Philosophy Major | Temple University

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

Think critically about the world and its complexities with the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy in the College of Liberal Arts at Temple University. Students in the Philosophy degree program study how the greatest minds explored life's most difficult questions. This 123-credit undergraduate program imparts analytical reading comprehension, writing skills and critical reasoning skills, three competencies valuable for an array of career pursuits.

Learn to use philosophical thought to examine knowledge, existence and values across multiple fields of study. Philosophy Major coursework covers contemporary philosophy, the history of philosophy, philosophy of race and gender, and pure and applied philosophy. Faculty members lead active research initiatives, and they are internationally acclaimed in the following key areas.

Aesthetics
Ancient philosophy
Early modern philosophy
Epistemology
Ethics
Feminism
Kant/post-Kantian European philosophy
Philosophy of language
Philosophy of race
Political philosophy
Pragmatism and philosophy of science

Philosophy Major with a Pre-law Emphasis

Philosophy BA students can choose to tailor their curriculum with an emphasis in pre-law. The curriculum lays the foundation for law school, with relevant coursework to help prepare students for the LSAT test and admission to graduate programs.

The Pre-law Emphasis curriculum includes the following courses.

Philosophy of Law
Pre-Law Internship
Pre-Law Seminar
Pre-Law Tutorial

Undergraduate Certificate in Ethics

Illustrate to employers your commitment to ethical leadership with the Certificate in Ethics. Undergraduate students from any academic degree or minor can learn the concepts, history and methodologies of ethical reasoning.

Classes & Curriculum

Some examples of Philosophy coursework include

Critical Thinking,
Introduction to Logic, and
Metaethics.

Learn more about Philosophy Major courses.

Related Graduate Degrees

Philosophy MA
Philosophy PhD
Urban Bioethics MD/MA*
Philosophy MA/Urban Bioethics MA*
Philosophy PhD/Urban Bioethics MA*

*Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, the Bachelor of Arts offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

These tuition costs apply to the 2024–2025 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $18,864.00 per year
Out-of-state: $33,912.00 per year

Our Academic Advisors

Program Contact

For questions regarding the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, contact the following staff member.

Belinda Wilson is the administrator in the Philosophy Department.
Phone: 215-204-0472
Email: bwilson@temple.edu

The following staff members lead the Philosophy Department.

Espen Hammer is the chair.
Email: ehammer@temple.edu

Irina Segal is the graduate coordinator.
Phone: 215-204-5443
Email: irina.kasharsky@temple.edu

University Honors Program

The College of Liberal Arts participates in Temple’s Honors Program. Learn more about the program and how to be admitted.

Students who meet certain academic and extracurricular criteria may become members of the following honor societies.

Alpha Lambda Delta is a national society that honors academic excellence during a student's first year at college.
Golden Key is an international society that enables members to realize their potential through the advancement of academics, leadership and service.
Phi Beta Kappa is open to juniors and seniors in the College of Liberal Arts. To qualify for Phi Beta Kappa, a student must maintain a high grade point average in a broad, rigorous program of study in the liberal arts, including mathematics and foreign languages.

Learn more about Temple’s Honor Societies.

Student Clubs & Organizations

Supplement your College of Liberal Arts coursework and enhance your undergraduate experience at Temple with more than 300 student clubs and organizations. You’ll have opportunities to meet and network with other students, get involved with the community, grow your interests, and develop résumé-boosting skills and experiences.

The following student organizations may be of interest to students in the Philosophy BA program.

Temple Undergraduate Philosophy Society (TUPS) is an organization committed to the free and open exchange of philosophical ideas and resources. TUPS meets once a week on Temple’s Main Campus.
Fresh Philosophy is the Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium’s undergraduate online journal. It invites submissions from undergraduates and applications from prospective editors. Part traditional journal and part blog, Fresh Philosophy publishes philosophical writing by undergraduates from around the world.

Learn more about Temple’s student clubs and organizations.

Study Away

College of Liberal Arts undergraduate students are encouraged to study away for an academic year, semester or summer. Enrich your Temple experience by immersing yourself in new cultures, histories and perspectives in countries such as China, Germany, Ghana and Italy, as well as at Temple’s Rome and Tokyo campuses.

Learn more about your options for studying away.

Accreditation

LA-PHIL-BA

Additional Program Information

Available as a minor.

Visit College Site

View Program Details