GMC Philosophy Program (B.A., minor)

Description

The word “philosophy” comes from the Greek for the love of wisdom. Philosophy prepares students for rigorous and systematic thinking. It uses the tools of logical analysis.

If you study philosophy, you will grow intellectually and as a person. You will be a better thinker and be able to analyze critically. (You will win more arguments.) You will be a better citizen, both here and on a global level. You will be a better writer, thinker, and speaker -- these are skills that are needed today.

What are you going to do with that?

Philosophy is interdisciplinary in that it analyzes critically just about anything. A BA in philosophy is an asset for work in law, business, journalism, diplomacy, government, civil service, and management. Students may also pursue a MA or graduate degree in any number of regional or national universities.

Philosophy majors are desired among graduate programs and law schools because of their strengths in logic, oral and written communication skills, analytical skills, and their background in ethics.

What are the requirements for the philosophy major and minor?

The requirement for the minor is six courses: Encountering Ethics, Ancient or Medieval Philosophy, Modern or Contemporary Philosophy, Logic, and two open electives.

A major is 10 courses in addition to philosophy 2000. We leave you a lot of freedom in choosing courses so that you can pursue a genuinely freeing and liberal education.

Why study philosophy at Gwynedd rather than somewhere else?

• Study abroad in Italy. You take language courses and philosophy courses taught by GMC’s full-time faculty. You do this in Brescia, Italy.

• Philosophy Society. Our philosophy club. You talk about philosophical topics during roundtable discussions with other students. The professors are there, too. No topic is off-limits. (And you get free refreshments and coffee.)

• Faculty. Patrick Messina specializes in ancient philosophy and Robert Clewis in modern philosophy. Adjunct faculty professors enhance the program by providing expertise in other areas of philosophy. Robert Clewis published his first book on Immanuel Kant in 2009 with Cambridge University Press, and his translation of Kant’s lectures should be out with Cambridge soon. Patrick Messina is the co-editor of a book exploring the concepts of eros and caritas, and contributed a chapter to the book. He also edited a book on just war.

• Flexibility in choosing courses. You can pursue another major or minor as you wish.

• You can also get a Pre-Law minor. The philosophy department provides several of the courses in the GMC pre-law minor or option.

• You study the history of philosophy. You focus on primary texts and wrestle with the texts of the great minds of the Western tradition.

What are students saying about philosophy?

Study Abroad in Italy was the “best experience” they ever had at Gwynedd. Philosophy was part of this experience.

Students like that professors have published and edited books. They are pleased that faculty incorporate their research into their teaching.

It is great that the faculty participate in philosophy events on campus.

Philosophy is part of a genuine liberal arts education: it really frees the mind.

Philosophy Society is fun and interesting, yet also intellectually-engaging and serious.

Taking the Logic course prepared the student to do well on the GRE, LSAT, GMAT, or MCAT.

Philosophy fits in well with another course of study such as history, biology, or business.

Students enjoyed wrestling with the great minds of the past such as Plato, Aristotle, and Kant.