Undergraduate Program
Philosophy investigates fundamental questions about the nature of reality — about the universe as a whole, about human beings, society, science, and ethics.
Philosophy pays careful attention to its own history, which spans more than 2,500 years, going back to Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and beyond. This intellectual tradition is the focus of the Department of Philosophy’s courses on Ancient, Modern, and 20th-Century philosophers and philosophical movements. It continues to be concerned with the nature of reality (metaphysics); the mind (philosophy of mind); truth and knowledge (epistemology); virtue, justice, and morality (ethics); and reason (logic). Logic is important for all students, regardless of their major; whatever the topic, one should think and write logically about it. Metaphysics and epistemology are important for assessing the claims of all academic disciplines. And ethics plays a central role in our social and political life.
The Department of Philosophy offers an opportunity for students to seek answers to questions which fall outside the scope of any particular science. Philosophy students will learn to think critically, raise questions, and think independently. They will also learn about the intellectual foundations of our political, social, and legal systems, as well as the philosophical bases of modern science and technology. They will explore deep theoretical, practical, and moral issues that do not easily fit into more specialized disciplines. Philosophy challenges us with its reflective and critical approach to important and puzzling questions about the nature of right and wrong, space and time, and consciousness and the human mind.
At the University of Lethbridge, above the 1000-level, philosophy students take part in discussion-based seminar and lecture classes. Readings will range from ancient to contemporary. To round out students' academic studies, Philosophy Majors must complete a minimum of one course at the 4000-level, expanding their education beyond the limits of the regular curriculum.
We are very proud of our students and their contributions to our university and community, and we do our best to support them in their studies. Undergraduate philosophy students of the Faculty of Arts & Science have many opportunities, including:
- Co-operative Education
- Applied Studies Courses
- Independent Studies
- Undergraduate Honours Thesis
- Undergraduate Conferences
- Co-authorship of Papers
- Involvement with Faculty on Research Projects
Ten Reasons to Study Philosophy
Philosophy...
- invites questions from multiple perspectives,
- sharpens logic and critical thinking,
- organizes complex ideas and arguments,
- refines reading, writing, and communication,
- prepares you for fields as varied as journalism, politics, medicine, and law,
- cultivates open-mindedness and empathy,
- illuminates the evolution of ideas across history,
- uncovers shared dilemmas in science, mathematics, psychology, and more,
- encourages reflection on the cosmos and our place within it, and
- supports the search for deeper meaning.
What Can You Do With a Philosophy Degree?
The first answer is short: think.
You can use the knowledge and awareness gained from studying philosophy to understand yourself and the world around you, including the ideas, cultures, and religions of other times and places. The capacities for understanding, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating, and writing that you will develop through philosophy are useful for virtually any professional occupation or academic pursuit.
A philosophy degree helps build many valuable skills, including careful and critical reading, clear and effective writing, effective evaluation of arguments, and constructing strong arguments of your own. These skills make studying philosophy an excellent background for many careers, especially in law. The department offers a Minor in the Philosophy of Law, focusing on legal, social, and political philosophy.
Our graduates have gone on to many different careers, including studying philosophy at the graduate level at some of the best philosophy departments in the world, becoming lawyers, and working in government or business. Our students have been admitted to graduate programs at Calgary, Columbia, Dalhousie, Oxford, Pittsburgh, Princeton, Toronto, Alberta, Waterloo, and Western Ontario. Our alumni include philosophy professors Barry Allen (McMaster), Cheryl Misak (Toronto), and Timothy Schroeder (Rice).