Undergraduate Programs
Why study philosophy?
Philosophy encourages you to question assumptions, analyze arguments, and evaluate evidence, fostering intellectual rigor and independence. These skills are indispensable in navigating complex issues and making informed decisions, whether in academia, professional settings, or everyday life.
Philosophy asks big questions: Is there a God? Is free will possible? Does life have a meaning? Are specific social and political issues right or wrong? What does it mean to be a person? Should we fear death? The Department of Philosophy at the University of Delaware offers answers to these questions and more — all backed up with reasons.
Come join humanity's conversation before life gets in the way and you die wondering. Consider the question, What do you desire?, posed by Alan Watts (1915-1973), a British author and speaker known for translating Eastern wisdom for a Western audience (True Meaning, 2022). Also listen to The Value of Philosophy, an essay by British philosopher Bertrand Russell (Stoica Nicusor, 2018).
As a student of philosophy, you will delve into fundamental questions about morality, justice, and the nature of reality and reach a deeper understanding of ethical principles and human behavior. You will also build cultural literacy by exploring diverse philosophical traditions from around the world. From ancient Greek philosophy to Eastern philosophies like Confucianism and Buddhism, philosophy encompasses a rich tapestry of ideas that reflect the diversity of human experiences and perspectives.
Explore our undergraduate programs
Areas of Study
- Ethics (including Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Law)
- Metaphysics (including Philosophy of Mind and Philosophy of Religion)
- Epistemology (including Philosophy of Science)
- Logic
- History of Philosophy (including Ancient, Medieval and Modern)
- Asian, Jewish, Feminist and African American Philosophy
Students take courses on the history of philosophy; logic; ethics; epistemology; metaphysics; the required senior seminar; and three philosophy electives.
Students select from a variety of philosophy and religion courses in addition to courses on the history of philosophy, logic, ethics, metaphysics as well as the required senior seminar. Topics include Jewish philosophy; medieval philosophy; Indian religion; Chinese religion; Buddist philosophy; religion and pyschology; and women and religion.
Students who pursue the concentration in philosophy and the law take courses on the history of philosophy; logic; ethics; social and political philosophy; normative philosophy; metaphysics; the philosophy of law; and the required senior seminar. A sampling of courses include markets, ethics and law; medical ethics; environmental ethics; twentieth-century philosophy; and ancient philosophy.
Available to students in UD's Honors College, the honors degree and honors degree with distinction are comprehensive enriched undergraduate degree experiences. Students complete all requirements for the philosophy B.A. and, where appropriate, the concentrations. They must also meet the University's requirements for the honors degree.
We prepare students for careers or advanced degrees in philosophy. Students who successfully complete our programs will:
- Develop a good understanding of the central topics (ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, logic) of philosophy and the history of philosophical inquiry into those topics.
- Understand the methods of philosophical inquiry: (1) How philosophical analyses and theories are developed, defended, and criticized; and (2) How to recognize and evaluate the logical structure of reasoning in philosophical and other work.
- Interpret, analyze, and evaluate philosophical texts; identify, analyze, and evaluate the philosophical content in other kinds of writing.
- Engage honestly and respectfully with opposing views, inviting and anticipating challenges to one’s own views, and responding constructively to those challenges.
- Understand how to apply philosophical methods and theories to issues arising in society (such as law, politics, medicine, the environment, etc.).
- Write clear, analytical, and persuasive essays using original, philosophical argumentation.
- Grades and minimum grade point average — You must have a grade of C- or better in all courses that you use to satisfy the requirements of the major or minor. A grade of C- or better is also required for English 110, your second writing course, and the CAS breadth requirements. Grades below C- may be used as free electives, and to meet the math and foreign languages requirements for the degree. To graduate, you must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, as well as a cumulative major GPA of 2.0 in classes that count toward your major.
- Credits and cross-listed courses — There is a limit of 45 hours on the number of credits in philosophy that can be counted toward the total 124 hours needed to graduate. Any philosophy courses cross-listed in other departments, and taken under their numbers, will be included in this limit. For example, if you have already taken 45 hours of philosophy courses and enroll in a cross-listed women and gender studies course, it will not count toward your total 124 hours. Running over 45 hours will extend the number of hours needed to graduate.
- Senior seminar — Majors must take the senior seminar, PHIL 465, which is listed as a second writing course. Remember that second writing courses count as such only if you have completed 60 credits before taking them. So, if you take PHIL 465 before you have completed 60 credits, it will not fulfill your second writing requirement, but will fulfill your senior seminar requirement.
- University breadth requirements — Note that many philosophy courses may be used to meet CAS and university breadth requirements as well counting toward the major or minor. (However the CAS groups, A-D, require work in at least two different departments.)
- Discovery Learning Experience courses — The Department of Philosophy currently does not have any special DLE courses. Options to satisfy the university DLE requirement include: study abroad, teaching assistantship, internship, independent study (Phil 366), or a DLE course in another department. (Discuss these options with your advisor.)
- Pass/fail courses — Pass/fail courses may only be used as free electives and will not count toward the major or minor. You are limited to one P/F course per semester, and 24 credits toward the degree.
- Repeated courses — Repeated courses count only once toward your degree.
- Course substitutions — Substitutions for the major requirements require the approval of the department chair. Exceptions to other requirements require the approval of the Dean, and require substantial justification.
Minors & Ethics Certificate
The Department of Philosophy's three interdisplinary minors and the ethics certificate offer flexible courses of study organized around the core areas of contemporary analytic philosophy. This flexibility allows students to tailor their education around the questions and debates they find most interesting.
The interdisciplinary minor in religious studies requires a minimum of 15 credits. In addition to philosophy courses, students take courses from at least three different departments or disciplines. Reflecting the "interdisciplinary" nature of the minor, student are exposed to a variety of methodological approaches to the study of religion as a cultural phenomenon. For more information, contact Alan Fox, the department's religious studies advisor, at afox@udel.edu.
The interdisciplinary minor in medical humanities explores how different kinds of humanistic inquiries inform and are informed by the science and practice of medicine. For more information, contact Mark Greene, the department's medical humanities advisor, at mkgreen@udel.edu.
You may substitute classes with a significant medical humanities focus for officially listed classes with approval of the minor’s faculty advisor. Approval is not guaranteed; talk to your advisor before registering for any classes.
- Not all classes are offered every semester – use UDSIS class lists to plan your schedule. Also check ‘topics’ classes, offered by many departments, for courses with a medical humanities focus.
- The following departments offer courses that may qualify as substitutions for the medical humanities minor: Africana Studies, Anthropology, Behavioral Health and Nutrition, Cognitive Science, Communication, Sociology & Criminal Justice, Economics, Health Studies, History, Human Development and Family Studies, Nursing, Philosophy, Theatre, Urban Affairs and Public Policy, and Women and Gender Studies.
- Take classes in a range of different departments, but don’t worry much about how courses fit in the listed MHM groups (other than Grounding). As long as you take classes for the minor in a range of different departments.
- A MHM related independent study might be a good option for some. (Even if you don't take an MHM independent study, I highly recommend you consider taking some kind of independent study while you are at UD.)
The capstone gives students a chance to reflect on your overall experience of the minor.
- To enroll in the one-credit, pass/fail independent study (PHIL366-000), email the minor’s faculty advisor after your registration has opened, and well before the end of free drop-add. Contact the advisor early in the semester to organize meeting times and to get your capstone project underway.
- The capstone topic is very much up to you. For example, you might focus on something that stuck with you from one particular course, or a theme that has struck you over the various courses you have taken in the minor, or you might reflect on how you expect medical humanities to inform you in your career going forward.
- After the early semester meeting with the MHM advisor, you will submit a first version of your capstone essay in plenty of time for a follow-up meeting.
- After the follow-up meeting, you will complete any needed revisions before the end of the semester.
The interdisciplinary minor in science, technology and philosophy requires a minimum of 15 credits. Student take philosophy courses on ethics, logic, scientific reasoning, decision theory, science and religion, religion and psychology, medical ethics, and environmental ethics. Students also take cognitive science courses on animal minds; philosophy and biology; and race, gender and science. A course on ethics and impacts of engineering is also available.
The ethics certificate requires a minimum of 9 credits. Students can take courses offered by the Department of Philosophy and elsewhere at UD to explore ethics in business, healthcare, science and technology, law, journalism, and sports.
Annual Undergraduate Student Writing Contest
Open to all University of Delaware undergraduates
Topic: An opinion piece defending a view on any ethical issue.
Winners receive $750
The contest is financially supported by the Class of 1955 Ethics Endowment Fund.
Submit a short piece defending a view on any ethical issue. The winner receives $750.
Deadline: Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
- Entries should be a maximum of 1,200 words.
- Email entries in PDF format to jpust@udel.edu.
- DO NOT include identifying information in the PDF file.
- Entries will be judged by Department of Philosophy faculty looking for the BEST ARGUMENT in defense of the most INTERESTING MORAL or POLITICAL VIEW.
- Winners will receive a prize only after (a) submitting a written statement that they have not utilized large language models (LLMs) of any kind in the writing of the paper; and (b) providing a satisfactory short oral defense of the paper to faculty judges.
The contest is financially supported by the Class of 1955 Ethics Endowment Fund.
For more information, email Deborah Biddle at dbiddle@udel.edu.
Study Abroad in Italy
The Department of Philosophy offers regular study abroad programs in Italy during the winter session. Students have the opportunity to study philosophy while visiting Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Florence, Volterra, Pisa, Siena, and Venice.
One student on a past trip had this to say: "It was hands down the best month of my entire life. There are no words to describe the feeling I got when I first saw the Colosseum, or when we did a long 18-mile hike to see the top of Florence. The 15 students got along so well I consider them my brothers and sisters. We had an amazing month filled with awesome food, beautiful sites and incredible experiences."
For information about next year's study abroad, contact the department's student abroad advisors, Jeff Jordan or Alan Fox.
Advising
Do you have questions about academic planning, connecting with an advisor, tranferring credits, or finding an internship? Your advisor is one of the best resources when it comes to planning and other academic concerns. Meet with your advisor regularly throughout your academic journey.
All first- and second-year students within the College of Arts and Sciences are assigned an advisor from the Student Success Center (SSC). Team members specialize in academic and advising services and co-curricular coaching.
In their third year, philosophy students are assigned to a full-time faculty member within the department to assist them on their path to graduation. Faculty advisors and the director of advising can talk with you about big-picture issues like graduate school plans and career options.
Explore undergraduate research at UD
Research opportunities help undergraduate students grow professionally and prepare for graduate school. These University-wide and College of Arts and Sciences programs offer funding and professional development on and off campus:
- David A. Plastino Scholars Program, College of Arts & Sciences
- Undergraduate Research Program at UD: Explore opportunities under the "Programs" tab.
- Graduate College at UD: Summer research opportunities for undergraduate students.
Resources for philosophy students
PhilPapers — A comprehensive index and bibliography of philosophy maintained by the community of philosophers.
The Philosophers' Magazine — An online magazine about philosophy.
UD Library resources — Especially recommended are Philosopher's Index (a powerful search of philosophical publications) and JSTOR (full-text journal articles).
Stance: An International Undergraduate Philosophy Journal, Ball State University
Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium (GPPC) — The University of Delaware is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Philosophy Consortium, a group of 14 philosophy departments at colleges and universities around the greater Philadelphia region. The GPPC sponsors a wide range of public philosophy events, including an annual undergraduate conference that UD students are encouraged to submit to. For more information about GPPC events, email the UD GPPC representative, Noel Swanson.
The Center for Science, Ethics, and Public Policy at the University of Delaware integrates ethics and public policy inquiry with scientific research, the university curricula, private sector innovation, and government policy-making. The center provides a unique forum for academic and public discourse. It seeks to clarify questions of fact and value of pressing concern in scientific research; to enhance the dialogue between academic, corporate, and public interest stakeholders; to increase the synergies of public-private cooperation in areas of emerging technologies where there are significant ethical concerns; and to sustain in Delaware a unique center of national excellence to serve the public good.
American Philosophical Association (APA) — Located at the University of Delaware, the American Philosophical Association promotes the discipline and profession of philosophy, both within the academy and in the public arena. The APA supports the professional development of philosophers at all levels and works to foster greater understanding and appreciation of the value of philosophical inquiry.
