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Philosophy

School of Liberal Arts

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Philosophy majors at Marist grapple with some of the most fundamental questions concerning the nature of reality, the scope of human knowledge, and the essence of right and wrong. You’ll learn to think in conceptually novel ways and construct critical and logically rigorous arguments. As a Philosophy major at Marist, you will develop important skills, and philosophy complements other pursuits such as the law, psychology, cognitive science, and computer science.

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Philosophy Fundamentals Paired With Focused Interests

The Philosophy major at Marist is a comprehensive program that offers a broad exposure to the discipline, both in terms of the central branches of philosophy (metaphysics, epistemology, logic, and ethics) and the major historical periods of Western thought (ancient, modern, and contemporary). You can also choose to dive more deeply into certain philosophical questions by pursuing one or more concentrations:

Learn From Active Philosophy Scholars

A point of pride for our Philosophy faculty is the wide array of specializations that distinguish our department, from ancient to contemporary thought, and from metaphysics to aesthetics and many areas in between. As such, Philosophy majors at Marist have ample opportunity to explore various subdisciplines within the field. Meet a few of our faculty members below, or view all Philosophy faculty >

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Conduct Undergraduate Philosophical Research

Undergraduate research is a cornerstone of the Marist academic experience, and the Philosophy major is no exception. As a Philosophy major at Marist, you’ll have the opportunity to engage in exciting research with dedicated faculty, participate in the Mid-Hudson Valley Undergraduate Philosophy Conference which is hosted by Marist every year, and even work as editors for Marist’s own Undergraduate Philosophy Journal. 

Internship Opportunities to Complement Your Academics

Because many Philosophy majors combine their degree with another field of study, internship opportunities span a wide range of industries and career paths. Whether through Marist programs like the Albany Summer Internship Program or the Tarver Summer Internship Program, or at the Hudson River Valley Institute, Marist Philosophy students have numerous internship opportunities to explore different fields and prepare for careers or graduate school. View some of the internship destinations our Philosophy students have utilized below.

  • Goldman Sachs
  • Hudson River Housing, Inc.
  • Legal Services of the Hudson Valley
  • Literacy Connections of the Hudson Valley
  • UK Parliament
  • United Way
  • The Vandervort Group, LLC.
  • WorkDay

What Kind of Jobs Can You Get With a Philosophy Degree?

A Philosophy degree prepares graduates with skills in analytical thinking, problem-solving, and communication, leading to careers in law, public policy, research, business, religion, and education. Many majors combine their degree with another field to broaden their career opportunities. At Marist University, students combine coursework, internships, and research experiences to prepare for a range of careers. They are empowered to choose "and," not "or," in their education by combining majors, minors, and concentrations to fit their interests through a distinct blend of liberal arts and pre-professional studies. Here are some examples of how Marist students embraced the power of "and":

Philosophy Major
+ Psychology Major
+ Cognitive Science Minor
= Research Assistant

Philosophy Major
+ Political Science Major
+ Paralegal Certificate
= Litigation Associate

Philosophy Major
+ English/Writing Major
+ Spanish Minor
+ Theatre Minor
= Political Reporter

Philosophy Major
+ Computer Science Major
+ Mathematics Minor
= PhD Candidate in Computer Science

Marist University's Philosophy Degree Frequently Asked Questions

What Do You Learn in an Undergraduate Philosophy Program?

An undergraduate Philosophy program teaches students how to think critically, analyze complex ideas, construct logical arguments, and evaluate questions about knowledge, ethics, reality, and human experience. Marist University, students take foundation courses such as:

  • Philosophical Perspectives
  • Ethics
  • Ancient Philosophy
  • Modern Philosophy 
  • Knowledge & Reality
  • Introduction to Logic

Students can focus on areas such as ethics and society, politics and law, or religious studies.

See full curriculum and course offerings >

What Are the Benefits of Earning a Philosophy Degree with Another Major?

A Philosophy degree can enhance various fields, including law, psychology, religion, political science, and sociology. At Marist University, Philosophy majors cultivate essential skills in critical thinking, analysis, and logic. Many students choose to double major, combining their philosophical studies with specialized areas of expertise to expand their career opportunities and increase their marketability.

What Can You Do With a Philosophy Degree?

A Philosophy degree prepares students to think critically, communicate clearly, and analyze complex problems from multiple perspectives. Through the study of ethics, logic, reasoning, and the human experience, students develop skills that are valued across a wide range of professions and graduate programs.

Graduates pursue careers in areas such as:

  • Law and public policy
  • Government and public service
  • Business and management
  • Education
  • Communications and media
  • Nonprofit leadership and advocacy
  • Consulting
  • Research and analysis

Because Philosophy emphasizes critical thinking, persuasive writing, ethical decision-making, and problem-solving, many students combine the major with another area of study to broaden their career opportunities. The program also provides strong preparation for graduate and professional programs, particularly in law, public policy, business, education, and the humanities.

Whether students pursue careers immediately after graduation or continue their education, a Philosophy degree equips them with versatile skills that can be applied across industries and professions.
 

An undergraduate Philosophy program teaches students how to think critically, analyze complex ideas, construct logical arguments, and evaluate questions about knowledge, ethics, reality, and human experience. Marist University, students take foundation courses such as:

  • Philosophical Perspectives
  • Ethics
  • Ancient Philosophy
  • Modern Philosophy 
  • Knowledge & Reality
  • Introduction to Logic

Students can focus on areas such as ethics and society, politics and law, or religious studies.

See full curriculum and course offerings >

A Philosophy degree can enhance various fields, including law, psychology, religion, political science, and sociology. At Marist University, Philosophy majors cultivate essential skills in critical thinking, analysis, and logic. Many students choose to double major, combining their philosophical studies with specialized areas of expertise to expand their career opportunities and increase their marketability.

A Philosophy degree prepares students to think critically, communicate clearly, and analyze complex problems from multiple perspectives. Through the study of ethics, logic, reasoning, and the human experience, students develop skills that are valued across a wide range of professions and graduate programs.

Graduates pursue careers in areas such as:

  • Law and public policy
  • Government and public service
  • Business and management
  • Education
  • Communications and media
  • Nonprofit leadership and advocacy
  • Consulting
  • Research and analysis

Because Philosophy emphasizes critical thinking, persuasive writing, ethical decision-making, and problem-solving, many students combine the major with another area of study to broaden their career opportunities. The program also provides strong preparation for graduate and professional programs, particularly in law, public policy, business, education, and the humanities.

Whether students pursue careers immediately after graduation or continue their education, a Philosophy degree equips them with versatile skills that can be applied across industries and professions.
 

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I’m a firm believer in the liberal arts, so it was important to me to have that type of undergraduate experience. Marist’s small class sizes were a huge plus, as was the study abroad program. Because Marist is smaller in size, professors have more time to spend with you, so you develop relationships with the faculty in a way that’s hard to do at a larger school.

Bernadette Hogan

Dual Major English and Philosophy, Spanish and Theatre Minor

Read Bernadette's Story >
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Marist prepared me to bring together my interests in computer science and philosophy in a unique way. My PhD research focuses on how intelligent systems like robots and self-driving cars make decisions, or as I like to put it, “reasoning about reasoning.”

Justin Svegliato

Dual Major Computer Science and Philosophy, Mathematics Minor

Read Justin's Story >
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I’ll miss the amazing relationships I’ve had with friends and faculty. Some of my closest mentors have been my peers and professors.

Croix LaConsay

Dual Major Chemistry and Philosophy, Mathematics Minor

Read Croix's Story >
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I have been able to spend my years at Marist making valuable contributions to my field of interest in an early part of my career. The biggest correlation I have found is the crossover between the philosophy of mind and how we define knowledge and free-will.

Brendan Boldt

Dual Major Computer Science and Philosophy, Mathematics Minor

Read Brendan's Story >
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I applied to 26 schools and I decided to come to Marist out of all these schools because I felt that not only is Marist a beautiful campus, which is very important to me, but they also are really big on studying abroad. Marist has a lot of unique opportunities, and that’s what really sets it apart from other schools, and that’s what drew me in.

Elio Velazquez

Business Administration Major, International Business Concentration, Global Studies and Philosophy Minor

Read Elio's Story >
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Marist cultivates the intellectual growth and well-being of its students through unique and personalized combinations of coursework and experience in and out of the classroom. These experiences provide valuable personal growth and occupational expertise to reflect students' individual passions. 

94%

Employed or attending grad school 6 months after graduation

 

83%

Of Marist Graduates Participated in one or more internships

 

82%

Graduation rate, higher than the average for public and private colleges

 

#1

Marist study abroad is the national leader for academic year programs, per Open Doors Report.

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Top 10 Regional Universities-North

TOP25

Top 20 for Most Innovative Universities-North Region, per The Princeton Review.