Philosophy

The study of philosophy at Mary is rooted in the harmony of faith and reason in the pursuit of Truth. Your exploration will be grounded in the history of ideas and the writings of great thinkers from Aristotle and Aquinas to more modern and contemporary figures in Western philosophy.

Philosophy graduates are trained to think critically, write clearly, and argue persuasively—skills that are highly sought after by employers. They also score higher than average on graduate school admissions exams and have a strong record of earning full scholarships to pursue graduate study. Plus, you can earn your bachelor’s degree in 2.6 years or complete your bachelor’s and a Master of Business Administration/Master of Arts in Philosophy in just four years through our innovative Year-Round Campus program.

Designed to work well as a double major, our bachelor’s degree in philosophy provides a firm intellectual footing for any career field. Our students develop a philosophical habit of mind while exploring fundamental questions about the world and their place in it. Pursuing answers to these questions prepares you well for further study, lifelong learning, clerical or religious vocations, or marriage and family life.

For those who want to go deeper, the philosophical traditions concentration offers a more complete and intensive exploration of human thought. You’ll read Plato, Aristotle, Saint Augustine, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Kant, Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, Heidegger, and others—joining a conversation that’s been ongoing for thousands of years. You’ll also study logic extensively and delve into the character of everyday experience, integrating what you learn in the classroom with what you live outside of it. This track is especially appropriate for those planning to pursue graduate studies in philosophy, as well as law school, medical school, or seminary.