Bachelor of Arts - Philosophy

Philosophy is unlike any other field of study. It is unique both in its methods and in the nature and breadth of its subject matter. Philosophy pursues questions in every dimension of human life, and its approach applies to problems in any field of study or endeavor. As a discipline it encourages students to reject simple solutions to complex issues; it enhances their ability to perceive the relationships among the various fields of study, and it deepens their sense of the meaning and varieties of the human experience.

The mission of the Southwest Minnesota State University philosophy program is to promote the intellectual virtues that are at the core of liberal education. Chief among these is the notion that respect for oneself and others entails an honest and rigorous examination of core beliefs. The program focuses on the development of critical thinking skills, the capacity for moral reasoning, and an appreciation of the breadth and importance of the history of philosophical inquiry. Collectively, these outcomes prepare all students to pursue an examined life.

The philosophy program offers a major and minor. The major is small enough to allow students to combine it with virtually any other major at the University. The faculty in the program are committed to the ideal of a broad, liberal education as the best possible preparation for a world in which the only certainty is change.