Program Overview

Program Overview

The Philosophy program at Xavier University offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree that explores fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, ethics, and society. Students engage with humanity's greatest thinkers and develop invaluable skills to navigate complex challenges, make informed decisions, and lead a meaningful life.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Philosophy major includes a range of courses that provide a sound grounding in the history of Western philosophy. The sample course sequence is as follows:

• First Year:
  • Fall:
    • PHILOSOPHY 100 Intro to Ethics (3cr.)
    • ENGLISH 101/115 Composition/Rhetoric (3cr.)
    • Second language I (3cr.)
    • Creative Perspectives (3cr.)
    • CORE 100 First-Year Seminar (3cr.)
    • CORE 101: GOA Co-curriculum Program I (0cr.)
  • Spring:
    • Scientific Perspectives (3cr.)
    • Literature & Moral Imagination (3cr.)
    • Second language II (3cr.)
    • THEOLOGY 111: Theological Foundations (3cr.)
    • Oral Communications Elective (3cr.)
    • CORE 102: GOA Co-curriculum Program II (0cr.)
• Sophomore:
  • Fall:
    • PHILOSOPHY 200 Philosophical Perspectives (3cr.)
    • Mathematical Perspectives (3cr.)
    • Historical Perspectives (3cr.)
    • Natural Science Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
  • Spring:
    • History of Philosophy (3cr.)
    • Philosophy Elective (3cr.)
    • Social Science Elective (3cr.)
    • Theological Perspectives (3cr.)
    • Quantitative Reasoning Elective (3cr.)
• Junior:
  • Fall:
    • History of Philosophy (3cr.)
    • E/RS Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • Philosophy Seminar (3cr.)
  • Spring:
    • History of Philosophy (3cr.)
    • PHILOSOPHY 340 Metaphysics (3cr.)
    • Philosophy Elective (3cr.)
    • Diversity Curriculum Requirement (3cr.)
    • Humanities Elective (3cr.)
• Senior:
  • Fall:
    • Philosophy Elective (3cr.)
    • Humanities Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • Thesis Review (Honors Track only) (1cr.)
  • Spring:
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • General Elective (3cr.)
    • Thesis Review (Honors Track only -- to replace a General Elective) (2cr.)

Outcomes

98% of Xavier students, including those in the philosophy major, are working, volunteering, or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2023). The Career Development Office assists students in their search for employment by offering individual career counseling sessions, conducting workshop series on interviewing and resume writing techniques, and maintaining an educational, vocational, and employer information resource center.

Sample Courses

• Philosophical Perspectives (PHIL 200): An exploration into fundamental philosophical inquiries surrounding concepts like knowledge, truth, and the nature of science.
• Early Modern Philosophy (PHIL 304): An examination of seventeenth and eighteenth-century philosophical thought.
• Bioethics (PHIL 329): An exploration of the ethical dilemmas that arise within the realm of healthcare delivery.
• Metaphysics (PHIL 340): An examination of the nature of metaphysics and its role in the history of philosophy.

Related Programs

• Related Majors:
  • BA in History
  • BA in Philosophy, Politics and the Public
  • BA in Political Science
  • BA in Sociology
  • BA in Theology
• Related Minors:
  • American Founding and Constitution
  • Catholicism and Culture
  • Classical Humanities
  • Health, Ethics and Spirituality
  • History
  • Peace and Justice Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Political Communication
  • Political Science
  • Political Thought
  • Public History
  • Sociology
  • Spirituality and Solidarity
  • Theology
• Related Graduate Programs:
  • Theology

Program Features

• Departmental honors track, allowing students to work with a faculty member on a senior thesis.
• Senior thesis projects that provide students with the opportunity to uncover new insights and challenge existing interpretations.
• Dedicated faculty who are committed to students' intellectual growth and foster a supportive and engaging learning environment.
• Philosophy complements almost any other field of study, and many students pursue double majors or minors in areas like Political Science, English, Theology, History, Business, or the Sciences.
• Education for the greater good, emphasizing Jesuit values of ethical reasoning, discernment, and a commitment to justice.
• Study Abroad opportunities through Xavier Expeditions, which offers immersive global journeys where students can confront ethical questions, engage with diverse cultures, and earn philosophy credits.