Philosophy — Bachelor of Arts

FEATURES:

• Field trips enhance classroom learning
• Co-op semester(s) provide paid work experience in your field of study
• The Student Association of Philosophy engages students interested in the study and applications of philosophy to therapy and counselling.
• Study abroad to gain a global education
• Program eligible for financial aid

UFV’s four-year Bachelor of Arts with a Philosophy major or minor is designed to teach you to think independently and become a powerful problem-solver.

Philosophy major

As part of your philosophy studies, you take courses in the history of philosophy, where you examine early schools of thought and learn about the origins of modern philosophy. First and second year courses provide a broad knowledge of reasoning, morality, and politics, while third and fourth year courses allow you to deepen your understanding of logic, philosophical theory, metaphysics, and political philosophy.

The major includes the following general requirements:

• 9 introductory courses in Philosophy
• 9 credits in lower and upper-level History of Philosophy courses
• 3 credits in logic
• 3 credits in each of: Philosophical Theory, Metaphysics and Epistemology, and Political Philosophy

View the program outline in the UFV Academic Calendar.

Philosophy extended minor or minor

Customize your Bachelor of Arts degree by concentrating on two subject areas within the College of Arts. The general requirements for the extended minor include 18 credits in lower-level courses and 15 credits in upper-level Philosophy courses.

The requirements for the Philosophy minor include:

• 12 credits in lower-level courses
• 15 upper-level credits in Philosophy

View program outline for Philosophy's extended minor or program outline for Philosophy's minor.

A Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy is more practical than many may suspect. Some philosophy students go on to earn a doctorate to teach at a college or university — a conventional scenario. But many grads put their logic and analytical skills to good use in varied fields, including business, marketing, law, computer sciences, human resources, research, and consulting.

In fact, the Huffington Post reports that philosophy and entrepreneurship have a natural affinity. Some of the most successful tech entrepreneurs — such as Flickr's co-founder Stewart Butterfield and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman — have degrees in philosophy and have used their critical thinking skills to launch innovative digital services.

These findings are confirmed by the compensation software and data company Payscale, which notes that a philosophy degree earns more than an accounting degree, with mid-career median salaries of $84,000.

The entrance requirements of the Bachelor of Arts degree will apply to the Philosophy major, minor and extended minor.

View the Bachelor of Arts entrance requirements in the UFV Academic Calendar.

This program is open for international students

• How to apply

Students who do not meet the entrance requirements can upgrade in order to meet prerequisites for university classes.

Make an appointment with a Upgrading and University Preparation advisor to discuss your upgrading needs.

During your philosophy studies at UFV you can expect to come away with the following knowledge and skills:

Recognize philosophical issues

• Identify major trends and issues in philosophy
• Locate relevant materials to which philosophical analysis can be applied

Demonstrate competence in philosophical methods

• Engage in critical reflection on arguments (as they are found in major trends and issues in philosophy)
• Assess primary and secondary sources in philosophy
• Develop responses to philosophical positions
• Develop good arguments
• Evaluate diverse approaches to problem solving

Apply philosophy to current issues

• Apply critical analysis beyond academic and traditional philosophical contexts
• Apply knowledge of philosophy in research projects
• Adopt reflective stance to own worldviews and beliefs

Reach out to the wider community

• Communicate effectively and respectfully through, classroom presentations, seminar discussions, essays, and online
• Facilitate constructive interaction between people of different backgrounds and interests

Phone: 604-557-4035
Toll free: 1-888-504-7441, ext. 4035
Email: philosophy@ufv.ca