philosophy major
TagIs this the Fastest Growing Undergraduate Philosophy Program in the US?
“In Fall 2022, we had four students majoring or minoring in Philosophy; today we have 31.” (more…)
My Crystal Ball
At the end of October, 2015 I made five predictions about “the state of philosophy in ten years.” How was my forecasting? (more…)
Philosophy in College Beyond the Philosophy Major
It’s not just budget cuts that are leading some colleges and universities to get rid of their philosophy major programs. Sometimes its legislation.
The Plummeting Philosophy Major in the US (guest post)
Just a few years ago, the philosophy major seemed on the rise. Now, the data reveal a different picture. (more…)
Monmouth College Eliminating Its Philosophy Major
The President of Monmouth College, a private liberal arts college in Illinois, has recently announced that students at the school will no longer be able to major in philosophy, nor in a number of other subjects, starting in Fall 2026. (more…)
Philosophy Major at Kennesaw State May Be Eliminated
As if it were the manager of a candy store deciding which chewing gum to stock, the administration of Kennesaw State University (Georgia) is deciding which majors to offer solely by seeing how many kids already like them. (more…)
A Professor and an Athlete Talk Basketball and Philosophy
“For certain majors and certain disciplines, when you leave that discipline, you’re done. Philosophy isn’t like that. You take it with you.” (more…)
Philosophy Department Survival Strategies: The Ontarian Approach (guest post)
The percentage of college graduates who are majors in philosophy is about five and half times higher in Canada than in the United States. One factor in this might be the success philosophers have had in implementing philosophy courses in Ontario high schools. (more…)
Philosophy Major Retention Data
How many college graduates end up getting their undergraduate degree in the major they declared when they initially started college?
The Benefits of Studying Philosophy: Not Just Selection Effects?
Philosophy majors do well according to various measures of critical reasoning and intellectual habits. But is this an effect of studying philosophy, or an effect of students already talented in these ways choosing to major in philosophy? (more…)
Attracting Philosophy Majors with Combined Undergrad/Grad Degrees
The Department of Philosophy at Youngstown State University has launched a “3+3 undergraduate to law school program” that allows students to major in philosophy and get a law degree in six years, as opposed to the seven it would normally take. (more…)
Grad & Undergrad Philosophy Programs Focusing on Science/Technology
Earlier this month I reported on a new MA program in philosophy and computing at the University of Bayreuth and another in philosophy and data science at Marche Polytechnic. Since then, a few other new or recently developed programs that bring philosophy together with science and/or technology—both at the masters and undergraduate levels—have come to my attentio..
One Front in the Fight for Philosophy’s Survival in the US: High Schools
One obstacle undergraduate philosophy programs in the United States face is student unfamiliarity with philosophy. (more…)
Manhattan College May Eliminate Philosophy
Philosophy is one of 10 undergraduate majors that administrators at Manhattan College, a Catholic college in New York, have proposed eliminating. (more…)
Philosophy at Kent Threatened (again) (updated)
Imagine a major university financially mismanaged to such a degree that its administration is desperate enough to suggest cutting its philosophy program as a solution. (more…)
Newman University to Cut Philosophy Major
Newman University, a Catholic university in Wichita, Kansas, has announced that it is discontinuing its philosophy major, along with majors in several other disciplines. (more…)
SUNY Potsdam Cuts: Further Details / Update: What You Can Do to Help (updated)
Last month we saw that the Philosophy program at SUNY Potsdam is once again under threat.
In the meanwhile, an unofficial philosophy site has been updated with some further information about the cuts.
Philosophy Cut at Warren Wilson College
Warren Wilson College in North Carolina tells visitors to its website, “We believe the world needs curiosity” and says that its mission is for students to “think deeply.” Yet its administration has decided to make it impossible for students to major in philosophy, arguably the discipline most associated with curiosity and deep thought. (more…)
Two of Wesleyan’s Graduating Philosophy Majors Earned Their Degrees While Incarcerated
Two philosophy majors graduating this year from Wesleyan University earned their degrees while incarcerated. (more…)
St. Cloud State To Eliminate Philosophy & Other Programs
St. Cloud State University will cease offering its students the opportunity to major in philosophy, reports the Star Tribune. (more…)
Philosophy Internship Programs for Undergraduates
Does your philosophy department have an internship program, whereby an undergraduate can get credit for being an intern with a non-university organization or business? (more…)
A Philosophy Department Is Born
The University of California, Merced now has a Philosophy Department. (more…)
Philosophy & Other Humanities Threatened at Marymount (updated: cuts approved)
Programs in philosophy, theology and religion studies, history, mathematics, sociology, literature, and art would at Marymount University in Virginia would all be eliminated if a proposal from the administration is approved by the school’s board of trustees. (more…)
Philosophy Major at Utica Targeted for Elimination
The president of Utica University, Laura Casamento, at the prompting of Utica’s Board of Trustees, has recommended that the university no longer offer students the opportunity to major in philosophy. A petition has been launched to protest the proposed elimination of the philosophy major. (more…)
Urgent Appeal to Save Philosophy at Fresno Pacific
Fresno Pacific University (FPU) has just laid off Nathan Carson, director of the university’s philosophy program and its only full-time (and tenured) philosophy professor, and plans to eliminate the school’s philosophy major and minor programs. An appeal of the decision has been made and is currently being considered by the administration. (more…)
The Reinstatement of an Undergraduate Philosophy Program
In 2019, Janet Levit, the then-provost of the University of Tulsa, arranged for the elimination of the school’s philosophy major. Now, new leadership at the university has committed to rebuilding its philosophy program. (more…)
The Philosophy Major Continues to Recover and Diversify in the U.S. (guest post)
The number of college students graduating with degrees in philosophy continues to increase, as does the gender and racial diversity of this group. (more…)
Philosophy Under Threat at SUNY Potsdam
“Our department is being threatened with elimination even though by all measures, except number of majors, we excel.” (more…)