Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

The mission of the philosophy program is to foster greater understanding and appreciation of the value of philosophical inquiry and the examination of perennial questions about the nature of human experience, the purpose of human endeavors individually and communally, and the value of knowledge. We create diverse educational experiences that develop ethical, intellectually curious students who are invested in their communities. By developing critical, logical, and creative thinking, sound judgment, and effective civil communication, we produce students who can engage their philosophical reasoning in the service of solving real-world problems, attending to the ethical issues and theoretical complexities of purpose, policy, and implementation.

A major in philosophy is ideal for students who plan to enter the field of philosophy, law, professional or medical ethics, the ministry, or other fields requiring a liberal arts background.

The major consists of 31 semester hours, including:

This program can be completed in eight semesters if students enroll in 16 hours per semester and enroll in a combination of day and evening classes. The hours for the degree could increase depending upon the student's foreign language placement upon entering YSU.

Learning Objectives

•  Demonstrated reasoning ability (competently utilize principles of critical thinking, including assessment of definitions, recognition of fallacies, and application of the principles of good inductive and deductive reasoning).
•  Demonstrated ability to articulate philosophical ideas and arguments (clarity, nuance, and sophistication of content) and knowledge of seminal figures in history who espouse them.
• Demonstrated ability to engage in charitable reading (willingness to consider alternative and plausible interpretations of an author’s work) and to consider arguments from the standpoint and experience of others (suspend one’s personal views).
• Master the basics of theoretical writing, including the development of precise definitions, effective analysis of texts, traditions, and theoretical positions, and effective development, defense, and critique of arguments.
• Demonstrated ability to revise beliefs, ideas, and arguments when presented with new sources, criticism, and evidence or to withhold judgment in the absence of reasons (reasonable disagreement and intellectual humility).