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Philosophy

Study one of the most broad-based, rigorous, interdisciplinary and socially engaged disciplines of the liberal arts.

Program Overview

Far from being an abstruse, removed and self-contained pursuit, Philosophy at UT Dallas engages in an interdisciplinary Arts, Humanities, and Technology program, drawing on and contributing to the study of history, literature, and the arts. Our program is also particularly suited to the STEM excellence of UT Dallas, with a practical and theoretical emphasis on the philosophy of science, technology and medicine. The program strives to be highly pluralistic and intellectually diverse, with emphases in continental, analytic, feminist, American and non-Western philosophical traditions. Each graduate must successfully complete a capstone project, which typically consists of a senior thesis, service learning project or creative project.

Program Options

BA in Philosophy

View Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)

View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester

Philosophy concentration students must successfully complete a capstone project, which typically consists of a senior thesis, service learning project or creative project. Each student is responsible for securing a supervisor for the project. The project supervisor should be a full-time member of the faculty who regularly teaches PHIL courses. It is recommended that students begin planning for the project as early as possible and, ideally, meet with a prospective faculty supervisor one or two semesters prior to undertaking the project. 

Read more about the capstone project requirements.

Philosophy Minor

Choose any 18 semester credit hours from all PHIL courses. Must meet the University minimum number of upper-division hours.

Teacher Certification

Students interested in teaching in secondary schools can achieve Texas Teacher Certification in English and/or history and/or composite social studies as part of their majors in either Literature or History. Immediately after being admitted to the University, interested students should meet with an advisor in the Teacher Development Center to receive a certification plan and with an Arts, Humanities, and Technology advisor in Literature or History to receive a degree plan. Further details may be found in the Teacher Certification section of the Undergraduate Catalog.

Fast Track

The Fast Track program is designed to permit exceptional undergraduate students in Arts, Humanities, and Technology majors to begin work on the master’s degree before graduation.

Qualified seniors may take up to 12 semester credit hours of approved graduate courses in the Bass School during their senior year and apply these semester credit hours to their undergraduate degree plans as either major and related courses or electives. The Fast Track courses also will be used to satisfy up to 12 graduate semester credit hours towards the master’s degree.

For further information on the Fast Track program, see the undergraduate academic advisors.

Minors

To minor in the Arts, Humanities, and Technology, students must take a minimum of 18 semester credit hours for the minor, 9 of which must be upper-division semester credit hours. Students who take a minor will be expected to meet the normal prerequisites in courses making up the minor, and should maintain a minimum GPA of 2.000 on a 4.00 scale (C average). Core courses offered by the school may count as lower-division semester credit hours toward the minor. Students may choose to minor in any of the following fields of study:

Explore Graduate Programs →

Jonathan Tsou and student, Center for Values
In bringing together medicine, science, and technology with philosophy, the humanities, and the arts, the Center for Values in Medicine, Science, and Technology provides leadership in recognizing, understanding and addressing societal problems and incipient limitations resulting from disconnects between values and science.

Program Highlights

The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy combines a rigorous education in philosophy with opportunities for interdisciplinary integration and connection with the arts, literature and sciences.

Philosophy engages life’s deepest and most persistent questions:

  • What is the nature of the Good Life?
  • Why do we believe what we believe?
  • How do we know what we know?
  • What is the nature of the self, its connection with the world and society?
  • What are the foundations of Justice?

Students can also take advantage of the school’s related research centers including the Center for Values in Medicine, Science, and Technology.

Student Organizations

Get real-world experience and leadership opportunities by performing with our musical ensembles and campus theatre groups and more.

Explore Arts, Humanities, and Technology student organizations →

Courses

Historical Inquiry
Latin American Civilizations
Explore Courses →

Faculty

Dr. Katherine Davis on campus

Dr. Katherine Davies

Assistant professor of philosophy

“I am drawn to philosophy because of its slow, careful and critical thinking habits. I take philosophy to be a practice of figuring out how to best align our thinking with what we think about, i.e., the world and everything that makes it up. In my teaching, I work toward practicing this with my students through reading enduring texts from across the history of philosophy that invite this kind of deliberation.”


Dallas Connections

From researching in premier libraries and museums to attending reading with world-class writers, you’ll be studying in the vibrant arts and literature scene of Dallas-Fort Worth. Explore our partnerships.

Alumni Connections

Arts, Humanities, and Technology alumni are active in careers all over the world, from Texas to Hollywood. Meet our alumni.

Professional Paths

The degree in Philosophy provides graduates with skills and attributes that are highly sought after today:

  • Critical thinking
  • Problem solving
  • Communication
  • Collaboration

Moreover, Philosophy majors acquire superior preparation for admission to graduate and professional schools (including medical school) as measured by graduate examinations such as the GRE (graduate school), LSAT (law) and MCAT (medical).

Possible Careers

  • Attorney
  • Professor
  • Minister
  • Rabbi
  • Ethics and compliance officer
  • Risk analyst
  • Mediator

Next Steps

Explore

The Bass School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology has much to offer. Explore our programs and browse our full list of degrees, minors, and certificates.

Apply

Applying to UT Dallas is easy. Follow these steps →