Philosophy Major (BA)

An individual wearing glasses and peering at a library shelf with their hand on their chin

Philosophy asks fundamental questions such as: What is truly real? How should we live our lives, and how should we organize our society? What counts as truth and knowledge, and who decides?

You'll develop the skills of critical analysis and communication that will enable you to build and support your own answers to these questions. In addition, you'll learn to draw connections to fundamental questions in other disciplines, such as medical ethics, law, and education.

Studying philosophy prepares you for any profession in which analytical thinking, clear communication, and attention to fundamental questions are essential, including law, medicine, journalism, and government service. By considering the fundamental building blocks of human nature, you'll deepen your understanding of yourself, your community, and the world around you.

Philosophy major and minor

Philosophy major

Choose from a wide variety of courses suited to your career interests and develop skills that will serve you on whatever path you choose.

Explore philosophy courses

Ethics and advocacy minor

Gain the complementary skills of ethical understanding and effective advocacy.

Explore Ethics and Advocacy courses

Internships for philosophy students

We make sure you leave Hamline with work experience in the field of philosophy on your resume. And the opportunities are boundless. Whether you want to explore a career in public policy, community outreach, law, media, or more, we have internship opportunities for you.

Examples of past philosophy student internships include:

  • Center for Global Environmental Education, intern
  • Center for Purposeful Leadership, marketing intern
  • Chisago County Historical Society, intern
  • Friends School of Minnesota, DEI project manager
  • Hamline United Methodist Church, SPROUT garden intern
  • Juel Fairbanks Recovery Services, financial assistant
  • Mayo Clinic, bioethics research intern
  • Pine County, legal intern
  • Stewart, Zlimen & Jungers, legal assistant
  • Tubman, resource counseling advocate
  • Twin Cities Daily Planet, media intern

Explore career paths

Our innovative courses and one-on-one mentoring by faculty will give you the tools to succeed in a variety of jobs, such as:

  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator
  • Youth Program Specialist

You can also put your degree to work in any number of fields, including:

  • Education
  • Social work

Related areas of study

English and Communication Studies Legal studies Religion

Contact information