Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate Programs

1) Bachelor of Arts – Major in Philosophy: Throughout our lives, we are frequently 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?  How can we balance considerations of liberty with those of equality?

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.

Philosophy furnishes a good grounding for personal development and citizenship. It contributes significantly to the development of inquisitive and independent minds.  Given the emphasis in philosophy on argument and analysis, there is no better preparation for a career in law.  And since philosophy places a premium on precision of thought and communication, it provides an excellent background for a career in journalism and publishing, policy-making, education, and counseling.  Philosophy graduates also attest to the indispensable value of their education to careers in management, healthcare, research, and planning.

2) Bachelor of Arts - Major in Law and Ethics: The Law and Ethics program is designed to expand students’ understanding of both law and ethics. Ethics, the study of the nature of morality and how we ought to live, includes moral and political questions about structuring interpersonal, institutional, and governmental relationships.  Furthermore, students will also be encouraged to explore overlaps between moral and political theorizing and other areas of philosophy–raising issues of human nature, knowledge of ourselves and others, testimony, evidence, and expertise–as well as being informed by empirical data from other disciplines.

Ethics, understood in this broad sense, is an important starting point for developing a critical understanding of the law and legal institutions. It informs our assessment of the values expressed in different areas of law, such as criminal law, constitutional law, common law, and international justice. Students in this program will learn to evaluate the ethical and philosophical foundations of law in these different areas, to recognize and evaluate the values expressed in legal institutions, and to assess the function of law in creating (or undermining) a just society.

Students in this program will gain a firm grounding in the philosophical skills of writing, critical thinking, argumentation, and proficiency working with historical and contemporary texts– expertise that will serve them well, whether they choose to pursue a career in law or other professions in government, the nonprofit sector, health care, technology, or business.

3) Bachelor of Arts – Honours in Philosophy: The Honours program is for students who enjoy philosophy and who might decide to continue to study philosophy in a Masters of Arts program. Students can apply for the Honours program after having completed 18 credit hours (or the equivalent of 6 half-courses) in philosophy. Standardly, then, a student will apply to the Honours program at the end of their second year at university.

4) Bachelor of Arts – Minor in Philosophy: Students who enjoy philosophy but are in the Majors or Honours program of a different discipline can do a minor in philosophy. Students can declare their minor in philosophy during their second year at university. If you are not a philosophy major or Honours student in philosophy, keep track of how many philosophy courses you take. You might find that you can easily accumulate enough credit hours for a minor in philosophy.

5) Bachelor of Arts – General (Concentration in Philosophy): This is a three-year (rather than four-year) Bachelor of Arts degree. Students who enjoy philosophy and are seeking  the General Bachelor degree can make philosophy one of their two concentrations. Students should declare philosophy one of their concentrations early in their second year at university.

If you need assistance, please contact our undergraduate advisor, Emma McClure.