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College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Philosophy

Philosophy sparks curiosity, sharpens communication, and strengthens reasoning—preparing you to lead, innovate, and succeed in any field or career you choose.

Related programs
SHSU students deep in discussion in the Evan’s Complex.
Degree
  • Bachelor of Arts
Location
  • Huntsville
  • Online
Type of Instruction
  • Face to Face
  • Online
Length

4 Years

become your best self

 

Philosophy, the “love of wisdom,” is the original academic degree.

Since it established the foundations of mathematics, science, theology, and ethics through its proclivity to wonder at and question life, philosophy is the perfect path for SHSU’s inquiring minds intent on having rewarding careers and living fully engaged lives.

Where and How Is This Program Available?

The Bachelor of Arts in French is offered in person on our Huntsville campus or online. The online option allows you to complete your four-year degree with flexibility.

Who is This Program For?

You can find people who studied philosophy in all careers and fields because philosophy:

  • teaches excellent written and verbal communication,
  • develops reading and public speaking skills,
  • highlights moral and ethical reasoning that strengthens your capacity to make good choices,
  • analyzes arguments both for critique and for envisioning how to develop better ones,
  • and focuses on how to understand and fairly consider others’ worldviews, helping you to work across differences and engage with people of all backgrounds and experiences.
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Philosophy focuses on timeless questions through self-reflection and societal examination, developing critical skills for careers in politics, education, law, and more

Develop Your Skills

In satisfying the minimum total of 30 semester credit hours for the major, students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy are required to strengthen their understanding of the history of philosophy by taking one of the following: PHIL 3364: Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, PHIL 3365: Modern Philosophy, OR PHIL 3373: American Philosophy. Given the high demand for logical reasoning skills that are formative for the study of Philosophy, students must complete either PHIL 2303 Critical Thinking or PHIL 2352 Contemporary Logic.

  • Where Can Philosophy Take You

    "What do Pope John Paul II, Alex Trebek (TV game show host), Peter Thiel (co-founder of PayPal), Phil Jackson (basketball coach), Wes Anderson (film director), Stephen Breyer (Supreme Court justice), Matt Groening (“Simpsons” creator), Philip Glass (composer), Carl Icahn (financier and investor), Mary Higgins Clark (mystery author), and Vaclav Havel (former president of the Czech Republic) all have in common?"

    They all received a college degree in philosophy.  To hear more from philosophy grads about how their degree served their career success and personal growth, take a deeper look at David Boersema's "What Can I Do with a Degree in Philosophy?"

  • Philosophy Club

    Our mission is to make discussions about philosophy enjoyable and accessible for everyone. We aim to enhance your college experience while helping you connect with students and faculty who share similar interests.

    We explore how philosophy applies to everyday life, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and share ideas. We want to have fun while learning together.

  • Phi Sigma Tau

    Phi Sigma Tau is the International Honor Society in Philosophy, established in 1930 and incorporated as a nonprofit in 1955. With over 200 chapters in the U.S. and Canada, it promotes student engagement and connections among philosophy departments.

    The Society publishes the journal *Dialogue* for student research contributions and the *PST Newsletter* for chapter updates.

SHSU student holds a book, studying in Evan’s Complex.

Discover Your Future

Remember: philosophy students routinely outperform nearly all other majors on the LSAT, GRE, and GMAT, but philosophy students also have among the highest lifetime earnings of all humanities fields. People who study philosophy have gone on to be successful tech leaders, entrepreneurs, journalists, professors, politicians, clergy, Supreme Court justices, award-winning writers, actors, comedians, filmmakers, activists, and even Presidents of the United States.

SHSU students enjoy a walk on campus.

Learn From Our Outstanding Faculty

Our faculty engage in innovative research and inspire students' passion for learning and writing. They mentor undergraduate research, support Honors contracts, and promote independent study.

Become a Bearkat

Ready to see what a degree can do for you or to start your application to SHSU? Our Admissions team is here to help.