Ball State's program in philosophy prepares you to ask the big questions in life and apply your answers to the real world. If you constantly ask the question “Why?” and love learning, this program is great for you.
You’ll graduate having considered the major issues of life—including right and wrong, justice, gender, freedom, race, knowledge, and truth—and will be well-prepared for a variety of careers.
What You Will Learn
Courses focus on topics such as logic, ethics, society, gender, sport, and more. You will learn skills in writing, reasoning, argumentation, speaking, and more.
Program Benefits
Our faculty is a group of talented educators and prominent scholars in the field of philosophy who strive to provide innovative opportunities for their students.
As an undergraduate, you’ll receive individual attention from faculty on coursework and research projects—a huge distinguishing factor for Ball State compared to other universities.
Our students find a home here at Ball State, built around a close community and shared learning experiences and student activities. You can join a student organization dedicated to our fields, join an immersive learning program, help with a community-engagement project, and more.
In immersive learning projects you get to work directly with groups in the community, helping them address real issues while gaining valuable professional experience.
Our current immersive learning opportunities:
- PHIL 400.1 Stance—an undergraduate journal edited by our students, which has received several awards, including one from the American Philosophical Association.
- PHIL 400.2 Philosophy for High Schools—students teach philosophy to local and regional high school students.
You’ll receive a lot of attention from our faculty. You’ll work directly with them—on their research and your own.
The size of our department, and our university, is just right. You’ll get to know your professors unlike at larger universities, but we offer more resources and opportunities than many smaller colleges.
We have a wide variety of courses, and you can tailor directed studies to your own needs and interests.
Major Requirements
In addition to the University Core Curriculum and lineup of electives, you’ll take 33 credits of philosophy classes. You can select from a wide range of courses to best fit your interests.
Total Credits
120
Classes
A few of the classes you will take include the following:
- PHIL 215: Philosophy of Race
- PHIL 370: Existentialism
- PHIL 415: Topics in Neurophilosophy
- PHIL 410: Feminist Ethics and Epistemology
For a complete list of all the courses you will take and their descriptions, please see our Course Catalog.
View Catalog
What Can You Do With a Degree in Philosophy?
One of the most common questions our students encounter from others is, “What can you do with a degree in philosophy?” Our answer: "Whatever you want to do."
Philosophy majors are in practically every profession. A famous TV game show host, NBA basketball, coach, and a mystery author all have philosophy degrees. So do a Supreme Court Justice, the founder of PayPal, and the creator of the TV show "The Simpsons".
People who have philosophy degrees go on to have serious and interesting careers -- they're directors of government agencies, management consultants, financial advisors, attorneys, teachers, principals, TV editors, and more.
Philosophy majors are among the best prepared for the diversity of careers and tasks in our modern world. Our graduates have studied the world around them and considered how to engage with it, and they graduate into a wide variety of career fields, including:
- law
- non-profit administration
- counseling
- government
- higher education
- business
And if you have questions about any of these things, or want to learn more about what it's like to study Philosophy here at Ball State, please let me know.
I'd love to talk with you!
Dr. Jennifer Rathbun
765-285-1244
jennifer.rathbun@bsu.edu
Paying for Your Education
Ready to Apply?
Are you interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in philosophy? The first step is to apply as an undergraduate student to Ball State University. Begin the journey today.
Questions?
One of the best ways to understand why Ball State stands out is to come see it for yourself. You can schedule a visit through our Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Make sure to tell them you’re interested in our program. Or if you’d like to speak with someone in our department directly by phone or email, please contact us.