Philosophy

Bachelor of Arts
Go beyond asking life's big questions, through rigorous and intensive training for the mind.

Bring your unflinching spirit of inquiry and intellectual discipline to focus on the history of philosophy ranging from the Ancient Greeks to 21st-century feminists. You will read a variety of authors — from Plato to Emerson, Aquinas to Heidegger, and Kant to Nietzsche. Learn to analyze arguments, think critically, and reason ethically. Our students are well prepared for a wide range of professions; some go on for graduate studies and careers in academia in philosophy or a related field.

Course curriculum • Student outcomes • Cost of attendance

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Opportunities for independent research and intensive training of the mind

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Save time and money: 3+3 partnerships with Syracuse University and University at Buffalo

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70+ study abroad options

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Enjoy a close-knit community of scholars devoted to the debate and study of philosophical issues

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Career Paths

  • Legal professional
  • Business leader
  • Educator
  • Elected official
  • Non-profit leader
  • Public policy professional
  • Clergy
  • Technical writer

3+3 Law Degree

Save time and money through Nazareth's partnerships with Syracuse University College of Law and University at Buffalo School of Law.

Preparing Changemakers

Learn to analyze arguments, think critically, and reason ethically. These skills will enable you to identify the ethical implications of ideas and actions, to promote a more just society, foster your own personal development, and contribute to the well-being of others.

Graduate Schools
  • Syracuse University
  • Duquesne University
  • SUNY Geneseo

99%

of new Nazareth grads are employed or in grad school within six months of graduation

1,631

high-impact experiential learning experiences completed by the undergraduate class of 2024

$4,000

Our SPARK Grant provides up to $4,000 for you to pursue internships, research, and study abroad. SPARK details »

Student Spotlight

    Become a Teacher

    Some students enrolled in the philosophy major choose to pursue New York State Teacher Certification at the elementary level. Nazareth philosophy students develop essential skills with an emphasis on critical reading, writing, and thinking, and on cultivating the skills needed to make reasoned arguments. Our graduates are well-rounded and have the exceptional skills, creativity, and flexibility required to face the challenges of the classroom in the 21st century.

    Program Director
    Liam Connolly, philosophy major, philosophy degree program, Nazareth College Rochester, NY

    Alumni Spotlight

    Liam Connolly '12, Fulbright Award recipient

    Connolly says a Naz professor "took me under his wing and pushed me to reach my full potential. He continually challenged me to reach for those next steps and opportunities. His influence and ease of access defined a lot of my experience at Nazareth." 

    As a Fulbright winner, Connolly taught English in South Korea and used his experience on the Nazareth soccer team to work in community outreach involving athletics. He went on to Tufts University for a graduate degree in law and diplomacy and a one-year fellowship at AMANDLA Edufootball in Cape Town, South Africa, using sport to teach life skills to children in communities ravaged by gang violence and drug/alcohol abuse.

    Connolly became executive director of Safe-Hub Philadelphia, a youth development program that empowers youth and changes lives through sport.