Philosophy Major

Embark on a transformative journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy at Marian University. Our rigorous program blends historical depth and thematic exploration, equipping you with critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills to thrive in diverse careers, graduate school, or major seminary.

Learn more about our Department of Philosophy and faculty

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What will you study?

Students at Marian can earn a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in Philosophy. The Philosophy program at Marian is designed to be historically and thematically rigorous. Required courses of all philosophy majors include:

PHL 130: Human Nature and Person
PHL 150: Logic
PHL 215: Personal and Professional Ethics
PHL 240: Social and Political Philosophy
PHL 320: Philosophy of Knowledge
PHL 330: Philosophy of Being (Metaphysics)
PHL 490: Senior Philosophy Seminar
15 credits of PHL electives

Sample 4-year Plan and Checklist- Even Year Start

Sample 4-year Plan and Checklist- Odd Year Start

In addition to these courses, seminarians are required to take PHL 203 (Plato and Aristotle), PHL 205 (Augustine and Aquinas), PHL 349 (Modern and Contemporary Philosophy), and PHL 350 (God and Philosophy), per the Program for Priestly Formation.

By the end of a four-year course of study, students will be able to:

Identify the major views of the representative figures and texts from the four main periods in the history of philosophy
Describe the fundamental questions addressed by the major sub-disciplines of philosophy (philosophical anthropology, epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and political philosophy) and some of the influential responses to them.
Explain the role of philosophy in the Catholic intellectual tradition.

The faculty also work with students on their written and oral communication skills. Research papers are written in both PHL 320 and PHL 330, as preparation for writing a senior thesis, and oral presentations are required in many upper-division courses. By senior year, students should be able to:

Author a research paper that analyzes and evaluates a significant philosophical question and that effectively uses an appropriate number of relevant primary and secondary sources.
Construct a research paper that is suited for a 15-25 minute oral presentation on a significant philosophical question which would be suitable for delivery at an undergraduate research conference.

In addition to providing you with knowledge of philosophy, and experience with crafting and communicating philosophical ideas, the program also aims to prepare you for employment, graduate school, or major seminary. With skills in analysis of reasoning, critical thinking, research, problem solving, writing, and speaking, you will be ready for a wide variety of careers. To help you prepare for the world of work, the department offers PHL 200 (Philosophy and the Professions), which combines philosophical reflection on the nature of work and leisure, with hands-on tutorials about preparing for job applications and interviews.

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