Philosophical training helps students reason well, make thoughtful distinctions, and analyze difficult and abstract ideas. Philosophy prizes clear thinking, rational judgement, and careful arguments-all in the pursuit of truth. Unsurprisingly, philosophy provides excellent training for a wide variety of careers within business, law, and medicine. As technology continues to advance, and as artificial intelligence and automation transform the workplace of tomorrow, the technical skills of today may not be required tomorrow. But the ability to think well is never out of fashion.

Christian philosophy helps us understand and defend the faith and also offers us a Christian conception of human flourishing. When the Apostle Paul was in Athens, he spoke with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. Christians today continue that conversation, for the sake of the Church and for the world. Many philosophers have become voices for the Church in their own right (e.g. Augustine and Aquinas) and faithful philosophical engagement with important ideas has the power to transform the Church and our world even today.

Philosophy resembles mathematics, in its rigor and clarity; history, in its sensitivity to people and ideas across cultures and ages; and literature, in its concern for articulate expression. Philosophy majors are thus well positioned to pursue careers immediately after graduation or graduate school in philosophy, theology, history, ministry, law, and medicine.

Student Learning Outcomes

The philosophy program at JBU teaches specific philosophical content both in the history of philosophy and contemporary analytical philosophy. Philosophy is taught in such a way that students learn to read carefully, think critically, write well, and speak clearly. Consequently, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Philosophy has the following student learning outcomes for its classes:

• Students will be able to create and defend an original argument after careful analysis of primary and secondary sources.
• Students will be able to think creatively and abstractly by devising proofs.
• Students will be able to communicate meaningful ideas orally.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree with major in Philosophy