What is Philosophy?

Philosophy is the critical study of ideas fundamental to life. It is based on the recognition that all human beings are engaged in a search for meaning and values with which to interpret their experience. The Philosophy program focuses attention on those philosophical areas which are of concern to all, such as the meaning of human existence, ethical issues, how we know and the nature of reality.

What and where is thePhilosophy Core Knowledge Assessment Test?

The philosophy department wants to have an assessment of how the student's knowledge of the philosophical terrain has changed during his or her studies at St. Mary's. So there is a 100-question, multiple-choice assessment test that philosophy majors and minor need to take as soon as they declare and then again just before they graduate It is the same test each time, so students should expect to do poorly the first time and much better the second time. The test is test online, and can be found here.

What "use" is philosophy?

Philosophy contributes most directly to the intellectual development of students by raising questions which probe the basic principles of existence and by giving students the opportunity to test their minds against the greatest thinkers of human history. In the process, it provides students with a number of valuable transferable skills. If you want to know more click here.

What can I do with a Philosophy majo?

Philosophy majors acquire many transferable skills. These include problem solving, developing a critical mind, organizing ideas, communicating effectively and reducing complex data to key concepts.

It isn't surprising that, nationally, philosophy majors as a group consistently outperform most other majors on the LSAT (law school), GMAT (business school) and GRE (graduate school) exams. In fact, philosophy majors are the only students who perform in the top 5 percent in all of the national standardized tests (LSAT, GRE - verbal and mathematical, GMAT and MCAT for graduate and professional schools. So the skills cultivated by the study of philosophy have wide application. Click here to read a report on philosophy majors' placement on these tests.

As a result, philosophy majors can be found in many careers including business, law, computer science, government, medicine, journalism, teaching and school administration.

• A "New York Times" report on philosophy and employment.
• A "London Times" article
• An insightful essay "How Does Philosophy Relate to My Career"

What will I study in philosophy?

Since philosophy raises ultimate questions about every area of human experience, philosophy itself is very interdisciplinary. A philosophy major studies history, how we think, what constitutes good thinking, knowledge, reality, morality and human action, society, politics, economics and many other fields.

Can I double major or minor in philosophy?

The Philosophy Department strongly encourages double majors. Many St. Mary's philosophy majors have double majored in either business, English, theology, psychology or political science. Among philosophy minors students have chosen to major in education, chemistry, history, computer science and communications. Currently, there are more than 25 students who are majoring in philosophy as well as many minors and students taking one or several of two philosophy course beyond the required three course sin the core curriculum.

What are St. Mary's philosophy graduates doing?

Recent graduates of St. Mary's philosophy program have attended law school (University of Dayton, North Texas, St. Mary's, University of Syracuse, Harvard, UT-Austin), graduate school (Boston College, Notre Dame, Marquette, UT-Austin, Columbia, Texas A&M, San Jose State, University of Arizona). They are involved in teaching (San Antonio Independent School District, St. Anthony's Catholic School) and business (public relations, financial management, publishing, computer science), public service and Christian ministry (teaching, parish assistant, parish priest).

What kinds of activities does the department sponsor?

The Philosophy Department sponsors a chapter of the International Honor Society in Philosophy, Phi Sigma Tau. The chapter is active and serves as the basis of the Philosophy Club. Philosophy students maintain a listserv, PST, to promote philosophical conversation among undergraduate, especially majors and minors and a web page. The Philosophy Club meets regularly throughout the semester. The Totten Philosophy Prize is awarded annually to the best student paper in philosophy. In 1997, the first annual student philosophy conference, "Can We Be Human in Cyberspace?", was held. The most recent campus-wide events (2007-2008) were a "Last Lecture" delivered by Professor Milo Colton and a "Meeting of the Minds," starring St. Mary's own Professors Buhrman, Curet, Owens, and Van Hoy.