Philosophy at San Diego State University

Welcome to the department of philosophy at San Diego State University, home of the Institute for Ethics and Public Affairs.

The philosophy faculty is dedicated to excellence in teaching. We offer bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in philosophy; we offer an undergraduate minor in philosophy; and currently we serve more than 100 majors and 40 graduate students. Our curriculum includes historical, topical, systematic, and applied approaches to philosophy. Together, through coursework and joint research, faculty and students investigate perennial philosophical problems: Does human life have meaning? What ought we do? What is the best form of society? What is the ultimate nature of reality? Can we know anything, and if we can, how do we acquire knowledge?

Our faculty includes nine core faculty and four lecturers.  We pursue a diverse set of research agenda, both in terms of foci and methodology, and produce work of the highest quality.

Most areas of Philosophy are taught at San Diego State University. Many of the general questions of Philosophy are considered in our Introduction to Philosophy courses. More specialized courses in Philosophy are also offered at all undergraduate levels.

• Students can make Philosophy a major. Philosophy can also be taken as a minor.
  
  
• Philosophy is an excellent second major that combines well with most other subjects, including: Computer Science, Economics, English, Law, Linguistics, Mathematics, Physics, Political Studies, History, Psychology and Sociology. Law Schools invariably recommend that prospective lawyers study Philosophy! Overall, it is an excellent part of any student's general University Education.
  
  
• Courses in philosophy can be taken towards several degrees; and virtually all programs of study at SDSU can be enriched by the inclusion of one or more of our courses.
  
  
• Masters programs are offered for students who wish to go on to do graduate study in Philosophy.
  
  
• The Philosophers at SDSU place a very strong emphasis on excellence in teaching as well as research; and our philosophy courses enjoy an excellent reputation among SDSU students who generally rate them very highly.
  

Why Study Philosophy?

One good reason is that it's interesting and fun. Another is that the kinds of questions philosophy asks are unavoidable if one wants to live a thoughtful, responsible, and fruitful life. While the courses are demanding and rigorous, many students find the rewards are priceless. Philosophy also develops skills that are widely transferable to other areas of study and to the professional world outside the university. Because of its unique emphasis on clarity, argumentation, and critical evaluation, even a single course in Philosophy

• Develops students' powers of reasoning.
  
  
• Improves their ability to critique the views of others.
  
  
• Teaches them to get to the heart of an issue, and to distinguish it from less important matters.
  
  
• Clarifies and improves their communication, both written and spoken.
  
  
• Helps them to organize their thoughts rationally and present them in a clear, coherent manner.

What Jobs Does Philosophy Prepare One For?

Paradoxically, the answer is "all and none"--all, and none in particular. Because of its general and abstract nature, Philosophy does not by itself prepare one for any particular job or career outside of teaching. But because the skills it teaches are ones that improve people's performance and success in any job or career, employers highly value employees who have studied philosophy. Philosophy contributes to the development of analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills more than does any other discipline. Moreover, because of the rapidly changing nature of the world of work, employers value employees who are flexible and adaptable to change, and who can apply their abilities and experience to a wide variety of unpredictable situations and challenges. The education provided by the study of Philosophy is ideal for meeting these employment needs

The Wall Street Journal Ranks Philosophy 11th Best Profession! (Out of 200)

It's pretty cool to beat out parole officers, butchers, people who study meteors, and (last and apparently least) roustabouts:

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/st_BESTJOBS2010_20100105.html