General Information

About Philosophy at SMU

At one time or another, almost all of us are assailed by philosophical perplexity. Are knowledge and morals a matter of preference and perspective, or are there such things as objective truths and values? What indeed is worth valuing? Is there a God? Is the mind separable from the body? What is the nature of meaning? How ought we to organize ourselves in society? What makes for just actions, institutions, and social practices?

The ultimate aim of a philosophy course is not merely to assist students in understanding the writings of those thinkers who have addressed these important issues, but also to equip students with the means by which they themselves can profitably grapple with the same questions. A student’s development within the discipline, therefore, depends not just on a critical and imaginative engagement with the material, but on dialogue with others, both inside and outside of the classroom.

The Department of Philosophy offers a range of undergraduate courses in Western philosophy, including courses in metaphysics, epistemology, aesthetics, philosophy of science, history of philosophy, philosophy of education, ethics, philosophy of law, and political philosophy. Students may obtain an honours degree in philosophy, be a philosophy major, do a minor in philosophy, or earn a concentration in philosophy. Students should consult with the undergraduate advisor to arrange a selection of courses that fits their individual interests and aspirations, and meets the Department’s requirements.

Why Study Philosophy?

Philosophy majors out-perform most others on grad-school admission tests, including LSAT, GRE, GMA and MCAT.
Philosophy teaches reading comprehension, critical thinking, and communication skills, which are extremely valuable for most careers in the 21st-century.
Philosophy is an ideal preparation for careers in law, and philosophy majors have great success in business, government, writing, journalism, medicine and more.
Philosophy is intellectually complementary to any other field of study, or any profession.
It’s fascinating. What else do you need?