Program Overview
Philosophy investigates fundamental questions concerning knowledge and belief (epistemology), the nature of reality (metaphysics), and morality and aesthetics (value theory). The department offers courses that relate traditional questions to contemporary work in literature and the social and natural sciences. In addition, the department offers several courses that make a careful study of ancient and modern philosophical texts.
- Philosophy
- Major
- Minor
- 3 year pathway
- 4+1 Bachelors & Masters
- Humanities
- Behavioral & Social Sciences
Student Story: Brock
Through the Humanities Excel Program, Brock, a fourth-year philosophy major, is now working as an Editorial Fellow with the journal The American Prospect (TAP). Before working at TAP, Brock worked as a Journalism Intern at the Seymour Center and as KZSC Santa Cruz’s News and Talk Director.
“It can often be hard to articulate the practical benefits of studying something as nebulous as philosophy, but I firmly believe the discipline has provided me with a very strong foundation for the kind of work I do at TAP,” Brock said. “Learned skills have come relatively quickly, but a strong foundation in reasoning and identifying objections to a given claim - like that developed from an education in the humanities - takes way more time and effort to build.”
Career Outcomes
- Non-profit work
- Ethics (tech, medical, legal, business, clinical, etc.)
- Government service
- Human Resources, employment, etc.
- Law
- Ministry, other religious work
- City planning, architecture, design
- Social work, counseling
- Software development
- Teaching (all levels)
- Writing (journalism, publishing, editing)
These are only samples of the field’s many possibilities.
Program Contact
