Philosophy, B.A.

UNC Greensboro’s philosophy major is designed for those wanting a strong liberal arts education, for students preparing for a career in law or government, and students contemplating graduate study in philosophy or a related discipline. The philosophy major strengthens logical reasoning, critical thinking, analytical skills, and ethical reasoning; it also heightens moral awareness. 

The pre-law concentration within the program provides strong preparation for law school. It covers a range of skills and knowledge that are of fundamental importance in the field of law. This concentration is available for both in-person and online majors.

PROGRAM DISTINCTIONS

• Offered on-campus and online, this major strengthens logical reasoning, critical thinking, analytical skills, and ethical reasoning; it also heightens moral awareness. 
• This degree has long been recognized as excellent preparation for law school. Studies show that Philosophy majors perform exceedingly well on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), and similar standardized tests.  
• A pre-law concentration is available, covering a broad range of skills and knowledge that are of fundamental importance in the field of law. 
• The Philosophy Department houses the Medical Humanities Minor. 
• Faculty members regularly win teaching and research awards and are published in high-ranking journals and by renowned publishers. 
• UNCG’s online philosophy program is ranked no. five in the nation for Best Online Philosophy Programs by Best Colleges (2022), and ranked no. eight in the nation by Best Value Schools (2023). It is also ranked no. four in the nation by Academic Influence (2022) and no. five in the nation by Intelligent.com (2023). 

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THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

• Students learn about a broad range of philosophical topics. They can take courses in traditional areas, such as ethics, logic, and metaphysics, as well as in more specialized areas, such as a variety of applied ethics courses, philosophy of the arts, and philosophy of mind. 
• The program offers a variety of smaller upper-division courses, where majors can receive individual attention from recognized faculty. 
• Courses may be taken online in addition to those in the traditional classroom setting.  
• Sample graduation plan 
• Students may complete Disciplinary Honors in Philosophy or join the NC Chapter of Phi Sigma Tau, a national Honor Society. 
• Students may participate in the philosophy club, the annual Ethics Bowl, The Great Conversation lecture series, and other departmental events.  
• Financial assistance for travel to conferences or study abroad is available through the Wyatt Lee Martin Memorial Fund. 
• Students can win the Roger Schwirck Award for Excellence in Philosophy, which comes with a large monetary prize.  
• Visiting speakers present cutting-edge ideas in philosophy.

AFTER GRADUATION

• A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) found that the net financial return on a philosophy major is comparable to that of engineering and health majors (2017). Data from PayScale’s 2020-21 College Salary Report shows that people with bachelor’s degrees in philosophy have both a high starting salary compared to other humanities major, and a high increase between starting and mid-career salary. 
• A degree in philosophy prepares students for any job that requires careful thinking and being able to question your assumptions, including careers in 
  • Law 
  • Writing, such as Journalism 
  • Business Administration, such Human Resources 
  • Entrepreneurism  
  • Health Care 
  • Politics 
  • Academia and Research 
• Completion of the program prepares students for law school, medical school, or graduate studies. 
• Learn more about successful people with a philosophy degree and why to study philosophy here. 

ONLINE PROGRAM – Required State Authorization Language

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Currently, UNC Greensboro is authorized to offer online education in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Find out more about State Authorization — a law that regulates which states colleges and universities can offer education.

UNC Greensboro does not guarantee that programs that fulfill North Carolina licensure requirements will satisfy the criteria of professional licensure boards in other states or territories. For further explanation, visit Professional Licensure.

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