The Philosophy Major and Minor

Considering a major in philosophy? Majoring or minoring in philosophy is a great way to develop your problem-solving, communication, and analytical skills, all of which are crucial to success in any career. In addition, the work you do towards your philosophy degree is incredibly helpful if you're planning to continue your studies in grad school, law school, or medical school. That being said, the best reason to major in philosophy is because you enjoy it. So, if you really liked the philosophy courses you've already taken, consider taking more and majoring or minoring in philosophy.

For an extensive and well-crafted argument of why you should study philosophy, please visit our Why Study Philosophy? page. For detailed information about the requirements for the Major and Minor please visit the Hunter College Undergraduate Catalog or contact a faculty advisor.

Choosing a First Course in Philosophy

Interested in taking a philosophy course, but not sure which one to take? Any one of the following courses is an appropriate first course in philosophy, and also serves as a prerequisite for 200-level courses that are required for the major:

PHILO 101 - Introduction to Philosophy
PHILO 103 - Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking
PHILO 104 - Introduction to Ethics
PHILO 106 - Philosophy, Politics and Society
PHILO 204 - Great Philosophers

PHILO 106 is recommended for students considering the Philosophy, Politics and Society major concentration. Although none of these courses count towards the philosophy major requirements, you must take one of them as a prerequisite for declaring the major. Many of these courses will fulfill various general requirements as well.

Course Descriptions

Philosophy courses can be fun and challenging, and are a great way to build your critical thinking abilities. Our department offers a broad variety of courses covering all aspects of philosophy, so whether you're interested in Logic, Politics, Religion, Plato, Marx, or Ethics, we've got you covered.

Please visit the Hunter catalog for a full list of philosophy course descriptions. For a complete list of courses being offered next term, please check out our upcoming courses.

Mentoring

Faculty mentors are an amazing resource. Not only do they provide valuable advice about your current studies, they can also write important letters of recommendation and help you plan for your future. All Philosophy majors are strongly encouraged to cultivate a mentoring relationship with a faculty member of their choice. The first step is to speak with them outside of class. Please follow this link to view a list of current faculty office hours.

Independent Studies

Not finding a philosophy course that addresses a topic you're interested in? Talk to a faculty member about doing independent study. Students can engage in independent study under the supervision of a member of the Philosophy Department by receiving permission to take PHILO 492.

Departmental Honors

Receiving departmental honors is a great way to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Not only does it look great on your transcript, it also gives you the opportunity to hone your academic writings skills, helping prepare you for graduate school. To find out more, please speak to a departmental advisor.