Program Overview

What is reality? What is the meaning of life? What makes something good or bad, right or wrong, beautiful or ugly? These are some of the perennial questions philosophers pursue. The Philosophy major at High Point University asks students to critically examine their own values and challenges them to think, communicate, and act as responsible global citizens in the 21st century. We hope that the major will empower students to construct responsible, fulfilling, and intentional lives.

A Focused Curriculum

The Philosophy major encompasses a balanced curriculum covering all the traditional areas of philosophic inquiry and is built around five core history courses: Ancient, Medieval, Modern, Contemporary Continental Philosophy, and Contemporary Anglo-American Philosophy. These courses serve as the foundation for the study of ethics, political philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, logic, critical thinking, and aesthetics. The department has a wealth of offerings in ethics, including courses in environmental, social, family, bio-medical and business ethics, and regularly teaches two graduate courses in the professional ethics.

The courses in ethics address the impact of value-claims on the social, political, and religious communities in Western society as well as the impact of those claims within the global community. Because a Philosophy major requires only 36 hours to complete, it also serves as a popular double major. The department emphasizes critical thinking throughout its courses and offers two logic courses. The symbolic logic course is especially popular with students preparing to take graduate entrance exams in a variety of disciplines.

Philosophy professors at High Point University are both academically and professionally qualified. They hold advanced degrees from: Duke, Harvard, Emory, the University of California at Riverside, and Notre Dame.

Faculty areas of expertise include the History of Philosophy, Ancient Philosophy, Eastern Religions, Metaphysics, Logic, and Business, Family, Environmental, Bio-medical, Christian, and Social Ethics.

Philosophy is a versatile major because it teaches you how to think.

In a recent study on what employers are seeking, the number one attribute, demanded by 81% of those surveyed, is “Critical Thinking and Analytic Reasoning” (Hart Research Associates, 2010). This was followed closely by “Ethical Decision-making” and “Complex Problem Solving.” Where better than philosophy to gain these essential skills?

Nearly half of our philosophy majors and the majority of our minors take the skills they learn in our department straight into the workforce.

The other half of our majors enter graduate programs. They have matriculated into top programs in Political Science, Law, Education, Psychology, History, Communication, Religion, as well as in Philosophy, including:

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Duquesne University

• The New School in New York

• American University

• Widener University

• University of Kentucky

• University of North Carolina at Greensboro

While the data shows that philosophy majors may not make as much as business majors in their first job, philosophy majors surpass business majors in their earning potential by mid-career.

Think deep. Think long-term. Think philosophy.

The Department of Religion and Philosophy offers a B.A. degree in Philosophy. To graduate from High Point University with this degree, students must complete the following:

B.A. in Philosophy

Requirements for the B.A. in Philosophy (36 credits):

One course in Logic selected from the following (4):

• PHL 1006. Logic and Critical Thinking (4)
• PHL 3006. Symbolic Logic (4)

One course in Ethics selected from (4):

• PHL 2008. Social Ethics (4)
• PHL 2010. Biomedical Ethics (4)
• PHL/WGS 2016. Family Ethics (4)
• PHL/REL 2019. Environmental Ethics (4)
• PHL 2043. Business Ethics (4)

Three courses in History of Philosophy selected from (12):

• PHL 2020. Ancient Philosophy (4)
• PHL/REL 2021. Medieval Philosophy and Theology (4)
• PHL 2022. Modern Philosophy (4)
• PHL 2023. Contemporary Continental Philosophy (4)
• PHL 2024. Contemporary Anglo-American Philosophy (4)

4099 Senior Seminar (4)

12 Elective credits

NOTE: In addition to PHL 4099, at least 8 credits must be at the 3000 level or above