Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) at the University of the Incarnate Word shapes analytical and strategic thinkers with a deep understanding of logic, argument and ethics -- all valuable skills for a variety of careers and future aspirations.

 

Why Philosophy?

Students studying philosophy learn to think critically, engage in moral and ethical reasoning, and identify and evaluate arguments, all of which can be valuable skills for a variety of career paths. Students will learn to think about ideas that have engaged people for centuries, confronting questions about free will, morality, religion and more. Through this work, they develop and express their own opinions and will emerge well-prepared for many career fields including the arts, business, government, law, religious studies or medicine.

Philosophy Curriculum

The B.A. in Philosophy degree at UIW is a 121-hour degree program that integrates the major branches of philosophy, including Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics and Logic, with an examination of philosophy in several different historical eras, including Ancient, Medieval, Modern and Contemporary. UIW students also study World Philosophy, exploring different global traditions of thought.

Because philosophy is at the heart of the liberal arts experience, a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy allows students to synthesize insights from a wide variety of fields and sharpen their critical and creative skills in the process. The primary goal of UIW’s Philosophy program is not merely to promote the mastery of philosophical content, but to help cultivate the philosophical spirit by nourishing UIW students' responsiveness to the wonder of being, their commitment to justice and their overall capacity to explore philosophical issues with creativity and critical insight. UIW’s smaller class sizes help foster group discussions as students seek to learn from each other and their diverse backgrounds in search of the common good.

Special topics available for UIW students to study include:

  • Feminist Philosophy
  • Philosophy of Religion
  • Applied Ethics
  • Justice
  • Aesthetics
  • Philosophy of Film
  • Philosophy of Literature
  • Philosophy of Science and Technology
  • Phenomenology and Existentialism
  • The Philosophy of Black Music.

Training in philosophy features rigorous combinations of critical and creative reasoning. Graduates of the program typically perform at the highest levels on entrance exams for graduate and professional studies such as the GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT.

Careers in Philosophy

A B.A. in Philosophy from UIW opens the door to many career paths through the use of critical thinking and application. UIW students can continue their education en route to becoming postsecondary teachers, lawyers or doctors. UIW students can also enter the career field in areas such as educational administration, management analysis, religious studies, computer science, government, art, library science, business and more. Management analyst jobs, one career for which majors are well-suited, are expected to grow 11%, while postsecondary teaching positions are expected to increase by 9% between 2019 and 2029, both of which are much faster than the national average.