Philosophy

Philosophy is integral to a person’s education, and certainly integral to the mission of a liberal arts college like Ohio Wesleyan University.

About the Major

Philosophy majors develop important skills through detailed textual analysis and lively intellectual debates that prepare them for careers in business, law, medicine, teaching, and the ministry. A low student-faculty ratio provides for a variety of carefully supervised individual research projects.

You’ll explore theories of idealism, materialism, utilitarianism, pragmatism, and existentialism, and you’ll study the world’s great philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Mill, Nietzsche, Arendt, and Beauvoir.

You will learn to analyze, evaluate, and construct arguments in defense of particular views. There also is considerable attention paid to writing, with the aim of producing better, more precise, and persuasive writers.

Think Big

Every philosophy major works with a faculty mentor to complete a senior research project. In the form of an evolving research paper, students present their work to the class, revise it in light of collective critique, and build the paper into a finished project.

Research & Independent Study

Excellence in Coursework

As a senior, Daniel Sweet '16 (left) won the Loyd D. Easton Award for "superior overall work in philosophy."

Go Global

From your first year on campus, you can get off campus—with Travel-Learning Courses. Journey to a distant land and immerse yourself in another culture. Learn how classroom theory truly connects with real-world experience.

Travel Learning Courses

Modernity & Colonialism

Professor Stone-Mediatore’s “Modernity & Colonialism” class traveled to Chiapas, Mexico, where they lived in a Zapatista community, learned about indigenous philosophies, and participated in a mural-painting project with internationally known muralist/community-activist, Gustavo Gutierrez.

Fulbright Scholar

Mark Mandych '16 earned a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program grant to teach English in Germany. While at OWU, he studied abroad in Austria.

Seeking God in Switzerland

Jackie Everetts '18 spent two weeks exploring L'Abri communities to study the role of theology in daily living.

Inspired Teaching

OWU faculty are outstanding scholars and researchers—and passionate teachers. They will push you, challenge you, inspire you, and work with you on your own research and creative projects.

They can even pack a 3-minute lecture with ideas, insight, and imagination. Check out our unique I³ lectures.

I³ Lectures

Highlights

Nationally Known Scholars

OWU Philosophy Professor, Dr. Shari Stone-Mediatore, guest lectured at the University of California, Berkeley, on creative approaches to teaching about diversity.

Senior Research

Present your senior research project to the campus community at the annual Spring Student Symposium, or during the end-of-the-year Philosophy senior capstone presentations.

Honor Society

Participate in Phi Sigma Tau, the international philosophy honor society. Students can be eligible by their Sophomore year if they've completed two semesters of Philosophy courses and rank in the upper thirty-five percent of their class.

Environmental Ethics

Visit local farms and environmental projects in the Environmental Ethics class. This class is popular among students of all majors, especially students in the environmental and life sciences.

Graduate Outcomes

Joe Kirincic '16

A Philosophy and Mathematics double-major, Joe is a data analyst at OnShift, a computer software company in Cleveland, Ohio.

Honors & Awards

Recent OWU Philosophy graduates have won university writing prizes and have been published in peer-reviewed journals. High-achieving students are frequently accepted to MA, PhD, and JD programs.

Law School

Philosophy major Jessica Monroe '09 earned her JD from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and moved on to become an attorney at a law firm in Cleveland, advocating for and advising unions on the forefront of the fight for economic justice.

Social Justice

Jess Choate '17 is a Housing Specialist with Santa Maria Community Services, where she helps families find affordable housing and apply for government programs.

Success in Customer Service

Jessica M. Kyler '10 found success working in the customer service industry. She currently works as a Relationship Banker for BB&T in Charleston, West Virginia.