical school at almost 50%.

Financial aid and tuition

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers a variety of scholarships to philosophy majors, awarding them based on need and academic achievement.

View a full list of scholarships at Wayne State University or use our net price calculator to estimate your tuition savings after financial aid.

Learn more about Wayne State University’s B.A. in Philosophy

Build your skill set for graduate school while discovering the answers to life’s most important questions when you enroll in the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy program at Wayne State University.