Philosophy ,BA
Discourse, Metaphysics, Mysticism, Symbol, argumentation, beliefs, bioethics, conduct, environmental ethics, ethics, law, meaning, rational, reason, truth
Accelerated options for this program are not currently available to ASU Online students.
Become a better thinker by strengthening your foundational skills, such as reading comprehension, and by developing skills in reasoning and argument construction. Studying philosophy prepares you to answer moral and ethical questions that relate to a variety of careers.
The Bachelor of Arts program in philosophy teaches students how to think well, which in turn lays the foundation for personal and professional success.
Philosophy students learn how to structure arguments, write precisely and clearly, and communicate their ideas in an orderly, persuasive and unambiguous way. Many philosophical texts are complicated, and philosophy courses teach students how to read, comprehend and summarize conceptually difficult material. In short, studying philosophy trains one to be a better, clearer thinker.
Coursework includes the major subfields of philosophy, such as metaphysics, epistemology and ethics, and electives that connect philosophy to other areas of inquiry, emphasizing the social relevance of philosophy.
In addition to reviewing the guidelines in the Concurrent Program Options section below, students interested in pursuing concurrent or second baccalaureate degrees in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are advised to visit The College's website for more information and requirements.
- College/school:
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Location: Tempe or Online , ASU Local
- Second language requirement: Yes
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
- First required math course: MAT 142 - College Mathematics
- Math
intensity: General
Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
First-year
| Transfer
| International
| Readmission
A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.
Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
It is now possible to earn an ASU degree with ASU Local, an integrated college experience in which students take advantage of in-person success coaching and programming experiences on site while completing one of 130+ undergraduate online degree programs, all of which come with online faculty interaction and tutoring support.
ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.
ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:
- Present and defend a philosophical view using concepts, technical terminology, and methods acquired in an advanced topical seminar as well as skills in logical analysis and civil and respectful argumentation.
- Present and explain central philosophical positions from key figures in the historical development of philosophical thought, especially their metaphysical and epistemological positions.
- Evaluate how well different normative ethical theories such as consequentialism, deontology, virtue theory provide moral standards that dictate which (if any) actions are right and wrong or how well different metaethical theories such as realism, expressivism, relativism, and nihilism account for the meaning and truth of moral claims.
- Evaluate arguments for formal validity and construct formal proofs. Students will be able to capture the logical form of prose arguments.
Students can explore a diverse variety of cultures and philosophies through study abroad. Study abroad programs help students gain valuable skills, such as problem-solving, communication and adaptability skills, as well as cultural competence, enhancing their resumes. With more than 300 distinct programs around the globe available to them, students can tailor their study abroad experience to their interests and skill sets.
More information on available programs can be found on the Global Education Office website. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recommends these study abroad programs for students majoring in philosophy.
Philosophy alumni are well prepared for leadership roles regardless of the path they take, whether in business, law, politics, medicine or education.
The analytical, rhetorical and writing skills developed through the study of philosophy provide ideal preparation for careers in a wide variety of fields, including:
- business
- education
- journalism
- law
- medicine
- public service
Example job titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
| Career | *Growth | *Median salary |
|---|---|---|
|
35.2%
|
$103,500
|
|
|
1.5%
|
$86,280
|
|
|
-4.0%
|
$73,080
|
|
|
1.5%
|
$86,280
|
|
|
2.2%
|
$151,030
|
|
|
7.5%
|
$135,740
|
|
|
5.0%
|
$64,030
|
|
|
3.4%
|
$48,090
|
|
|
25.7%
|
$127,260
|
Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies, Sch
|
COOR 4591
SHPRSadvising@asu.edu
480-965-8364
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
