The Philosophy major aims to provide students with a grounding in basic skills and background in philosophy (including logic, ethics, and the history of philosophy), while leaving leeway for students to pursue themes or periods of particular interest to them.

Philosophy is the cultivation of critical thinking and openness to the results of rational inquiry even if they force a change of mind, carried to the ?big? questions. Classwork methodically develops critical reasoning skills, clarity in thought and language, and competence in synthesizing information into systematic, coherent arguments.