F.A.Q.

Currently, the Philosophy Program at MSU Texas does not offer a stand-alone Major in Philosophy. Instead, the Philosophy Program administers a Minor in Philosophy.

Students interested in studying Philosophy can add a Philosophy Minor to support and supplement their chosen major field of study.

Students who wish to pursue a philosophically focused B.A. might consider declaring a Major in Humanities with a concentration in Philosophy.

The Philosophy Minor is 18 credit hours, which is the equivalent of 6 courses:

• “Ancient and Medieval Philosophy” (required for all minors)
• “Modern and Contemporary Philosophy” (required for all minors)
• Any four remaining PHIL courses of the student’s choosing
• At least 2 courses must be taken at the upper level

By requiring students to complete two courses in the history of philosophy while leaving the rest of the minor to student choice, the Philosophy Program allows each student the opportunity to pursue their own intellectual interests while still ensuring a rigorous grounding in a common curriculum.

The study of classic and contemporary works from the philosophical tradition play center stage in philosophy courses at MSU Texas. As a result, philosophy courses place a strong emphasis on student discussion and textual analysis. Students who enroll in any philosophy course at MSU Texas are signing up to read, analyze, discuss, and write about major philosophical texts and ideas that have shaped the world we live in today.

The word philosophy comes from the Greek philosophia, which means “love of wisdom.” In 399 B.C., the Greek philosopher Socrates famously stated that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” In this same tradition, courses in the Philosophy Program challenge students to think critically, creatively, and open-mindedly about what it means to live well, what comprises a just society, and how we fit meaningfully within our wider world.

Few academic disciplines train students as thoroughly in textual analysis, communication skills, problem solving, argumentative writing, and critical thinking as philosophy.

Many students report that their Philosophy Minor enhances their comprehension of their major field of study, since their philosophy courses engage critical thinking, reading, and discussion skills that help prepare students for success across all other academic disciplines.

After graduation, a Philosophy Minor provides employers with tangible evidence that you have strong skills in communication, reasoning, and analysis. Think of it this way: How will you stand out when everyone else graduating with you has the same degree?

No degree comes with a job guarantee, but imagine you are a hiring manager sifting through job applications. Besides adequate knowledge of the hiring field, what other traits do you want your future employee to have?

• Philosophy students are detail oriented.
• They are trained to make complicated ideas understandable and accessible to others.
• They are highly literate and are skilled at critical reading and interpretation.
• They are creative thinkers, good writers, and skilled problem solvers.
• They have a natural curiosity and appreciate argumentative “gray areas.”
• They are comfortable in collaborative settings where open dialogue is important.

These skills are highly desirable in all areas of today’s workforce, which, as this article by Forbes argues, makes Philosophy a lucrative field of study. Also, these are the same skills that get employees promoted to leadership positions! This is why billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban told an audience that, in his view, a philosophy degree will soon “be worth more than a traditional programming degree” on the job market.

Remember: most other job applicants will have the same degree you do. How will you stand out?

The website Law School Numbers lists Philosophy as a top field for Law School preparation. Because law students and lawyers are expected to be skilled at textual analysis, creative thinking, problem solving, argumentative writing, and oral communication, coursework in philosophy provides strong foundations for success in Law School.

A recent article in Forbes argues that a degree in philosophy “can help students develop skills in communication, analytical and logical argumentation, and rhetoric, which are useful for any type of law practice.”

Additionally, Law School applicants will have to take the LSAT exam. Since the LSAT tests logical reasoning and critical reading skills, students with a background in philosophy are especially well positioned to study for this exam.

Students preparing to apply to Medical Schools are advantaged by a background in Philosophy due to the reading, analysis, interpretation, and critical thinking that will be required to succeed in Medical School and later as a medical provider. David Silbersweig, the Academic Dean of Harvard Medical School, defended the value of a philosophy degree for future medical doctors.

Similarly, Angira Patel, a Pediatric and Fetal Cardiologist at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, argued in an article for Pacific Standard that a medical student’s background in philosophy can enhance the overall quality of their medical training and practice:

“As a philosophy major in college before medical school, I believe I learned what it means to be a good doctor equally from my humanities classes as from my science classes. Studying the humanities helps students develop critical-thinking skills, understand the viewpoints of others and different cultures, foster a just conscience, build a capacity for empathy, and become wise about emotions such as grief and loss. These are all characteristics that define a good doctor.”

A Consensus Report published in 2018 by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine argues for the benefits of wide-ranging education (rather than single-topic specialization) that integrates STEM with humanities fields like philosophy.

In short, students who plan to apply to Medical School are likely to major in STEM fields like biology, pre-med, or chemistry. However, adding a Minor in Philosophy to that major field of study is an asset not only to success in Medical School but also later within the medical profession. Philosophy trains you to “think differently,” which enhances your ability to think well about whatever you choose to think about.

Your background in Philosophy will help establish strong analytical skills that will improve your performance in your graduate study, regardless of the area of your graduate study.

Even if you do not continue to study philosophy in graduate school, a prior background in philosophy will help prepare you for many of the theoretical foundations for your discipline in graduate school. For example, the foundations of literary theory (English), political theory (Political Science), social theory (Sociology), gender theory (Women and Gender Studies), theology (Religious Studies), etc. are all philosophical foundations.

Many graduate programs require applicants to take the GRE exam. Data gathered from GRE scores between 2018 and 2021 reveal that Philosophy students produce the highest average Verbal Reasoning and Interpretive Writing scores on the exam – second only to Classics students.

If you plan to Minor in Philosophy and apply to graduate programs in the future, please reach out to your philosophy professor(s) no later than the end of your junior year so they can help you prepare for the application process.

Many Philosophy Minors are active participants in the Philosophy Club. The Philosophy Club is a student-run organization that fosters critical thinking and philosophical dialogue on campus. The club hosts weekly meetings and has also organized events such as film screenings, guest lectures, and topical debates. Membership in the Philosophy Club is open to any MSU Texas student regardless of their major or minor. To join the Philosophy Club, sign up via Mustangs Link.

Past Philosophy Minors have participated in the EURECA Scholars Program to conduct a supervised research project. There are also opportunities for qualified Philosophy Minors to serve as tutors in the Moffett Library’s TASP Learning Center.

All MSU Texas students are required to complete the Academic Foundations & Core Curriculum. Many philosophy courses fulfill Core Curriculum requirements in the “Cultural & Global Understanding” and “Language, Philosophy, & Culture” component areas.

Students who want to take Philosophy courses before committing to a minor are encouraged to enroll in PHIL courses that fulfill these Core component areas. That way, if you later decide not to declare a Philosophy Minor, then your philosophy coursework will at least count toward your completion of the Core Curriculum.

Welcome! Your assigned academic advisor will have the paperwork to add a minor to your degree plan. You are also encouraged to get in touch with Dr. Tyler M. Williams, the Philosophy Program coordinator.

The Philosophy Program is located in the Department of English, Humanities, and Philosophy. Offices are on the second floor of Bea Wood Hall. Stop by and introduce yourself!