Program Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy is designed to provide students with a deep and systematic understanding of fundamental philosophical ideas, methods, and traditions. The program explores classical and contemporary philosophical theories, ethics, logic, epistemology, metaphysics, political philosophy, and applied philosophy in various domains. Students will develop critical thinking skills, engage in philosophical debates, and gain the ability to analyze and interpret complex arguments.
Program Structure
Year 1: Foundations of Philosophy
The first year introduces students to the fundamental concepts of philosophy, including reasoning, ethics, epistemology, political thought, and the philosophy of science and mind. Students gain essential analytical skills through courses such as:
- Introduction to Philosophy – A survey of key philosophical ideas and methods.
- Critical Thinking and Logic – Fundamentals of reasoning, argumentation, and logical analysis.
- Ethics and Moral Philosophy – Exploration of ethical theories and moral dilemmas.
- Political Philosophy – Examination of justice, rights, governance, and social contracts.
- Epistemology and Theory of Knowledge – Investigation of knowledge, belief, and justification.
- Philosophy of Science and Technology – Understanding scientific inquiry and its philosophical implications.
- Philosophy of Mind and Consciousness – Theories of mind, self-awareness, and consciousness.
- Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art – Philosophical analysis of beauty, art, and interpretation.
- Existentialism and Phenomenology – Exploration of human existence, subjectivity, and experience.
- Ancient Philosophy – Study of foundational thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, and the Pre-Socratics.
- Modern Philosophy – Examination of philosophers from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment.
Year 2: Intermediate Topics and Applied Philosophy
In the second year, students engage with more specialized areas of philosophy, including contemporary and global perspectives, feminist philosophy, and research methods. Courses include:
- Contemporary Philosophy – Discussion of 20th and 21st-century philosophical movements.
- Comparative Philosophy – Comparison of Western and non-Western traditions.
- Applied Ethics – Application of ethical theories to real-world issues.
- Philosophy of Law and Legal Theory – Philosophical foundations of law, justice, and legal reasoning.
- Social and Political Philosophy – Critical evaluation of political ideologies and social structures.
- Feminist Philosophy – Exploration of gender, identity, and feminist philosophical contributions.
- Global Philosophy – Cross-cultural philosophical traditions and perspectives.
- Philosophy of Language and Multilingualism – The nature of meaning, language, and communication.
- Research Methods in Philosophy – Training in philosophical research, writing, and argumentation.
- Independent Study in Philosophy – Supervised study on a specific topic of interest.
- Senior Seminar in Philosophy – A capstone discussion-based course integrating philosophical knowledge.
Year 3: Advanced Philosophical Inquiry
The third year deepens students’ engagement with philosophical discourse by exploring metaphysics, ethics in technology, race, and sustainability.
- Metaphysics – Study of existence, reality, causality, and time.
- Teaching of Philosophy – Pedagogical approaches to philosophical education.
- Philosophy of Mind: Eastern Perspectives – Exploration of consciousness in Buddhist, Hindu, and Daoist traditions.
- Philosophy of Technology: Ethics and Governance – Philosophical issues in AI, automation, and digital ethics.
- Environmental Philosophy: Ethics and Sustainability – Ethical approaches to environmental issues.
- Philosophy of Race and Ethnicity – Examination of race, identity, and social justice.
- Philosophy of Science: Western and Asian Perspectives – Comparative analysis of scientific methodologies.
- Existentialist Literature and Philosophy – Study of existentialist thinkers and their literary works.
- Neurophilosophy: Mind, Brain, and Consciousness – Intersections of neuroscience and philosophy.
- Philosophy of Education: Theory and Practice – Philosophical foundations of education and pedagogy.
- Ethics in Global Contexts – Ethical perspectives across cultures and traditions.
Year 4: Specialization and Thesis
The final year focuses on comparative epistemology, ontology, aesthetics, and the completion of a thesis project.
- Logic and Reasoning: Western and Eastern Traditions – Advanced study of logic in global philosophical traditions.
- Epistemology: Comparative Views – Diverse approaches to knowledge and belief.
- Phenomenology and Hermeneutics – Interpretation and experience in philosophical thought.
- Global Perspectives on Aesthetics – Cross-cultural analysis of artistic and aesthetic philosophy.
- Ontology: Analytical and Continental Approaches – Study of being, existence, and reality.
- Thesis Writing – Research and composition of a final thesis under faculty supervision.
Career Prospects
Graduates of this program are well-equipped for careers in academia, research, education, law, journalism, public policy, and ethics consultancy. The program also provides a strong foundation for further graduate studies in philosophy or related disciplines.
