Academic Advising Resource Center

Philosophy

Why take courses in Philosophy?

Philosophy helps us to pause and investigate the assumptions that underlie approaches to knowledge and value across fields. Whether pursuing a career in science, the arts, public service, or business, the study of philosophy brings intellectual precision and a spirit of curiosity to more applied pursuits.

What kinds of questions does Philosophy explore?

  • Philosophy asks questions about fundamental features of the world, of human life, and of the ways we think about them. Such questions include the nature of truth and limits of human knowledge; what makes an action right or just; what is it to be a person and have a mind; and what makes something a work of art.

 

What advice would you give students interested in taking courses in Philosophy?

The breadth of courses offered within the department highlight the nature of philosophy as a field in conversation with other fields. Students often pursue a philosophy major as a complement to other majors, minors, and concentrations.

Taking Courses

Courses for non-majors or general interest

  • At the introductory level, we offer a range of courses. The courses differ in their unifying themes, but they all engage with debates concerning what has value, how we ought to live our lives, and what really matters.

Getting started in the major

We offer six to nine sections of our introductory courses each year. All our introductory courses aim to develop students’ skills in clear and critical thinking, effective argumentation, conceptual analysis, and deep reflection. Any introductory course can serve as a prerequisite for our 200-level course.

    Advanced Placement Credit 

    Philosophy does not transfer AP credit toward the major requirements. Refer to the AP/IB chart for complete information about AP test scores. 

    Majoring in Philosophy

    Provided are two examples of how a student could distribute courses required for the major over three or four years. See the catalog for additional details about major requirements.

    Sample Four-Year Plans
      Fall Spring
    Y1 PHIL 1XX PHIL 2XX
    Y2 PHIL 2XX PHIL 200 or 201
    Y3 PHIL 2XX PHIL 2XX
    Y4 PHIL 2XX
    PHIL 2XX    		 PHIL 3XX
      Fall Spring
    Y1    
    Y2   PHIL 1XX
    Y3 PHIL 2XX      
    PHIL 2XX    		 PHIL 00 or 201     
    PHIL 2XX
    Y4 PHIL 2XX      
    PHIL 2XX    		 PHIL 2XX      
    PHIL 3XX

     

    Related Areas of Study

    Philosophy is a traditional pre-law major. However, in both the research interests of the faculty and the courses on offer, Oberlin’s philosophy department has a wide range of connections to other areas of study such as psychology and neuroscience; music, cinema, and the arts; politics and sociology; as well as pre-medical fields and global health.

    Learn More

    Philosophy Major Requirements
    Philosophy Department