Philosophy
Program Details
Philosophy is the love of wisdom. At Xavier, you'll get to know history's greatest thinkers and challenge your reality by reading carefully and questioning what is true. As a student in the philosophy major, you’ll engage in growing discussions of human nature, morality, technology and God. You’ll also become an active contributing scholar through conducting and presenting original research.
The philosophy major curriculum is flexible, so you’ll be able to study and research what interests you most. Courses in the philosophy major cover time periods from ancient Greece up to the present day, and they span a range of topics, including Jewish and Islamic thought, philosophy of science, and political theory.
Degree Awarded
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
Curriculum
The sample course sequence below illustrates class offerings for the Philosophy major. Consult the official Xavier University course catalog for detailed registration and advising information.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Philosophy Courses
Sample courses within the philosophy major curriculum:
- Philosophical Perspectives (PHIL 200) - This course is an exploration into fundamental philosophical inquiries surrounding concepts like knowledge, truth and the nature of science. Through an examination of seminal works including Descartes's Discourse on Method and supplementary texts, students will delve into timeless questions that have shaped philosophical discourse for centuries.
- Early Modern Philosophy (PHIL 304) - This course examines seventeenth and eighteenth-century philosophical thought. Topics include the interplay between ancient and modern philosophical perspectives, how thinkers of this era responded to each other's ideas on systems and the nature of reality, knowledge acquisition, methodology and moral philosophy.
- Bioethics (PHIL 329) - This course explores the ethical dilemmas that arise within the realm of healthcare delivery, including the moral complexities encompassing social policy and clinical challenges encountered in the field.
- Metaphysics (PHIL 340) - Metaphysics is the science that investigates what it means to be or exist. This course will examine the nature of metaphysics, and the role it has played in the history of philosophy.
- Medieval Political Philosophy (PHIL 363) - An examination of four of the principal political philosophers of the Middle Ages (Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, William of Ockham and Marsilius of Padua) focusing on two central issues: the relation of church and state within the single entity “Christendom” and the problem of the relation of law and natural right.
- Theory of Knowledge: Philosophy and Psychology (PHIL 396) - In this theory of knowledge course, we will ask questions about the philosophical foundations of psychology and topics such as: What do people mean by “consciousness” and “mind”? What is the relation between consciousness and mind, on the one hand, and the body and brain, on the other? What are sensation, perception, emotion, knowledge, imagination, and memory, and can they be fully explained by appealing to the body? We will read texts by philosophical psychologists such as Aristotle, Leibniz, Husserl, Merleau-Ponty, Gibson, Nagel, Chalmers, and others. Throughout the course, we will reflect on and discuss methodological issues in 21st c. psychology and related fields such as psychiatry and the cognitive sciences.
Philosophy Outcomes
99% of Xavier students, including those in the philosophy major, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2022). Explore Xavier's Career Outcomes Dashboard to view career outcomes by major.
More: Xavier's 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. More than 100 nationally known companies visit the campus annually to interview graduating seniors for positions in business and industry.
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Make Meaningful Contributions to the Field of Philosophy
The philosophy program offers a departmental honors track, where you'll compose a senior thesis while working under the direction of one of our faculty members. Through research, you'll uncover new insights, challenge existing interpretations and shed light on overlooked topics.
Earn Philosophy Credits While Immersing Yourself in the Wilderness
Xavier Expeditions offers wilderness-immersion programs that offer philosophy credits. These destination-based programs delve into fundamental existential questions, exploring humanity's place within the intricate fabric of life, the Earth and the universe.
Experience a Transformative Education
As a Jesuit institution, Xavier places a strong emphasis on ethical and moral inquiry. Here, you'll engage in thoughtful reflection and analysis of complex ethical issues, preparing you to make informed decisions and contribute positively to society.
Graduate With Honors
Are you looking for an academic challenge? The University Scholars Honors Program offers incoming students a more challenging curriculum and close support from professors while completing their undergraduate degree. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and includes a $2000 travel grant.
Philosophy Major at Xavier University
Within Jesuit education, philosophy occupies a central, synthesizing role. It aims at helping students reflect creatively and critically on ethics, society, and the world at large. The major program in philosophy is designed to provide a sound grounding in the history of Western philosophy through the careful study of the great books of that tradition. Philosophy literally means "the love of wisdom." It deals with speculative issues such as human nature, the structure of reality, the existence of God, and the processes involved in human knowledge. It is also concerned with practical issues such as the nature of the morally good life and the ideal political society.
Xavier University’s College of Arts and Sciences challenges students to develop an integrated understanding of humanity, the world, and God by pursuing the questions raised in Xavier's core and departmental curricula. The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest college at Xavier University. The college provides an excellent liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition that prepares students for careers, professional or graduate school, and life in a global society.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."