GUIDE TO MAJORS AND PROGRAMS
College of Arts & Sciences
Philosophy
Overview
Training in philosophy focuses on evaluating
reasons — reasons for believing, judging and
acting. Perennial questions include such topics
as: What is the nature of morality and how do
we come to know moral truths? How does the
scientific method produce knowledge? What
is the nature of human autonomy? What are
the moral foundations of law? How should we
prioritize respect for human rights and the
importance of well being? Evaluating reasons
for one answer or another requires attention
to good argument, to empirical information
from the sciences, and to moral or ethical
considerations.
Philosophy trains students to think both
critically and imaginatively about topics at
the intersection of ethics, science and logic.
As a result, the study of philosophy confers a
breadth of knowledge and develops reasoning
and writing skills. It encourages reflection
and imagination, and provides an excellent
foundation for success in many professional
endeavors.
Professional options
Careers
Philosophy provides a very good preparation
for entry into the working world. The median
salary of philosophy majors more than doubles
between entry and mid-career benchmarks —
the largest increase of any major. A degree in
philosophy also is extremely good preparation
for post-graduate work in both professional and
academic programs.
Nationally, philosophy majors have, year after
year, some of the highest acceptance rates
for law schools, medical schools and business
schools. Law School Admission Test, Graduate
Points of pride
The philosophy department boasts awardwinning instructors, small class sizes and
nationally and internationally recognized
research. The department’s overall program
quality has been recognized in the
Philosophical Gourmet Report.
Management Admission Test and Graduate
Record Examination scores for philosophy
majors rank in the top three nationally virtually
every year. K-State philosophy majors over the
last 20 years have had an acceptance rate at law
schools of more than 96 percent.
Philosophy majors have the kind of training
in critical and independent thinking and clear
communication demanded in the legal and
business worlds. Many of our majors have gone
on to successful careers in these fields. Our
program helps pre-med students develop the
people skills and ethical training increasingly
sought by medical schools. Philosophy students
do extremely well on the MCAT exam nationally,
which is reflected in their medical school
admission rate.
Academics
Our program in philosophy gives students an
understanding of traditional philosophical
subjects such as the nature and justification
of moral values, religious and scientific
explanations of the world, the moral foundation
of social institutions, and the nature of
reasoning and argument. This aids students in
developing imagination, critical thinking, and
skills in understanding and communicating
complex issues.
We encourage students, especially those with
advanced standing, to submit their research to
undergraduate conferences and journals, and
we routinely offer independent study courses
in which students develop their own research
while working on an individual basis with faculty
members. We also strongly support study
abroad, especially for students in their junior or
senior years.
Degree options
We offer a variety of options within the major
program to provide flexibility in organizing a
course of studies with philosophy at its center.
We also offer a minor.
Alumni
Some of our majors go on to graduate programs
in philosophy. In the last 10 years, we have
placed students in nationally ranked philosophy
graduate programs at the University of Texas,
Rutgers University, the University of Notre Dame,
the University of Wisconsin and the University of
British Columbia.
k-state.edu/admissions/academics
However, a majority of our majors complete a
professional degree or enter the working world.
Philosophy majors go to law school, business
school, medical school, become ministers, join
large companies or open their own business.
Faculty
All members of the department hold doctoral
degrees from prestigious institutions. Our faculty
members are fully committed to undergraduate
education. They are involved in research and
publication, and they present their work at
national and international meetings. Their areas
of specialization and teaching range across all of
the main philosophical subfields, from ethics to
history of philosophy to philosophy of science,
to name a few. The relatively small number of
majors (50 to 55) creates an atmosphere where
frequent and informal contact between students
and faculty can flourish.
Activities
Clubs
The student philosophy club arranges a
schedule of meetings, discussions and social
events. Additionally, the department regularly
schedules visiting lecturers from other
institutions, providing the opportunity for
informal discussion with eminent scholars in
the field.
Study abroad
The Department of Philosophy encourages
students to study abroad. In recent semesters
our students have studied in Germany, Turkey
and New Zealand among other locations. It is
possible to study philosophy on every continent
except Antarctica. Financial assistance is usually
available. Please contact the Department
of Philosophy or the Office of International
Programs for more information.
Financial assistance
The department has available several
annual scholarships for students majoring in
philosophy.
Suggested course work
The Department of Philosophy offers a variety
of options. For majors, both B.A. and B.S. degrees
require a core of eight classes.
Philosophy major core
curriculum (24 credit hours)
Hrs.Course
3 PHILO 301
History of Philosophy
3 PHILO 303
Writing Philosophy
3 PHILO 305
Reasons, Decisions and Society
3 PHILO 320 Symbolic Logic I
3 PHILO 330
Moral Philosophy
3 PHILO 335Introduction to Social and
Political Philosophy
3 PHILO 340
Reasons and Reliable Knowledge
3 PHILO 345
World, Things and Properties
Standard philosophy option
(B.A. or B.S.) (36 credit hours)
This option is for students who are interested in
a traditional liberal arts course of study. Thirtysix credit hours in philosophy are required,
including:
*24 credit hours of the core curriculum
*12 credit hours in four philosophy electives.
Three of the electives must be at or above the
500 level.
Pre-law option (B.A. or B.S.)
While no one major is given preference by law
school admission boards, law schools recognize
the value of philosophy for refining skills in
expression, comprehension and critical thinking.
The department offers two pre-law degree
options:
Single major option (36 credit hours)
The core curriculum and:
Hrs.Course
3 PHILO 535 Philosophy of Law
3 PHILO 525
Social and Political Philosophy
or
3 PHILO 585
Ethics
6 Philosophy electives*
Double major option
The core curriculum, completion of another
major in the College of Arts & Sciences and:
Hrs.Course
3 PHILO 535
Philosophy of Law
3 Philosophy electives*
*One of the electives must be at or above the 500 level.
Philosophy/pre-business
B.A./B.S. option
The pre-business option is for students who plan
to do graduate work leading to a master’s in
business administration.
Single major option (36 credit hours)
The core curriculum and:
Hrs.Course
3 PHILO 390
Business Ethics
One of the following:
3 PHILO 525 Social and Political Philosophy
3 PHILO 585
Ethics
3 PHILO 650
Rationality and Action
3 PHILO 665
Philosophy of Economics
and
6 Philosophy electives
Double major option (30 credit hours)
This option is for students who wish to combine
a philosophy/pre-business degree with an
undergraduate degree in the College of Business
Administration. This option requires the core
curriculum and:
Hrs. Course
3 PHILO 390
Business Ethics
3 Philosophy electives
Philosophy/pre-ministry
B.A. option
This is a nonsectarian program designed for
students who are interested in the religious
ministry as a profession. Students will be
advised on other courses outside philosophy
recommended by most U.S. schools of theology.
This option requires the core curriculum and:
Two of the following:
Hrs.Course
3 PHILO 510
Symbolic Logic II
3 PHILO 615
Philosophy of Religion
3 PHILO 635
Metaphysics
3 PHILO 640
Epistemology
3 PHILO 655
Philosophy of Mind
and
3 Philosophy electives
6Two courses in which religion is studied
from departments other than philosophy.
Departmental approval is required.
Philosophy/premed B.S.
option
While no one major is given preference by
medical schools and related postgraduate
programs, their admission committees
recognize philosophy as a valuable primary or
secondary major. Students in this program will
be advised to supplement their education with
an important science component.
Single major option (36 credit hours)
Students choosing this option and planning to
apply for medical school are strongly advised to
combine it with at least one minor in biology,
chemistry or physics. This option requires the
core curriculum and:
must have a faculty advisor in the department
of philosophy who supervises the student’s
program.
Philosophy course requirements
This option requires completion of the core
curriculum, six credit hours of philosophy
electives and completion of another major in
the College of Arts and Sciences. At least one
elective course must be PHILO 680 Independent
Study or receive prior departmental approval.
Minor in philosophy
Students who cannot fit the interdisciplinary
option into their schedule may find a philosophy
minor as providing both useful preparation and
important skills for postgraduate study or entry
into employment where ethics of policymaking
is of central concern.
Minor requirements
Hrs. Course:
3 PHILO 110 or
PHILO 320
9 Any three of:
PHILO 301
PHILO 305
PHILO 330
PHILO 340
6 Two electives
Formal Logic
Symbolic Logic
History of Philosophy
Reasons, Decisions and Society
Moral Philosophy
Reasons and Reliable Knowledge
For more information about
philosophy, contact:
Department of Philosophy
Kansas State University
201 Dickens Hall
1116 Mid-Campus Dr North
Manhattan, KS 66506–0803
785-532-6758
philosophy@k-state.edu
k-state.edu/philos
For more information about
Kansas State University, contact:
Office of Admissions
Kansas State University
119 Anderson Hall
919 Mid-Campus Dr North
Manhattan, KS 66506–0102
1-800-432-8270 (toll free) or
785-532-6250
k-state@k-state.edu
k-state.edu/admissions
Hrs.Course
3 PHILO 365 Medical Ethics
6 Two philosophy electives, one course of which is
at or above the 500 level.
Notice of nondiscrimination
Interdisciplinary B.A./B.S.
option (30 credit hours)
This option is for students who wish to combine
a major in philosophy with a major in another
discipline. Each student completing this option
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information, military status, or veteran status, in the University’s programs and
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with responsibility for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries
concerning nondiscrimination policies is the University’s Title IX Coordinator: the
Director of the Office of Institutional Equity, equity@k-state.edu, 103 Edwards Hall,
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, (785) 532-6220. The campus
ADA Coordinator is the Director of Employee Relations, charlott@k-state.edu, who
may be reached at 103 Edwards Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
66506, (785) 532-6277.
2016