Philosophy, B.A.

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Program Overview

Philosophy is the study of what there is (metaphysics), what we can know (epistemology), and the nature of the good, the right, and the beautiful (ethics and aesthetics). As a philosophy major, you will learn how to sort through some of life’s greatest questions while improving your reasoning, analytic, and judgment skills. You will also improve your ability to develop and defend positions through effective written and oral communication. You can choose from six tracks while studying philosophy: Philosophy, Philosophy and Business, Philosophy and Law, Philosophy and Medical Ethics, Philosophy and Other Fields, or Philosophy Honors.

Philosophy, B.A.

Where You'll Go

Your philosophy courses will prepare you for a wide range of careers—in law, business, finance, management, technology, journalism, education, politics, and civil service—by cultivating your abilities to think critically and creatively about complex problems, and to express yourself with confidence and clarity.

Major Details

The program information listed here reflects the approved curriculum for the 2024–25 academic year per the Brooklyn College Bulletin. Bulletins from past academic years can be found here.

Major Requirements (25–38 Credits)

Philosophy is a writing-intensive major.

You can choose from six tracks while studying philosophy:

  • Philosophy
  • Philosophy and Business
  • Philosophy, Justice, and Law
  • Philosophy and Medical Ethics
  • Philosophy and Other Fields
  • Philosophy Honors

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • Identify arguments and distinguish premises and conclusions.
  • Formulate an argument in support or in opposition to a claim.
  • Evaluate (by providing reasons) the validity and/or cogency of an argument.
  • Apply an argument to a practical case.
  • Explain a selection from a philosophical text, a philosophical theory, issue, or argument.
  • Analyze and evaluate a selection from a philosophical text, a philosophical theory, issue or argument.
  • Provide a reasoned response to a selection from a philosophical text, a philosophical theory, issue, or argument.
  • Identify and explain a criterion used to determine what is good morally or aesthetically.
  • Provide reasons in support of or in opposition to a moral/aesthetic claim.
  • Apply moral/aesthetic theories/criteria to practical situations.

Degree Maps

View all past degree maps.

Contact

Please contact:

Department of Philosophy
3308 Boylan Hall
E: BCPhilosophyDept@brooklyn.cuny.edu
718.951.5000, ext. 5311

or:

Daniel Campos, Department Chair

3308 Boylan Hall
E: DCampos@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5000, ext. 5311

Matthew Moore, Deputy Chair

3300 Boylan Hall
E: matthewm@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5000, ext. 6879

Or contact:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

222 West Quad Center
2900 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11210
E: adminqry@brooklyn.cuny.edu

To make an appointment with an undergraduate admissions counselor, visit:

Virtual Admissions Counselor Appointments

Tracks

Philosophy

Recommended for students for whom a broad background in philosophy is desirable.

The department chair, with the approval of the chair of the department’s curriculum committee, may allow substitutions for one or more course requirements, consistent with the educational goals of our program.

Two courses in history of philosophy from the following group (1):

One course from each of the following groups (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8):

Philosophy and Business

Recommended for students planning careers in business.

The department chair, with the approval of the chair of the department’s curriculum committee, may allow substitutions for one or more course requirements, consistent with the educational goals of our program.

Philosophy 3314 and 3320.

One course from each of the following groups, A), B), C), D), E), and F). The course chosen from each group many not be used to satisfy any other Option IV requirement.

One of the following groups, either Marketing/Management or Finance:

  • Marketing/Management: All of the following: Business 3240 or Psychology 3172; Business 3100, 3130, 3200.
  • Finance: Accounting 2001 and either Business 3400 or Economics 3400.

Two of the following: Economics 3320, [Business 3310] or Finance 3310, [Business 3330] or Finance 3330.

Philosophy, Justice, and Law

Recommended for students planning careers involving public affairs, law, or planning and management.

The department chair, with the approval of the chair of the department’s curriculum committee, may allow substitutions for one or more course requirements, consistent with the educational goals of our program.

Students must satisfy A, B, C, D, and E below.

A. All of the following: Philosophy 3105, 3308, 3320, 3410,  3740.

B. One course chosen from Philosophy 3203, 3210, 3212

C: One course chosen from Philosophy 3703 or 3704

D. One course chosen from Philosophy 3130, 3304, 3307, 3309, 3714, 3720, 3721, 3722, 3723, 3724, 3725, 3726, 3805

E. One course chosen from any of the following groups. The course chosen from any group below may not be used to satisfy any of the above Option II-A, Option II-B, Option II-C or Option II-D requirements.

  1. Applied Ethics: Philosophy 3306-3331
  2. History: Philosophy 3111, 3121-3141, 3145
  3. Other: Philosophy 3232, 3420, 3422, 3423, 3530-3605, 3701, 3702, 3703, 3704, 3714, 3724-3731, 3805-4110, 4201-5111
  4. Philosophy 2101 or 2501 or 2200 or any course 3000-level or above

Philosophy and Medical Ethics

Department requirements (44–48 credits; 29–33 in philosophy courses, and 15 credits in approved science courses or a philosophy minor).

Requirements:

Philosophy 3311 and 3316 and 3320.

Philosophy 3601 or 3611.

One course chosen from the following: Philosophy 3203, 3204, 3231, 3210, 3212, 3232.

One course chosen from the following: Philosophy 3703 or 3704.

One course chosen from the following: Philosophy 3401, 3410, 3420, 3422, 3421, 3423.

One course chosen from the following: Philosophy 3105, 3111, 3121, 3122, 3130, 3141, 3142, 3305, 3306, 3307, 3308, 3309, 3323, 3325, 3326, 3331, 3501, 3502, 3511, 3512, 3520, 3530, 3702, 3711, 3714, 3720, 3721, 3722, 3723, 3724, 3725, 3726, 3730, 3731, 3740, 3805.

One course chosen from the following: Philosophy 4105, 4110, 4120, 4201, 5110, 5111.

Either at least 15 credits in any selection of the following science courses: Biology 1001, 1002, Chemistry 1100, 1040, 1050, 2050, 2100, 3511, 3512, 3521, 3522, 4570, 4571, 4572, 4580, Physics 1100, 1111, 1112, 2100; or a minor in one of the following: philosophy; philosophy and the sciences; professional and applied ethics; logic, reasoning, and rationality; cognitive science; philosophy and the arts; philosophy, culture, and the social sciences; corporate social responsibility; or global studies.

Philosophy and Other Fields

Recommended for students planning careers in medicine, cognitive science, or the arts, and for other students interested in acquiring a knowledge of philosophy that also contributes to the understanding of another field.

The department chair, with the approval of the chair of the department’s curriculum committee, may allow substitutions for one or more course requirements, consistent with the educational goals of our program.

Students must satisfy A, B, and C below.

A. One course from each of the following groups, (1), (2), (3), and (4):

  1. Philosophy 3111 or 3121.
  2. Philosophy 3203 or 3204 or 3210 or 3212 or 3232.
  3. Philosophy 3320 or 3501 or 3704.
  4. Philosophy 3401 or 3410 or 3420.
  5. Philosophy 2101 or 2501 or 2200 or any course 3000-level or above

B. Three courses: One course from each of the following groups, (1), (2), and (3) below. The course chosen from each group may not be used to satisfy any of the above Option III-A requirements or any other Option III-B requirement.

  1. One course chosen from Philosophy 3130, 3215–3232, 3318–3335, 3401–3423, 3501–3740, 3805, 3910–4110, or 4201–5111.
  2. One course chosen from Philosophy 3105–3145, 3502, 3620, 3621, or 3703.
  3. One course chosen from Philosophy 3305–3317, 3422, 3520, 3720, or 3805.

C. One of the following, (1) or (2) or (3) or (4) below:

  1. At least 12 credits in courses taken in a single department or program outside the Philosophy Department.
  2. At least 12 credits in any selection of the following science courses: Biology 1001, 1002; Chemistry 1040, 1050, 1100, 2050, 2100, 2500, 3510 or both 3511 and 3512, 3520 or both 3521 and 3522; Health and Nutrition Sciences 2109 or 2130; Physics 1100, 1111, 1112, 1150, 1190, 2100, 2150.
  3. A minor in cognitive science, global studies, or corporate social responsibility. (Philosophy courses taken to complete a minor in cognitive science or to complete a minor in global studies or to complete a minor in corporate social responsibility can also be applied towards the satisfaction of Option III-A and Option III-B requirements for a major in philosophy.)
  4. A minor in one of the following: philosophy and the arts; or philosophy and the sciences; philosophy, culture, and the social sciences; professional and applied ethics; or logic, reasoning, and rationality. (Philosophy courses taken to complete a minor in one of the following can also be applied toward the satisfaction of the above Option III-A and Option III-B requirements for a major in philosophy: philosophy and the arts; philosophy and the sciences; philosophy, culture, and the social sciences; professional and applied ethics; or logic, reasoning, and rationality.)

Philosophy Honors

The department chair, with the approval of the chair of the department’s curriculum committee, may allow substitutions for one or more course requirements, consistent with the educational goals of our program.

Students must satisfy A, B, C and D below.

A. Philosophy 3320.

  • Two of: Philosophy 3111, 3113, 3121, 3122, 3123, 3130, 3724.
  • One of: Philosophy 3203 or 3204.
  • One of: Philosophy 3401, 3410, or 3420
  • One of: Philosophy 3703 or 4704
  • One of: Philosophy 2101 or 2501 or 2200 or any course 3000-level or above

 

B. One course chosen from group (1), and one course chosen from group (2). The course chosen from each group may not be used to satisfy any of the above Option V-A requirements or any other Option V-B requirement.

  1. One of: Philosophy 3212–3232, 3401–3429, 3530, 3601, 3610, 3611, 3620, 3621; and
  2. One of: Philosophy 3105, 3111–3159, 3307–3311, 3316–3319, 3323–3331, 3501–3520, 3605, 3701–3921, 5201, 5210.

C. A student must complete at least one of the following seminars with honors credit and with a grade of B or higher:

D. A student must have an academic index of 3.50 or higher in philosophy courses taken to satisfy the major.

The Support You’ll Find

One point that can never be repeated enough is the importance of working with your professors and instructors. Even though there is plenty of good information to be found online, in each class you will learn from an expert in the field, who can answer your questions or direct you to the best resources available. The value of faculty cannot be overstated. Good connections with your instructors may be a deciding factor in landing your dream job.

Andrew W. Arlig

Andrew W. Arlig

Robert Lurz

Robert Lurz

Saam Trivedi

Saam Trivedi

Daniel G. Campos

Daniel G. Campos

Serene J. Khader

Serene J. Khader

Matthew Lindauer

Matthew Lindauer

Matthew E. Moore

Matthew E. Moore

Dena Shottenkirk

Dena Shottenkirk

Christine Vitrano

Christine Vitrano

Internships and Employers

Through job fairs, the internship database, and internship panels, the Magner Career Center gives students in the philosophy B.A. program access to career opportunities at a wide variety of employers, including:

  • Columbia University
  • Common Cause
  • Cravath, Swaine & Moore
  • Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
  • eBay
  • Fashion Institute of Technology
  • Kirkland & Ellis
  • New York University
  • Rockstar Games
  • Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Learn More

Student Resources

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Magner Career Center
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