Personal Attention
We strive to keep our class sizes small throughout your undergraduate career at St. Thomas. This means you can receive one-on-one attention from professors and have fruitful discussions with your peers.
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
It is more than questioning the meaning of life. Philosophy at the University of St. Thomas challenges you to think critically and imaginatively, analyzing a diverse array of concepts and problems from various perspectives. Whether you are considering the existence of God or what constitutes a moral action, philosophy gives you the tools to develop clear and articulate arguments.
Why Study Philosophy at St. Thomas?
Our program offers courses in almost every area of philosophy ranging from ethics to the philosophy of science. Our alumni go on to various careers in education, law, business, ministry, finance and more. We teach you to develop rigorous arguments, interpret difficult texts and debate about a wide variety of critical issues. This training equips you with the skills needed in a wide variety of industries while enabling you to outperform your peers on graduate school entrance exams.
Ask the Big Questions
Course Requirements
You start by taking foundational courses to understand the fundamental concepts of philosophy, focusing on topics like logic and ethics. From there, you can pick based on your interests. Whether your courses are focusing on topics like the Catholic intellectual tradition or Indian philosophy, you can pursue the topics and issues that interest you.
Four-Year Plan
Your four-year plan is customizable and flexible. We recommend connecting with one of our faculty members to develop a plan that meets your interests.
Degrees Awarded
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
Minors
Global Philosophy Minor
Philosophy Minor – choose from the following tracks:
- Logic and Analytical Reasoning
- Philosophy and Science
- Philosophy, Ethics, and Society
- Philosophy of Law and Politics
- Philosophy of Mind and Brain
- Philosophy of Religion
Course Requirements
Course Requirements
You start by taking foundational courses to understand the fundamental concepts of philosophy, focusing on topics like logic and ethics. From there, you can pick based on your interests. Whether your courses are focusing on topics like the Catholic intellectual tradition or Indian philosophy, you can pursue the topics and issues that interest you.
Four-Year Plan
Four-Year Plan
Your four-year plan is customizable and flexible. We recommend connecting with one of our faculty members to develop a plan that meets your interests.
Degrees Awarded
Degrees Awarded
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
Minors
Minors
Global Philosophy Minor
Philosophy Minor – choose from the following tracks:
- Logic and Analytical Reasoning
- Philosophy and Science
- Philosophy, Ethics, and Society
- Philosophy of Law and Politics
- Philosophy of Mind and Brain
- Philosophy of Religion
What Does It All Mean?
From studying the concept of virtue to being a part of the leadership team at a financial agency, you will graduate from St. Thomas with the skills and tools needed for the modern workplace.
Dr. Heidi Giebel
Heidi is interested in studying virtues like generosity and gratitude, as well as philosophers like Plato, Aristotle and Confucius. She teaches students to apply philosophical study through service learning in her introductory ethics course, specifically by tutoring English learners and people pursuing their GED. Heidi is also writing a book about ethics that focuses on seventeen exceptionally ethical people combined with relevant psychological research.
Mitch Milless ‘08
Mitch graduated from St. Thomas in 2008 with his degree in philosophy, and is now the Senior Vice President of Financial Services for Minneapolis Operations at Marsh and McLennan.
Mary Carlson ‘20
Mary plans to attend medical school after graduation. She knew philosophy would build her up as a person and her mode of thinking after her first encounter with the program. She founded the Ethical Questions Society on campus, bringing students together to think critically about important issues in society. She believes studying philosophy is a powerful tool to combat prejudices, bias, and groupthink.
Career Paths
We equip you with skills that are needed across a wide variety of industries.
- Law
- Business
- Ministry
- Education
Pursuing Your Passion
Our program will prepare you to work in any industry, be it engineering or business. We want you to pursue the questions that interest you most.
Preparation
Philosophy majors consistently earn very high scores on law, business and other graduate school admissions tests.
Expertise
We are the largest philosophy program out of the private colleges and universities in Minnesota. We possess a breadth of knowledge that we can pass on to our students inside and outside of the classroom.
A Wide Range of interests
Dr. Jon Stoltz
Dr. Stoltz studies the philosophy of knowledge in Tibetan and Indian traditions. He has led courses in Tibet as well.
Dr. Gloria Frost
Dr. Frost teaches about the views of Thomas Aquinas, our university’s namesake. She also mentors student research projects.
Dr. Tim Pawl
Dr. Pawl's teaching and research addresses philosophical questions relating to Christian belief.
Get Outside of Your Comfort Zone
You have access to a wide array of opportunities ranging from study abroad to student socials.
Integrate Philosophy and Medicine
The Science, Medicine, and Society minor examines fundamental questions about the nature of medicines and the ethical issues surrounding the field.
See the World
We offer a study abroad course in Hawai'i called Ethics: East and West. We go on field trips to Hawaiian cultural sites, as well as a luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Build Your Network
We sponsor a trip each year to the Notre Dame Center for Ethics and Culture Conference. You can participate in Catholic intellectual life and meet fellow scholars, artists and other professionals.
Engage With Your Peers
We host a lunch at Davanni’s each semester for students, and an annual reception to celebrate our seniors. We offer several social events throughout the year for students.
Think Outside the Box
Philosophy students at St. Thomas are equipped with a practical skill set that benefits them in multiple industries after graduation because of our approach to the discipline. By analyzing issues from various perspectives throughout their undergraduate careers, our students gain the ability to think differently and critically about how to address their problems.
Take the Next Step​
There is more to learn about St. Thomas; including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more. Schedule a visit to see our beautiful campus or start your application today.