inline-defaultCreated with Sketch.
inline-defaultCreated with Sketch.
HomeUniversitiesProgramsStudents & Alumni
Discover
search
navbar.mobile_banner.title
App Store
navbar.mobile_banner.download_on_the
App Store
Google Play
navbar.mobile_banner.download_on_the
Google Play
Students
Bachelors

Philosophy BS

Rochester Institute of Technology
Dubrovnik , Croatia
Easy Apply
Students
Tuition Fee
Start Date
Medium of studying
Philosophy
Duration
Details
About Program
About University
Video
Gallery
Easy Apply
Details
Program Details
Degree
Bachelors
Major
Philosophy
Area of study
Philosophy
Education type
Philosophy
Course Language
English
About Program

Program Overview

Philosophy Bachelor of Science Degree

Philosophy


Bachelor of Science Degree


Overview

Examine complex problems, challenge ideas, and communicate clearly in RIT’s versatile philosophy degree.


Why Pursue a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy at RIT?

  • Dynamic Curriculum: Provides a thorough grounding in core areas of philosophy (history of philosophy, ethics, and logical argumentation) and a four-course specialization within philosophy.
  • Seven Dynamic Specializations: Philosophy of mind and cognitive science, social and political philosophy, applied ethics, philosophy of social sciences and political philosophy, philosophy of art and aesthetics, history of philosophy, and philosophy and law.
  • Opportunity for Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degree : Earn a BS in philosophy and MS in sustainable systems in as little as five years of study.
  • Teaching Partnership Program Available : 4+1 or 3+2 programs enable you to earn your bachelor’s degree at RIT and a master’s degree in education at one of our partner universities.

What is the Study of Philosophy?

Most of the skills required for student and career success—how to learn, how to apply that learning in professional and personal environments, and how to communicate that knowledge—are central to philosophy. Philosophy will teach you to evaluate complex problems, identify and examine underlying principles, investigate issues from diverse perspectives, and communicate clearly in both written and oral forms.


RIT’s Degree in Philosophy

RIT’s bachelor in philosophy provides a thorough grounding in core areas of philosophy, such as the history of philosophy, ethics, and logical argumentation, as well as a core competence in another discipline, encouraging you to creatively pursue cross-disciplinary studies.


This philosophy degree provides a thorough grounding in core areas of philosophy (history of philosophy, ethics, and logical argumentation), as well as a four-course specialization within philosophy. You may also combine philosophy with a core competence (or even a double major) in another discipline to creatively pursue cross-disciplinary studies. The major concludes with an optional senior thesis.


With RIT's bachelor of science in philosophy, you will develop skills through a core of philosophy courses that cover the history of philosophy, ethics, and logical argumentation. You will choose a specialization and take four courses dedicated to that topic.


Complete a professional core of courses designed to provide foundational knowledge in a professional/technical discipline outside of philosophy, which complements your studies. A Seminar in Philosophy (PHIL-416) examines a selected area or topic in philosophy at an advanced undergraduate level. The optional Senior Thesis in Philosophy (PHIL-595) provides an opportunity to integrate philosophy with various fields of application. Philosophy electives, general electives, and liberal arts courses complete the curriculum.


Bachelor's of Philosophy Specializations

  • Philosophy of mind and cognitive science Examine the philosophical issues involved in studying intelligence, cognition, identity, consciousness, rationality, creativity, and emotion, especially as such concepts and categories are invoked by computer and cognitive scientists, and as they are applied in relation to natural and artificial systems.
  • Philosophy of science and technology: Examine the concepts, methodologies, and philosophical implications of science and technology, and explore the underlying theories, practices, and consequences of science and technology and their role in shaping societies and their values.
  • Applied ethics: Examine the ethical underpinnings of different professions as well as the ethical presuppositions and implications of technology, engineering, science, management, and other disciplines. Attention is also given to ethics education within the professions and the role professional ethicists can play in different professional and organizational settings.
  • Social and political philosophy: Examine philosophical issues arising from social and political life as well as the disciplines that study them.
  • Philosophy of art and aesthetics: Examine how different philosophical frameworks conceive of the various arts and crafts and the forms of creative experience and production with which they are engaged; explore the relationship between aesthetic perception and other forms of experience and judgment, between art and society, between art and ethics, and between art and technology.
  • History of philosophy: Explores the development and connection of philosophical ideas, concepts, and movements throughout time through an in- depth analysis of significant transformative moments and figures and examines how philosophical positions result from an ongoing conversation with previous thinkers.
  • Philosophy and law: Prepares for law school and other advanced studies by focusing on the skills and topics important to the study of the law. The courses provide an examination of the theoretical and ethical foundations of the law and an understanding of the logical and epistemological skills helpful in evaluating and constructing legal arguments. In addition, a grounding in these topics and skills is valuable in a range of professions outside the legal field.

Advising

You will be assigned a faculty advisor who assists in planning course schedules, professional/technical core requirements, and a philosophy specialization area. For more information, please refer to the college's academic advising page.


RIT’s Pre-Law Program

Law schools welcome applications from students majoring in a wide range of academic programs. RIT’s pre-law program will help you navigate the admission process for law school, explore a range of legal careers, and guide you through course selection to ensure you build the skills and competencies required of competitive law school applicants. The program is open to students in all majors who are interested in pursuing a career in law.


Furthering Your Career in Philosophy

Today’s careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT’s Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.


  • Philosophy BS/Sustainable Systems MS: In this accelerated dual-degree program, a foundation in philosophy teaches you how to evaluate complex problems, identify and examine underlying principles, examine ethical implications, and consider diverse perspectives with a truly open mind, while a focus on sustainable systems creates a framework for applying sustainability science principles to address the world’s most challenging issues—pollution, food scarcity, public health crises, and more.
  • +1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor’s degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success.

3+3 Accelerated BS/JD Programs

RIT has partnered with Syracuse University’s College of Law and University at Buffalo School of Law to offer accelerated 3+3 BS/JD options for highly capable students. These programs provide a fast track to law school where you can earn a bachelor’s degree at RIT and a Juris Doctorate degree at Syracuse University or University at Buffalo in six years. Interested students may apply to the option directly, with successful applicants offered admission to RIT and conditional acceptance into either Syracuse University’s College of Law or University at Buffalo School of Law.


RIT’s philosophy degree is one of the approved majors for the 3+3 option.


Learn more about Accelerated Law 3+3 Programs.


RIT’s Teaching Partnership Programs

Whether your goal is to go into early childhood or elementary education, become a secondary education teacher with a content area specialty at the middle or high school level, or work in the higher education or counseling fields, RIT’s partnership programs with local universities provide a guided pathway to a career in teaching.


These 4+1 or 3+2 programs enable you to earn your bachelor’s degree at RIT and a master’s degree in education at one of our partner universities. As you progress, you’ll benefit from focused academic advising, career exploration opportunities, and resources for research, learning, and skill development.


RIT’s philosophy degree is eligible for RIT’s Teaching Partnership Program.


Learn more about RIT’s Teaching Partnership Programs.


Curriculum for Philosophy BS

Philosophy, BS degree, typical course sequence

  • First Year
    • PHIL-201 | Ancient Philosophy (General Education - Global Perspective) | 3
    • PHIL-202 | Foundations of Moral Philosophy | 3
    • PHIL-203 | Modern Philosophy (General Education - Ethical Perspective) | 3
    • PHIL-205 | Symbolic Logic | 3
    • YOPS-10 | RIT 365: RIT Connections | 0
    • General Education – Artistic Perspective | 3
    • General Education – First-Year Writing (WI) | 3
    • General Education – Mathematical Perspective A | 3
    • General Education - Immersion 1 | 3
    • General Education – Elective | 3
    • Professional/Technical Core Course | 3
  • Second Year
    • General Education – Social Perspective | 3
    • General Education – Mathematical Perspective B | 3
    • General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective ‡ | 3
    • General Education - Immersion 2 | 3
    • Program Electives | 9
    • Professional/Technical Core Courses | 9
  • Third Year
    • General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective | 3
    • General Education – Electives | 9
    • Open Electives | 6
    • Program Elective | 3
    • Professional/Technical Core Course | 3
    • Track Courses | 6
  • Fourth Year
    • PHIL-416 | Seminar in Philosophy (WI-PR) | 3
    • PHIL-595 | Senior Thesis in Philosophy† (WI-PR) | 3
    • General Education – Immersion 3 | 3
    • General Education – Electives | 9
    • Open Electives | 6
    • Track Courses | 6

Tracks

Philosophy of mind and cognitive science

  • Electives
    • Choose four of the following
      • PHIL-315 | Responsible Knowing
      • PHIL-401 | Great Thinkers*
      • PHIL-402 | Philosophy of Science
      • PHIL-404 | Philosophy of Mind
      • PHIL-407 | Philosophy of Action
      • PHIL-411 | Metaphysics
      • PHIL-414 | Philosophy of Language
      • PHIL-416 | Seminar in Philosophy*
      • PHIL-449 | Topics in Philosophy*

Philosophy of science and technology

  • Electives
    • Choose four of the following
      • PHIL-307 | Philosophy of Technology
      • PHIL-310 | Theories of Knowledge
      • PHIL-314 | Philosophy of Vision and Imaging
      • PHIL-315 | Responsible Knowing
      • PHIL-316 | Bioethics and Society
      • PHIL-317 | Renaissance Philosophy
      • PHIL-401 | Great Thinkers*
      • PHIL-402 | Philosophy of Science
      • PHIL-408 | Critical Social Theory
      • PHIL-416 | Seminar in Philosophy*
      • PHIL-449 | Topics in Philosophy*

Applied ethics

  • Electives
    • Choose four of the following
      • PHIL-304 | Philosophy of Law
      • PHIL-305 | Philosophy of Peace
      • PHIL-306 | Professional Ethics
      • PHIL-307 | Philosophy of Technology
      • PHIL-308 | Environmental Philosophy
      • PHIL-309 | Feminist Theory
      • PHIL-315 | Responsible Knowing
      • PHIL-316 | Bioethics and Society
      • PHIL-318 | Philosophy of Love, Sex, and Gender
      • PHIL-401 | Great Thinkers*
      • PHIL-403 | Social and Political Philosophy
      • PHIL-415 | Ethical Theory
      • PHIL-416 | Seminar in Philosophy*
      • PHIL-449 | Topics in Philosophy*

Social and political philosophy

  • Electives
    • Choose four of the following
      • PHIL-304 | Philosophy of Law
      • PHIL-305 | Philosophy of Peace
      • PHIL-308 | Environmental Philosophy
      • PHIL-309 | Feminist Theory
      • PHIL-311 | East Asian Philosophy
      • PHIL-315 | Responsible Knowing
      • PHIL-316 | Bioethics and Society
      • PHIL-317 | Renaissance Philosophy
      • PHIL-318 | Philosophy of Love, Sex, and Gender
      • PHIL-401 | Great Thinkers*
      • PHIL-403 | Social and Political Philosophy
      • PHIL-408 | Critical Social Theory
      • PHIL-416 | Seminar in Philosophy*
      • PHIL-449 | Topics in Philosophy*

Philosophy of art and aesthetics

  • Electives
    • Choose four of the following
      • PHIL-303 | Philosophy of Art/Aesthetics
      • PHIL-313 | Philosophy of Film
      • PHIL-314 | Philosophy of Vision and Imaging
      • PHIL-317 | Renaissance Philosophy
      • PHIL-401 | Great Thinkers*
      • PHIL-408 | Critical Social Theory
      • PHIL-413 | Philosophy of Literature
      • PHIL-416 | Seminar in Philosophy*
      • PHIL-417 | Continental Philosophy
      • PHIL-449 | Topics in Philosophy*

History of philosophy

  • Electives
    • Choose four of the following
      • PHIL-301 | Philosophy of Religion
      • PHIL-311 | East Asian Philosophy
      • PHIL-312 | American Philosophy
      • PHIL-317 | Renaissance Philosophy
      • PHIL-401 | Great Thinkers*
      • PHIL-406 | Contemporary Philosophy
      • PHIL-408 | Critical Social Theory
      • PHIL-409 | Existentialism
      • PHIL-410 | Medieval Philosophy
      • PHIL-412 | Nineteenth Century Philosophy
      • PHIL-416 | Seminar in Philosophy*
      • PHIL-417 | Continental Philosophy
      • PHIL-449 | Topics in Philosophy*

Philosophy and law

  • Electives
    • Choose four of the following
      • PHIL-304 | Philosophy of Law
      • PHIL-305 | Philosophy of Peace
      • PHIL-306 | Professional Ethics
      • PHIL-310 | Theories of Knowledge
      • PHIL-315 | Responsible Knowing
      • PHIL-316 | Bioethics and Society
      • PHIL-401 | Great Thinkers*
      • PHIL-403 | Social and Political Philosophy
      • PHIL-407 | Philosophy of Action
      • PHIL-416 | Seminar in Philosophy*
      • PHIL-449 | Topics in Philosophy*

Metaphysics & Epistemology

  • Electives
    • Choose four of the following
      • PHIL-301 | Philosophy of Religion
      • PHIL-310 | Theories of Knowledge
      • PHIL-311 | East Asian Philosophy
      • PHIL-312 | American Philosophy
      • PHIL-314 | Philosophy of Vision and Imaging
      • PHIL-315 | Responsible Knowing
      • PHIL-317 | Renaissance Philosophy
      • PHIL-401 | Great Thinkers*
      • PHIL-402 | Philosophy of Science
      • PHIL-404 | Philosophy of Mind
      • PHIL-406 | Contemporary Philosophy
      • PHIL-407 | Philosophy of Action
      • PHIL-410 | Medieval Philosophy
      • PHIL-411 | Metaphysics
      • PHIL-412 | Nineteenth Century Philosophy
      • PHIL-414 | Philosophy of Language
      • PHIL-416 | Seminar in Philosophy*
      • PHIL-417 | Continental Philosophy
      • PHIL-449 | Topics in Philosophy*

Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees

The curriculum below outlines the typical course sequence(s) for combined accelerated degrees available with this bachelor’s degree.


Philosophy, BS degree/ Sustainable Systems MS, typical course sequence

  • First Year
    • PHIL-201 | Ancient Philosophy (General Education - Global Perspective) | 3
    • PHIL-202 | Foundations of Moral Philosophy | 3
    • PHIL-203 | Modern Philosophy (General Education - Ethical Perspective) | 3
    • PHIL-205 | Symbolic Logic | 3
    • YOPS-10 | RIT 365: RIT Connections | 0
    • General Education – Artistic Perspective | 3
    • General Education – First-Year Writing (WI) | 3
    • General Education – Mathematical Perspective A | 3
    • Open Elective | 3
    • General Education – Elective | 3
    • Professional/Technical Core Course | 3
  • Second Year
    • General Education – Social Perspective | 3
    • General Education – Mathematical Perspective B | 3
    • General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective ‡ | 3
    • General Education - Immersion | 3
    • Program Electives | 9
    • Professional/Technical Core Courses | 6
    • Open Elective | 3
  • Third Year
    • General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective | 3
    • General Education – Electives | 9
    • General Education - Immersion | 3
    • Open Electives | 6
    • Program Elective | 3
    • Track Courses | 6
  • Fourth Year
    • Choose one of the following: | 3
      • ISUS-702 | Fundamentals of Sustainability Science
      • ISUS-706 | Economics of Sustainable Systems
      • ISUS-806 | Risk Analysis
    • Choose one of the following: | 3
      • ISUS-704 | Industrial Ecology
      • ISUS-808 | Multicriteria Sustainable Systems
      • PUBL-810 | Technology, Policy, and Sustainability
    • PHIL-416 | Seminar in Philosophy (WI-PR) | 3
    • PHIL-595 | Senior Thesis in Philosophy† (WI-PR) | 3
    • General Education – Immersion | 3
    • General Education – Electives | 9
    • Track Courses | 6
  • Fifth Year
    • Choose two of the following: | 6
      • ISUS-702 | Fundamentals of Sustainability Science
      • ISUS-706 | Economics of Sustainable Systems
      • ISUS-806 | Risk Analysis
    • Choose two of the following: | 6
      • ISUS-704 | Industrial Ecology
      • ISUS-808 | Multicriteria Sustainable Systems
      • PUBL-810 | Technology, Policy, and Sustainability
    • Choose one of the following: |
      • ISUS-780 | Graduate Sustainability Capstone
      • ISUS-790 | Thesis
    • Graduate Sustainability Electives | 6

Admissions and Financial Aid

First-Year Admission

First-year applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong academic background that includes:


  • 4 years of English with a strong performance is expected.
  • 3 years of social studies and/or history with a strong performance is expected.
  • 3 years of math is required and must include algebra, geometry, and algebra 2/trigonometry.
  • 2-3 years of science.

Transfer Admission

Transfer applicants should meet these minimum degree-specific requirements:


  • A minimum of college algebra is required.

Faculty

  • Brian Schroeder
  • Evelyn Brister

Events

  • August 29
    • Donuts with the Dean in the College of Liberal Arts
  • September 25
    • Donuts with the Dean in the College of Liberal Arts
  • October 24
    • Donuts with the Dean in the College of Liberal Arts

Related News

  • October 25, 2024
    • Embracing philosophy and a proactive attitude in environmental conservation research
  • September 16, 2024
    • RIT-Hosted Conference Draws 600 Philosophers to Rochester
  • March 7, 2024
    • Philosophy, ethics, and the pursuit of 'responsible' artificial intelligence
See More
How can I help you today?