Bachelor Degree in Philosophy

Progam features

Engaged Faculty

You will find CU Denver’s Philosophy Department full of engaged scholars who enjoy connecting with you and exploring new perspectives and ideas.

The department is pluralistic, with faculty strengths that include ancient, continental, analytic, feminist, and American approaches.

The faculty agree that a proper understanding of historical context is basic to more specialized work in philosophy, and that a diversity of approaches to philosophical subjects is the beginning of wisdom. And every member teaches regularly at the introductory level which makes your learning experience fulfilling.

Choose Your Journey

With the Philosophy major, you choose your own journey through our diverse curriculum. We offer five model journeys designed to help get you thinking:

The Ethics and Values journey is for you if you are interested in studying the nature of morality, how people relate to one another, and what is involved in having a good life. 

Explore the journey of many Philosophical Traditions, reflecting the multiplicity of cultures around the world, and consider how these translate in the 21st century.

Make connections and solve specific philosophical problems using the Mind and Consciousness journey to understand the relationships between our individual minds and the world.

Apply philosophy to the larger social, scientific, and technological structures that inform our everyday lives in the Science, Technology, and Knowledge journey. 

Are you interested in creating a more equitable and just world? Use the Social Justice, Politics, and Diversity journey to examine the political institutions and social practices that structure our collective life.

These journeys are described below in the curriculum section.

Careers

Philosophy is an excellent foundation for most professional fields. Philosophical inquiries can cover a wide range of subject matter including ethics and politics, art and literature, history and religion, technology, and the sciences. 

A degree in philosophy is excellent preparation for:

• Law 
• Medicine
• Software development
• Journalism and Media
• Government and Public Administration
• Education and Research

Curriculum

The BA in Philosophy allows you maximum flexibility to be able to choose your own journey through our diverse curriculum.

Majoring in Philosophy: 36 hours

All philosophy majors will engage with introductory philosophy courses in:

• truth and reality
• ethics and logic
• language and scientific reasoning

Journeys

Once you have completed your core Philosophy courses, explore one of our five model journeys to custom tailor your educational career.

Ethics and Values

Perhaps one of the most distinctive characteristics of human beings is that our existence is completely entangled with ethical norms and values that fundamentally change our minds and the direction of our lives. This journey will explore the nature of morality, how people should relate to others, and what is involved in having a good life. 

Philosophical Traditions

There are multiple philosophical traditions—reflecting the multiplicity of cultures around the world—and some of these philosophical traditions have lasted for millennia. But how do these traditions of thought bear on us today in the 21st century? Are they not traditions to be interrogated, challenged, and taken in the new directions? This journey offers you the opportunity to develop critically by engaging the great thinkers of the past for the sake of opening up new pathways of thinking in the future. 

Mind and Consciousness

The study of what our minds are and how they work is fundamental to our understanding of both ourselves and our world. This journey seeks to help you explore the many relationships between our individual minds and the world. 

Science, Technology, and Knowledge

Science and technology inform every aspect of our lives, changing both how we act and what we know. Too often, we do not critically assess these large social structures. This journey teaches you (a) the nature of knowledge, (b) our tools for thinking (physical, mental, and symbolic), and (c) the larger social, scientific, and technological structures built upon these fundamentals.

Social Justice, Politics, and Diversity

Are you interested in creating a more equitable and just world? The courses included in this journey examine the political institutions and social practice that structure our collective life, questions regarding our social and ethical responsibilities for justice and equality, as well as systems of power and domination at the intersection of gender, race/ethnicity, class, sexuality, and disability. In this journey, you will develop analytical skills, critical thinking, cultural sensitivity, and political awareness. 

Whatever educational journey you choose, the BA in Philosophy will guide you in cultivating the necessary skills for articulate oral and written communication, clear thinking and reasoning, and drawing connections among ideas of all kinds.

CU Denver Core: 34-40 Hours 

You’ll be educated in

• English and mathematics
• international and cultural diversity perspectives
• arts and humanities
• behavioral, physical, and social sciences

College of Liberal Arts and Science Core—15 Hours 

These courses give you a better understanding of the issues and skills you need to succeed.

Topics include:  

• Logic, Language, and Scientific Reasoning 
• Psychology 
• Writing for the Sciences 
• Public Health

Minors in Philosophy

Philosophy majors or Non-DEGREE majors can add a minor to your degree by completing at least 15 hours of specified coursework. You will need to see your CLAS advisor to declare a minor.

Philosophy minor

Topics include:

• Introductory philosophy
• Ancient Greek Philosophy
• Modern Philosophy

Philosophy of Science minor

Topics include:

• Language, Logic, & Scientific Reasoning
• Investigating Nature
• Philosophy of Science 

Ethics Minor

Topics include:

• Ethics and Society
• Business Ethics
• Environmental Ethics
• Bioethics

Add a Masters in Humanities to your Bachelor degree in as little as one extra year (4+1)

Save time and tuition while expanding your career opportunities at the same time by enrolling in the Philosophy (BA) + Master’s in Humanities (MH degree, Philosophy and Theory Track) program. 

Benefits include

More career opportunities: Some career paths require that job candidates hold advanced degrees. Completing the BA + MH program allows you to apply for higher level positions more quickly, providing an advantage in a competitive job market. 

Saves time: Combining the Bachelors and Masters programs allow you to complete your undergraduate and graduate studies quickly, typically within five years instead of six or more.

Cost: A shorter timeline to complete a Master’s Degree in Humanities means less tuition, fees, and related educational expenses.

Teaching assistantships: The Department of Philosophy may offer you, as a qualified MA student, research, or teaching assistantships. Combining the BA and MH degrees may allow you to access these opportunities.

Faculty: Combining the BA and MH degrees allows you to continue to take courses at the graduate level from the same familiar, award-winning, and caring faculty members.

Learn more about the CU Denver Philosophy (BA) + Master’s in Humanities (MH degree, Philosophy and Theory Track) program.  

Learning outcomes

• Recognize and comprehend the salient elements of philosophy's significant historical figures, periods, and areas.
• Understand how philosophical frameworks and theories expand the meanings and implications of existing cultural areas (e.g. those found in science technology, the arts, politics, medicine, social justice.)

More specifically, the above includes training (most typically in writing) about how to:

• Interpret texts by careful reading and synthesis of meanings.
• Identify and criticize philosophical arguments.
• Develop original arguments supported by texts and logical reasoning.
• Outline major philosophical frameworks.

Tuition

The cost of tuition for the Bachelor of Arts (Ba) in Philosophy is different for in-state and out-of-state students. See the link for the current table of rates.

Residents of Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) states may qualify for reduced tuition rates. The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program requires students to maintain current residency in WICHE state until degree completion. 

Learn about the WUE program 

Scholarships

Each year, CU Denver undergraduate students are awarded over $30 million in scholarships from institutional, local, state, and national sources. Learn more, and apply here. 

Other opportunities

The department of Integrative Biology and other departments have paid positions (both in the work-study program and outside of it) which may include jobs as graders, teaching assistants, and learning assistants. Please expect to have to apply. Learn more here.

Admission Requirements 

If you are an incoming freshman to CU Denver (in-state, out-of-state, and international applicants), you can apply through either the Common Application or the Milo Application. Transfer students will need to submit the Milo Application.  

Incoming first-year students 

CU Denver requires that students complete the Colorado Higher Education Admission Requirements (HEAR). You will not have to meet all Minimum Academic Preparation Standards (MAPS) for admission, but you will need to complete CU Denver coursework by graduation. 

Transfer Students 

We have strong connections with other four-year and community colleges. If you have completed more than 24 hours of transferable coursework, you will be evaluated for admission on the basis of your college GPA without regard to your high school performance. If you have fewer than 24 hours, you will be evaluated based on both your high school and college GPAs. For more information and to plan your transfer, see transfer admissions in the admissions office. 

International Students 

You will need to begin your application through the Office of International Affairs. They will help you manage your application process. 

Apply to CU Denver

Application deadlines

Spring

Domestic Application: January 1 
International Applications: Priority is September 15, and Final is October 15

Summer

Domestic Applications: May 15 
International Applications: Priority is January 15, and Final is March 15 

Fall

Domestic Applications: August 1
International Applications: Priority is March 15, and Final is May 15