Philosophy

School of Liberal Arts

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A Philosophy Major for Analytical Minds and Critical Thinkers

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.

Student Learning Outcomes >

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, however, to dive more deeply into certain philosophical questions by pursuing one or more concentrations:

Ethics and Society
Philosophy
Politics and Law (PPL)
Religious Studies

Image of philosophy student presenting research.

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, however, to dive more deeply into certain philosophical questions by pursuing one or more concentrations:

Ethics and Society
Philosophy
Politics and Law (PPL)
Religious Studies

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 almost everything 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 >

Andrei Buckareff

Dr. Buckareff is interested in issues related to the nature of mind and intentional agency, questions that lie at the intersection of science and religion, issues in the metaphysical foundations of science, and debates over the nature of social categories such as race. He is also an avid skateboarder and home brewer.

Georganna Ulary

Dr. Ulary focuses on a wide range of research interests, from Marxian critique, to psychoanalytic theory, to philosophies of gardening, walking, and martial arts. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, cooking, hiking, Muay Thai, and traveling.

Brian Loh

Loh is a specialist in early Chinese religious philosophy. At Marist, he teaches courses on Asian religion and religion’s treatment and use of the body. His current project is a study of the treatment of strangers and the formation of philosophical lineages in early China.

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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.

Marist Undergraduate Philosophy Journal Volume V

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.

Marist Undergraduate Philosophy Journal Volume V

Internship Opportunities to Complement Your Academics

Since most Philosophy majors double major in another field, your internship possibilities are endless. 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 a wide range of 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.

Enhance Your Philosophy Degree with the Academic Triangle

Marist’s liberal arts curriculum encourages an academic triangle approach: we encourage you to complement your major with an additional major, minor, or supplementary coursework, as well as internship and research experiences to round out your educational career. This trifecta enhances your academics, opening up a wide range of career opportunities after you graduate. Take a look at some real examples of how our English students have been successful with this method:

Philosophy Major
+ Psychology Major
+ Cognitive Science Minor
= Research Assistant, Laureate Institute for Brain Research

Philosophy Major
+ Political Science Major
+ Paralegal Certificate
= Litigation Associate, Carmody, Torrance, Sandak, & Hennessey, LLP

Philosophy Major
+ English/Writing Major
+ Spanish Minor
+ Theatre Minor
= Political Reporter, New York Post

Philosophy Major
+ Computer Science Major
+ Mathematics Minor
= PhD Candidate in Computer Science, UMASS Amherst

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

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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

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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

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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

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I feel as though I have benefited from this program by becoming a more independent and open-minded student. I have become more cultured and more motivated to make a difference in the world and feel as though this program has helped me become a greater version of myself.

Louis Higuera

Dual Major Philosophy and Political Science

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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

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The Value of a Marist Education

At Marist, we pride ourselves on our dedication to providing our students with a well-rounded liberal arts education that prepares them for practical experience and profound success in their field. But don't just take our word for it - the numbers speak for themselves.