Majoring in Philosophy
The study of philosophy is relevant to all aspects of life and living well, ranging from investigating various perspectives on the nature of reality, conditions of knowledge and ways of knowing, and nuances of critical reasoning to the foundations of morality, justifications for political authority, and criteria for aesthetic evaluation. The WSU Department of Philosophy has particular strengths in several core philosophical specialties including ethics; pre-law; Asian philosophy; history and philosophy of STEM; and logic, critical reasoning, and epistemology.
In addition to philosophical foundations courses like metaphysics, we offer perspectives courses on topics such as the philosophy of feminism and philosophy of sex and love, as well as a range of applied philosophy courses for professionals, including engineering ethics, business ethics and bioethics.
New Concentrations
Our philosophy department now offers three concentrations (available Fall 2022):
Ethics Concentration *** Pre-Law Concentration *** World Philosophy Concentration
Students can earn multiple concentrations by completing the general requirements for the major and the specific course requirements for each concentration. Some courses count towards both concentrations, e.g. Ancient Chinese Philosophy counts as an Asian philosophy course as well as an ethics course. See below for details.
Career Foundations
Our B.A. in Philosophy helps students develop professional skills that in high demand across a wide variety of fields:
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- Critical reasoning
- Analytical and problem-solving skills
- Writing and communication skills
- Ethical and cultural literacy
Graduates of our program have founded companies and gone on to graduate school in philosophy, law, communications, education, and other fields.
- We've recently placed our graduates in PhD programs at UCLA, USC, Columbia University, the University of British Columbia, Fordham University, the University of Kansas and other excellent universities, sometimes with full funding for 5-7 years.
- Over the past twenty years, every one of our majors applying to law school has been accepted. Indeed, during this period several of our graduates have attended law school at Harvard and Cornell. Others have pursued their J.D. at Notre Dame, UC Berkeley, the University of Iowa, Baylor University, American University, Rutgers University, the University of Denver, Washburn University, and the University of Kansas.
"In 1989, I made the decision to major in Philosophy at Wichita State University. 5 years later, I was graduating with law degree from Harvard Law School. It was only during LSAT preparation that I realized how critical my philosophy training was going to be with respect to nailing the exam. With two courses in formal logic under my belt, the game questions were nearly automatic. The ability to quickly navigate verbose, conceptually rich material and instantly distill it to its component elements proved critical to success in both the exam and the law generally. Philosophy, as it turned out, was and is the ideal pre-law major." Craig Macy (J.D., Harvard University, 1994)
Degree Requirements
A major consists of a minimum of 27 credit hours of philosophy courses (that's nine 3-credit courses), at least 15cr of which must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and an applied learning component (see below). Since our major is extremely flexible, each philosophy major must meet with a departmental advisor at least once a semester to plan or review a program of study. These programs are designed in terms of the individual student's interests and future plans. Up to 12 credit hours of philosophy courses taken before the decision to major in philosophy may count toward a major. Additional hours may be counted with the advisor's consent. See below for course plan options.
Students in the BA in philosophy program are required to complete an applied learning or research experience to graduate from the program. The requirement can be met by completing one item from list A or three items from list B.
- Take a Directed Readings or Honors option which involves original research or scholarship.
- Give a paper or poster presentation at URCAF.
- Give a poster presentation at an undergraduate philosophy conference.
- Give a paper or serve as commentator for a paper at an undergraduate philosophy conference.
- Edit or referee submissions for an undergraduate philosophy journal.
- Publish an article in an undergraduate philosophy journal.
- Internship or co-op experience.
- Serve as logic/critical reasoning tutor.
- Serve as an officer in the Philosophy Society (PS), the Prelaw Student Association (PLSA) or the SGA.
- Attend lecture of visiting speaker (in philosophy).
- Attend philosophy seminar given by visiting speaker.
- Attend on-campus session of the Kansas Appellate Court.
- Attend on-campus presentation by law school.
- Participate in visits to regional law schools organized by the PLSA.
- Attend an undergraduate or professional philosophy conference.
- Participate in activities of the PS or PLSA.
- Participate in philosophical discussions on social media organized by the PS.
Attendance/participation is to be verified either through completed registration forms or signatures on sign-up sheets.
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Planning Your Degree
Philosophy majors and minors develop an individualized course of study in consultation with a faculty advisor. Here are some examples. We'll help you design a plan that's right for you.
Pre-Law Options for Philosophy Majors
Here at WSU, the Department of Philosophy offers a traditional 4-year pre-law track, and we're excited to announce our new Legal Education Accelerated Degree track (LEAD) in partnership with the KU School of Law.
Take the LEAD
The Legal Education Accelerated Degree (LEAD) affords qualified students majoring in criminal justice, English, history, philosophy, or political science with an accelerated pathway to the University of Kansas School of Law. For more information, please visit us at https://www.wichita.edu/academics/fairmount_college_of_liberal_arts_and_sciences/LEAD.php
Pre-Law Concentration
To earn the pre-law concentration, students must complete all graduation requirements for the BA in philosophy, and successfully complete at least one philosophy course in each of the four concentration areas: analytical reasoning, ethics, philosophy of law, political and social philosophy (see course list below). These courses focus on the skills and knowledge that students need to do well on the LSAT and flourish in law school. Philosophy students learn to analyze and construct arguments, reason abstractly, and write clearly and cogently. Nationally, philosophy majors perennially score at or near the top of all majors on the LSAT, consistently averaging 157.
The major in philosophy at Wichita State University is designed to allow students to develop an individualized course of study consisting of at least 27 credit hours (9 standard courses). We work with you to create a study plan that meets your needs and interests. The scheme below should give you a good idea of what your own plan might look like.
Analytical Reasoning (1 course)
- Introductory Logic
- Critical Reasoning
Ethics (1 course)
- Ethical Theory
- Contemporary Ethics
- History of Ethics
- Metaethics
Political and Social Philosophy (1 course)
- Political Philosophy
- Latin American and LatinX Thought
- Philosophy of Feminism
- Contemporary Chinese Philosophy
- Ethics of Space Exploration
- Philosophy of the Social Sciences
Philosophy of Law (1 course)
- Classic Philosophy of Law
- Contemporary Philosophy of Law
History of Philosophy (1 course)
- Ancient Greek Philosophy
- Ancient Chinese Philosophy
- Early Modern Philosophy
- Late Modern Philosophy
Science and Epistemology (1 course)
- Philosophy of Science
- Theory of Knowledge
Philosophy Electives (3 courses)*
- Philosophy of Language
- Ethics of Big Data
- Philosophy of the Arts
- Analytic Philosophy
- Philosophy of Sex and Love
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Total credit hours: 27 (9 courses @ 3 credit hours ea) We recommend that students also take background courses in history, literature, economics, and political thought to round out their general education requirements.
* These are just a few of the electives options.
When we think of careers in law, we typically think of policing and criminal justice or courtroom attorneys and judges. Those are only the tip of the legal iceberg. Your undergraduate degree in philosophy might lead you to a great career that you've never considered. Some of these don't even require law school!
| Legal Secretary | Political Speech Writer |
| Paralegal | Legislative Aide |
| Practice Administrator | Court Reporter |
| Course clerk | Consultant |
| Mediator | Diplomatic Aide |
| Lawyer/Attorney | Investigator |
| Judge | Social Justice Advocate |
| Law Professor | City Manager |
Testimony from the Majors
Here is what some of our former majors who attended law school have to say about the advantages of majoring in philosophy:
"Of the many learning experiences I've made at Wichita State University, the department of philosophy and my philosophy classes have stood out above the rest. The study of philosophy has always forced me to question my assumptions about the world and our place within it. The philosophy department challenged me to become a better student by fostering an educational atmosphere that encouraged reasoned discussions, critical insights, and meaningful connections with fellow students and professors. I have no doubt that my future success in law school and the legal world will be due in part to the skills I learned and the experiences I lived as a WSU philosophy major." Hector Cruz (Entering Class 2014, University of California, Berkeley)
"In 1989, I made the decision to major in Philosophy at Wichita State University. 5 years later, I was graduating with law degree from Harvard Law School. It was only during LSAT preparation that I realized how critical my philosophy training was going to be with respect to nailing the exam. With two courses in formal logic under my belt, the game questions were nearly automatic. The ability to quickly navigate verbose, conceptually rich material and instantly distill it to its component elements proved critical to success in both the exam and the law generally. Philosophy, as it turned out, was and is the ideal pre-law major." Craig Macy (J.D., Harvard University, 1994)
"The courses I took as a Philosophy major at WSU were indispensable to my success in law school. The critical thinking skills I developed in those classes not only helped me succeed in my law school courses, but also gave me an "edge" in a very competitive academic environment. My training gave me the ability to extract crucial information through careful reading and to logically structure my thoughts. These skills were central to my success on the LSAT, and my admission to a top law school. That same training pays off every day in my career, as well." Mark Kanaga (J.D., Cornell University, 2006 )
"The analytical and logical reasoning skills I developed through the study of philosophy were essential to my success in preparing for the LSAT and in my law school classes, and are skills which I use every day as a practicing attorney. The LSAT directly tests logical reasoning skills, and these skills also provided me with a solid foundation on which to build my knowledge of the law. I believe that law school, though still challenging, would have been much more difficult had I not developed that foundation as an undergraduate. The faculty in the philosophy department are also top quality educators and mentors who helped me develop my career path." Vanessa Kanaga (J.D., Cornell University, 2006)
"Reasonable. Rational. Justified. As a WSU philosophy major (class of 2009), I quickly learned that these concepts are much more complex than I had ever thought. As a philosophy student, I was encouraged to critically analyze complex quandaries that are, generally speaking, without a certain, final answer. Arguments in favor of a particular view require not only compelling reasons for that view, but respectful and critical analysis of other views. As a part of my philosophy education, I was exposed to professors and other students who challenged me to develop my confidence and ability to articulate such rational justifications. I know of no other major that hones these skills as well, and these are exactly the skills that a successful legal education requires.
As a practical matter, I was also introduced to certain philosophers and theories that informed legal theories I encountered even in my very first days at the University of Iowa School of Law--think Dworkin, Mill, and many others. Additionally, Introduction to Logic is possibly the best first step in preparing for the LSAT exam one could take; I still refer to my Logic 125 textbook while helping local undergraduates prepare for the LSAT exam. And, if you've ever had to break down Frege's puzzle, breaking down a Cardozo opinion in your first-year Contracts class will actually seem fun--at least that's what I think." Mindy Wheeler (University of Iowa)
"As a student majoring in philosophy at Wichita State University, I was given the opportunity to completely immerse myself in conceptual questions involving the same type of logical and moral principles that form the foundation of the law. I was trained to sift through facts and observations to get to the heart of the issue, engage in critical and objective analysis, and then take a step back and prepare reasoned arguments in advocating a particular position. These skills and experiences, coupled with training in how to express myself clearly in writing, have truly provided me the best opportunity to prepare for and practice in the legal world. I graduated from WSU with the ability to think critically, and the foundation and skills to become a successful legal writer within my grasp." Lara Geer Farley (former Shocker volleyball player, J. D., Washburn University, 2008)
B.A. in Philosophy - Concentration in Ethics
In addition to the regular requirements of the BA in Philosophy, the concentration in ethics requires students to complete 12 credit hours of ethics courses, which must include at least one ethical theory course and at least one applied ethics course. Approved ethical theory and applied ethics courses are listed below.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Ethical Theory Courses | |
| PHIL 144 | Moral Issues |
| PHIL 341 | Contemporary Ethics |
| PHIL 342 | History of Ethics |
| PHIL 350 | Ancient Chinese Philosophy |
| PHIL 360 | Ethical Theory |
| PHIL 361 | Metaethics |
| Applied Ethics Courses | |
| PHIL 306 | Business Ethics |
| PHIL 327 | Bioethics |
| PHIL 354 | Ethics and Computers |
| PHIL 385 | Engineering Ethics |
| PHIL 526 | Ethics of Big Data |
| PHIL 530 | Ethics of Space Exploration |
| PHIL 590AD | Environmental Ethics |
The department chair or undergraduate coordinator may approve transfer courses or independent study, e.g. 699 Directed Readings, to count towards the concentration in ethics.
B.A. in Philosophy - Concentration in World Philosophy
This is a great credential for students who want to better understand the multi-cultural global civilization in which we live, and who expect to work and live in a diverse environment. Learn how people around the world throughout history have thought about foundational questions concerning reality, how to live, and where we go from here.
In addition to the regular requirements of the BA in Philosophy, the concentration in world philosophy requires students to complete 18 credit hours of topical coursework, including PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy, 6 credit hours of Western philosophy courses, and 9 credit hours of non-Western philosophy courses. Eligible courses for the Western and non-Western philosophy requirements are listed below.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| PHIL 100 | Introduction to Philosophy |
| Western Philosophy Courses (minimum 6 credit hours) | |
| Ancient Greek Philosophy | |
| Early Modern Philosophy | |
| Late Modern Philosophy | |
| Analytic Philosophy | |
| Latin American Philosophy | |
| Non-Western Philosophy Courses (minimum 9 credit hours) | |
| Japanese Film | |
| Ancient Chinese Philosophy | |
| Contemporary Chinese Philosophy | |
| Survey of Asian Philosophy | |
| Topics in Asian Philosophy | |
| Courses that count towards non-Western philosophy requirement some semesters 1 | |
| Science and the Modern World | |
| Values and the Modern World | |
| Political Philosophy | |
| Philosophy of Sex and Love | |
| Philosophy of Religion | |
| Metaphysics | |
| Philosophy of The Arts | |
| 1 |
Courses in this section count toward the non-Western philosophy requirement only in semesters when a qualified instructor includes at least 1/3 non-Western content. |
Students who also want to earn a Certificate in Asian Studies, students will need to meet additional requirements:
- 10 credit hours of Chinese, Japanese or Russian language. All courses counted must be in the same Asian language. Students are expected to include these classes among the first they take in fulfillment of certificate requirements.
- 15 credit hours of courses with significant Asian content (one-third or greater). Specific decisions about appropriateness of content is decided by certificate coordinators. Students are encouraged to take an interdisciplinary approach to facilitate understanding how a variety of scholarly perspectives may be brought to bear on common issues, thus students are not permitted to count more than two courses in this category offered by any one department.
Courses marked with an asterisk above (*) may count towards the certificate, depending on course content that particular semester. Please contact your certificate coordinator to determine eligibility.
Preparation for Philosophy PhD Programs
Students who want to build a career as a professional philosopher should take courses in each of the classic divisions. These provide excellent preparation for PhD programs for students who want to become Professors of Philosophy. (9 courses for 27 credit hours)
Argumentation (2)
- Introductory Logic
- Formal Logic
Metaphysics and Epistemology (2)
- Metaphysics
- Theory of Knowledge
Value Theory (2)
- Ethical Theory
- Political Philosophy
History of Philosophy (3)
- Ancient Greek Philosophy
- Early Modern Philosophy
- Late Modern Philosophy
As with all our tracks, we work with students to develop a plan of study that suits their particular educational and career goals.
Other recommended courses
- Philosophy of Science
- Analytic Philosophy
- Philosophy of Language
- Philosophy of Feminism
Delve into what it means to be human, what we ought to value in our humanity, and what kind of place we can have in the world.
9 Courses for 27 credit hours
Introductory Courses (2)
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- Meaning of Philosophy
- Critical Reasoning
Moral and Political Philosophy (choose 2)
Theory
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- Ethical Theory
- Contemporary Ethics
- History of Ethics
- Contemporary Chinese Philosophy
- Philosophy of Feminism
- Philosophy of Law
Application
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- Moral Issues
- Bioethics
- Business Ethics
- Ethics of Space Exploration
- Ethics of Big Data
- Values and the Modern World
History of Philosophy (choose 2)
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- Ancient Greek Philosophy
- Ancient Chinese Philosophy
- Early Modern Philosophy
- Late Modern Philosophy
- 19th Century Philosophy
Science and Reality (choose 2)
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- Metaphysics
- Philosophy of the Social Sciences
- Minds and Machines
- Theory of Knowledge
- Truth & Reality
- Science and the Modern World
- Philosophy of Science
- Philosophy of Medicine
- Philosophy of Mind
- Philosophy of Religion
Electives (1)
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- Philosophy of Sex and Love
- Philosophy of the Arts
- Philosophy of Religion
- Survey of Asian Philosophy
This is a great plan for students who are pursuing a History minor or a double major in History and Philosophy.
9 courses for 27 credit hours
Introductory courses (2)
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- Meaning of Philosophy
- Introductory Logic or Critical Reasoning
History of philosophy (choose 5)
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- Ancient Greek Philosophy
- Ancient Chinese Philosophy
- Early Modern Philosophy
- Late Modern Philosophy
- 19th Century Philosophy
- Women & Computers: Two Historical Episodes
- Analytic Philosophy
- The History and Philosophy of the Physical Sciences in the 20th Century
- History of Ethics
- Rationalism
Philosophy courses with deep historical roots (choose 2)
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- Philosophy of Language
- Political Philosophy
- Metaphysics
- Theory of Knowledge
- Philosophy of Religion
- Philosophy of Sex and Love
- Philosophy of Mind
- Survey of Asian Philosophy
- Truth & Reality
The Philosophy Minor
A minor consists of 15 credit hours of philosophy courses, selected in consultation with a department advisor, that orient students to the philosophic aspects of their major fields.
5 courses for 15 credit hours
Introductory courses (choose 1)
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- Meaning of Philosophy
- Introductory Logic
- Critical Reasoning
Moral Philosophy (choose 3)
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- Ethical Theory
- Contemporary Ethics
- Metaethics
- History of Ethics
- Ancient Chinese Philosophy (95% ethics)
Applied ethics (choose 1)
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- Environmental Ethics
- Ethics of Space Exploration
- Ethics of Big Data
- Bioethics
- Ethics and Computers
- Engineering Ethics
- Values and the Modern World
- Business Ethics
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5 courses for 15 credit hours
- Introduction to Logic
- Formal Logic
- Philosophy of Science
- Science and the Modern World
- Values and the Modern World
- The History and Philosophy of the Physical Sciences in the 20th Century
- Women and Computers: Two Historical Episodes
- Philosophy of the Social Sciences
- Philosophy of Medicine
- Ethics of Space Exploration
- Ethics and Computers
- Engineering Ethics
- Ethics of Big Data
- Evidential Reasoning
- Theory of Knowledge
Summer Programs
Summer programs are a great opportunity to build relationships, develop your resume, and delve into some fascinating philosophy. Don't assume you won't qualify or you can't afford it. These programs are often designed to recruit people just like you.