Do you love to think about the big questions in life, like good vs. evil? Do you like to debate your point of view? Are you intrigued by the concept of whether time and space are real? Do they exist at all?
Philosophy investigates fundamental questions about the nature of things — about the universe as a whole, about human beings, society, science, ethics and art.
As a philosophy student, you will learn about the basic intellectual foundation for our political, social and legal systems, as well as our understanding of the principles of modern science and technology. You will explore deep theoretical, practical and moral issues that do not easily fit into more specialized disciplines.
Philosophy will challenge you with its reflective and critical approach to important, often puzzling, questions about the nature of right and wrong, time and space, perception and the human mind.
Philosophy pays careful attention to its long history, spanning more than 2,500 years. These early investigations are the focus of the department’s courses on ancient, early modern, late modern and 20th-century philosophers and philosophical movements.
There are numerous branches within the study of philosophy, touching virtually every topic — from questions about God’s existence, through to aesthetic principles, to the concepts of space and time:
• Justice and Goodness: Investigates questions about right and wrong, or good and evil, such as biomedical ethics or environmental philosophy.
• Truth and Reality: Looks at truth and reality through areas such as logic, metaphysics, epistemology and the philosophy of science.
• Social Philosophical Concerns: Delves into fundamental social, philosophical issues addressed by political philosophy, ethics and the history of philosophy itself.
• Scientific Philosophical Concerns: Focuses on the conditions under which enquiry produces genuine truth and accurate representations of objective reality.
• Human Creativity and Artistic Expression: Evaluates concepts like beauty in disciplines such as aesthetics and the philosophy of art.
Philosophy Degrees. The Department of Philosophy offers a major in philosophy for the 40-course Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) degree programs. Alternatively, you can choose to do a general major in the humanities and select philosophy as one of your three streams. You can also opt for philosophy as your BA major for the Combined BA/BMgt program.
Philosophy Courses. Courses in the reality stream inquire into the nature of knowledge, mind and matter, space and time, language and mathematics, religious beliefs and the basis of science. Courses in the values stream probe the distinction between right and wrong, the nature of beauty, the assumptions behind political theories and current ethical dilemmas. Courses in the history stream examine philosophers’ ideas and arguments from ancient Greece to the twentieth century.
All philosophy courses place a strong emphasis on developing the skills of clear writing and sound argumentation and the ability to see beneath the surface of the apparently obvious. Course selections for the program will vary, but may include:
• Critical Thinking
• Introduction to Ethics
• Environmental Philosophy
• Metaphysics
• Philosophy of Language
• Game Theory in Philosophy
• Wittgenstein
• Evolution & Ethics
• 17th-Century Philosophy: Descartes to Leibniz
Minors. Adding a minor to your degree is a great way to explore academic interests beyond your major. A minor is a set of courses comprising a secondary focus of interest. It is generally not related to your major. A minor may be required or optional. Minors are not available in all programs.
You can declare a minor in philosophy in any 40-course BA, BSc or BASc program, except the major in philosophy and the general major in the humanities if philosophy is chosen as one of the disciplinary streams, by completing a minimum of six courses in philosophy and/or logic, including at least one at the 3000-level.
Learn more at ulethbridge.ca/artsci/minors
Honours Thesis. If your GPA is high enough in your fourth year, you can opt to complete an undergraduate thesis course. This is an excellent opportunity for you to earn an “Honours Thesis” designation on your degree.
Learn more about philosophy at ULethbridge, visit ulethbridge.ca/philosophy
The Department of Philosophy is internationally recognized for the quality of research conducted by its faculty members. Faculty are happy to involve undergraduate students in their research and often collaborate with other departments, community members and employers on projects — giving you the opportunity to get additional hands-on experience with renowned academics on a global stage.
Current Research & Areas of Interest:
• Paraconsistent Logic
• Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics
• Reasoning in Scientific Theories & Models
• Philosophy of Biology
• The Biological Species Concept
• Evolution & Ethics
• Philosophy of Ecology
• Ethics
• Feminist Philosophy
• Philosophy of War
• Ludwig Wittgenstein
• Philosophy of Law
• Informal Reasoning
Skills Acquired. In this program, you will develop exceptional written and oral communication skills and outstanding negotiation capabilities. You’ll also develop strong critical, analytical and “big picture” thinking skills, advanced information acquisition and management skills, as well as precise attention to detail. All of these abilities are highly sought after in the business and professional world and can be applied to practically any working or life scenario.
Related Fields. There are numerous career options open to philosophy graduates, like:
• TV / Web
• Foreign Service Officer
• Public Relations Officer
• Human Resources Personnel
• Corporate Proposal Writer
• Political or Social Lobbyist
• Medical Ethics Consultant
• Business Ethics Consultant
• Environmental Ethics Consultant
• Business Administration
• Education
• Government
• Artificial Intelligence Design & Ethics Consultant
• Expert Systems Design
• Web Content Writer
• Business Analyst
• Legislative Policy
• Speech Writer
• Corporate Sales Executive
• Mediator
Graduate Studies. The University of Lethbridge’s School of Graduate Studies offers graduate programs at the Master and Doctoral levels, spanning over 60 disciplines — so why not consider pursuing grad school right here in Lethbridge! Whether you choose to do your advanced studies at ULethbridge or another institution, know that your undergraduate degree has set you on the path to post-graduate success.
Professional Disciplines. Your undergraduate degree in philosophy also provides an excellent foundation for law (corporate, mediation, prosecution or defence), business management, education, journalism and public policy. Graduates from the Department of Philosophy at the University of Lethbridge have gone on to distinguished careers as professors, senior academic administrators, lawyers, business managers, scientists and a wide range of other professional fields.
“I am pursuing a double major in philosophy and psychology. Both disciplines overlap quite a bit, which allows me to explore interesting topics from an interdisciplinary perspective. Studying philosophy has been particularly enjoyable. It is both challenging and fun to ask all kinds of questions and look for ways to answer them in philosophy. All the people in the philosophy department at U of L have also been very supportive in my endeavours.”
- Anjali, Philosophy/Psychology
Documentary Producer
Whether you’re looking for a more in-depth learning experience by assisting with research projects or by testing your knowledge in a real-life setting, we can help. Combined with your required coursework, the opportunities outlined below will provide you with a solid foundation for further studies and an excellent framework for a challenging and rewarding career — whatever direction you decide to go.
Earn course credit for career-related paid, volunteer or community service work experience. This program is specially designed to allow you to integrate principles learned in the classroom in a practical work setting.
For more information, visit: ulethbridge.ca/appliedstudies
ULethbridge is proud to offer you the chance to participate in co-op. Co-op allows you to gain work experience directly related to your studies and make invaluable contacts in the workforce, all while earning a competitive salary. Completion of the program allows you to receive a co-op designation on your degree and, most importantly, a kickstart to your career the minute you graduate.
For more information, visit: ulethbridge.ca/coop
In addition to your regular courses, you can contribute to departmental research activities. For example, you can complete an independent study course or gain employment as a research assistant. If your GPA is high enough, you can also enrol in undergraduate thesis-based courses where research is a component of your studies.
Contact your department to learn more!
Your decision to explore a university education is the first step toward a great future — now let us help you navigate your degree options at ULethbridge and set you on the road to success. Do you have questions about what field of study best suits you? Would you like help with program and registration planning and just can’t find the answers? If so, you should speak to an academic advisor today — advisors have the answers to these questions and many more.
To learn more about the support services available to you through our academic advisors, visit: ulethbridge.ca/artsci/advising