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Philosophy

The philosophy major emphasizes the analysis of texts and issues that lie at the foundation of our society, science and culture. Its emphasis on critical reasoning, reading, and writing in philosophy courses can provide you with a valuable complement to any major or career path.

Preparing You for Success

The courses that you will take in the philosophy major focus on important texts in the philosophical tradition. By the time you graduate, you will have an intimate knowledge of several major texts. This course of study will allow you to approach—analytically and systematically—texts, questions and issues that form the foundation of many different disciplines. Most philosophy majors will have a second field in which they major, too.

By the time you graduate, your experiences will include the opportunities to:

  • Develop a deep knowledge of several key texts in philosophy
  • Have considerable one-on-one attention from, and interaction with, faculty members
  • Sharpen reading, writing and critical thinking

Making your Mark

Philosophy majors continue on after Bradley to many different graduate schools and in many different career paths because the philosophy purposely is not a training for any one career or graduate study. Philosophy majors consistently score in the very tops of all majors in standardized tests like the LSAT, GRE, GMAT and MCAT. Statistics from the Wall Street Journal show that out of 50 broadly selected majors of all kinds, philosophy majors have the highest mid-career salary jump of all the other majors (and in a tie with mathematics). In recent years, philosophy majors have had, per capita, higher acceptance rates to medical school than any other major.

Graduates in philosophy from Bradley have gone on to wide range careers and graduate schools, both in the USA and abroad. Here is a list of who have majored in philosophy at institutions in the USA and overseas: Emmanuel Macron (current President of France), Vaclav Havel (writer and former President of the Czech Republic), Phil Jackson (basketball coach), Carl Icahn, Carly Fiorina (former CEO of Hewlett-Packard), Pope John Paul II, Peter Thiel (CEO of PayPal); Reid Hoffman (founder/head of LinkedIn); Gerald Levin (former CEO of Time Warner), Ricky Gervais, Steve Martin, Alex Trebek, Harrison Ford, Matt Groening, Ethan Coen (filmmaker), Wes Craven (filmmaker), Terrence Malick (filmmaker), David Souter (U.S. Supreme Court) and Stephen Breyer (U.S. Supreme Court).

Sample Program Plan
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Major Requirements

Elective Courses (choose eight) - 24 hrs.

  • PHL 103: An Inquiry Into Values - 3 hrs.
  • PHL 130: The Three Teachings: An Introduction to the Chinese Traditions - 3 hrs.
  • PHL 201: Philosophy Proseminar I - 3 hrs.
  • PHL 202: Philosophy Proseminar II - 3 hrs.
  • PHL 203: Logic - 3 hrs.
  • PHL 300: Ancient and Medieval Philosophy - 3 hrs.
  • PHL 304: Renaissance and Modern Philosophy - 3 hrs.
  • PHL 306: Recent Philosophy - 3 hrs.
  • PHL 307: Classical Political Philosophy - 3 hrs.
  • PHL 308: Modern Political Philosophy - 3 hrs.
  • PHL 311: Existentialism - 3 hrs.
  • PHL 320: Symbolic Logic - 3 hrs.
  • PHL 344: Philosophy of Religion - 3 hrs.
  • PHL 347: Ethics - 3 hrs.
  • PHL 350: Art in Human Experience - 3 hrs.
  • PHL 360: Topics in Philosophy - 3-6 hrs.
  • PHL 403: Seminar in Philosophy - 3 hrs.
  • PHL 551: Reading in Philosophy - 1-3 hrs.
  • PHL 552: Reading in Philosophy - 1-3 hrs.