Philosophy involves reflection upon and understanding of all phases of human activity. Philosophy especially directs itself to the nature of knowledge and the most basic concepts of human understanding and value: morality, society, art and aesthetic experience, as well as science, politics, and religion.
Philosophy is thus closely involved with other disciplines because, as human activities and quests for knowledge, they and their findings provide the material for philosophical inquiry. The courses offered by the department are designed to help students develop their own capacities to reflect intelligently on questions of fundamental and lasting significance.
The Philosophy major is intended to meet the needs of students who:
- wish to use philosophy as the organizing core of a liberal education;
- desire to study philosophy in preparation for graduate work in some other field, such as law, government, or theology;
- plan to major jointly in philosophy and one of the social sciences, natural sciences, or humanities; and
- have a professional interest in philosophy and intend to do graduate work in the subject.
How to Get in
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| How to get in | No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare. For information on how to declare, visit Advising & Careers. |
| Courses required to get in | None |
| GPA requirements to get in | None |
| Credits required to get in | None |
| Other | None |
University Requirements
All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later.
Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.
Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements
| Civics & Perspectives | 3 credits of Civics & Perspectives coursework. |
| Communication & Literacy | 6 credits of Communication & Literacy coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingenglishplacement |
| Humanities & Arts | 6 credits of Humanities & Arts coursework. |
| Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning | 6 credits of Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingmathplacement |
| Natural Science & Wellness | Complete both:
|
| Social & Behavioral Science | 3 credits of Social & Behavioral Science coursework. |
| Total Credits | 30 credits. |
For more information see the policy.
University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements
All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.
| Total Degree | 120 degree credits. |
| Residency | Complete 30 credits in residence. A course is considered “in residence” if it is taken when in undergraduate degree-seeking status and:
|
| Quality of Work | Achieve at least the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, and/or academic program. |
| Math | Demonstrate minimal mathematics competence by: |
| English Language | If required to take the UW-Madison English as a Second Language Assessment Test (MSN-ESLAT), demonstrate minimal English language competence by:
|
| Language | Complete one:
|
| Major Declaration | Declare and complete the requirements for at least one major. |
College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. Some courses satisfy more than one L&S degree requirement (visit College of Letters & Science: Requirements for details).
This major can be paired with either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree requirements.
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
| Communication | Complete both:
|
| Quantitative Reasoning | Complete both:
|
| Ethnic Studies | one 3+ credit course with the Ethnic Studies designation |
| Language | Complete either:
|
| L&S Breadth: Humanities | Complete 12 credits with the Humanities or Literature designation, which must include at least 6 credits with the Literature designation. |
| L&S Breadth: Social Sciences | Complete 12 credits with the Social Science designation. |
| L&S Breadth: Natural Sciences | Complete 12 credits with the Natural Science, Biological Science, or Physical Science designations, which must include both:
|
| Liberal Arts and Science (LAS) Coursework | at least 108 credits |
| Depth of Intermediate/Advanced work | at least 60 credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level |
| Major | Declare and complete at least one major. |
| Total Credits | at least 120 credits |
| UW-Madison Experience |
|
| Quality of Work |
|
Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major
Non–L&S students who have permission from their School/College to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.
Requirements for the Major
27 credits and 8 courses in PHILOS
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| PHILOS 211 | Elementary Logic | 3-4 |
| or PHILOS 511 | Symbolic Logic | |
| PHILOS 430 | History of Ancient Philosophy | 3-4 |
| PHILOS 432 | History of Modern Philosophy | 3-4 |
| 5 advanced PHILOS courses of at least 3 credits from below: | 15 | |
| History of Ancient Philosophy | ||
| History of Modern Philosophy | ||
| Existentialism | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Classical Philosophers | ||
| Philosophy of Religion | ||
| Theory of Knowledge | ||
| Special Topics in the Theory of Knowledge | ||
| Study Abroad in Philosophy | ||
| Symbolic Logic | ||
| Methods of Logic | ||
| Language and Meaning | ||
| Philosophy of the Natural Sciences | ||
| Special Topic | ||
| Philosophical Problems of the Biological Sciences | ||
| Philosophy and Economics | ||
| Freedom Fate and Choice | ||
| Modern Ethical Theories | ||
| Special Topics in Ethics | ||
| Great Moral Philosophers | ||
| Philosophy of Moral Education | ||
| Philosophy of Mind | ||
| Aesthetics | ||
| Political Philosophy | ||
| Topics in Feminism and Philosophy | ||
| Issues in Social Philosophy | ||
| Metaphysics | ||
| Special Topics in Metaphysics | ||
| Topics in Contemporary Philosophy | ||
| Mathematical Logic | ||
| Additional credits—if necessary—to achieve 27 for the major | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Distribution
Of the 27 credits, at least 1 course is required from each category ('Metaphysics and Epistemology' and 'Value Theory'):
Category 'Metaphysics and Epistemology'
Complete one course:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHILOS/RELIG ST 501 | Philosophy of Religion | 3-4 |
| PHILOS 503 | Theory of Knowledge | 3 |
| PHILOS 504 | Special Topics in the Theory of Knowledge (Bayesian Epistemology) | 3 |
| PHILOS 504 | Special Topics in the Theory of Knowledge (Epistemic Ideals) | 3 |
| PHILOS 516 | Language and Meaning | 3 |
| PHILOS 520 | Philosophy of the Natural Sciences | 3 |
| PHILOS 530 | Freedom Fate and Choice | 3 |
| PHILOS 551 | Philosophy of Mind | 3 |
| PHILOS 560 | Metaphysics | 3 |
| PHILOS 562 | Special Topics in Metaphysics (Consciousness) | 3 |
| PHILOS 567 | Topics in Contemporary Philosophy | 3 |
Category 'Value Theory'
Complete one course:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHILOS 241 | Introductory Ethics | 3-4 |
| PHILOS 454 | Classical Philosophers (Aristotle's Ethics) | 3 |
| PHILOS 541 | Modern Ethical Theories | 3 |
| PHILOS 549 | Great Moral Philosophers | 3 |
| PHILOS 555 | Political Philosophy | 3 |
Residence and Quality of Work
- 2.000 GPA in all PHILOS courses and courses that count for the major
- 2.000 GPA on 15 upper-level credits in the major, taken in residence1
- 15 credits in PHILOS, taken on campus
Honors in the Major
Students may declare Honors in the Philosophy Major in consultation with the Philosophy undergraduate advisor.
Honors in the Philosophy Major: Requirements
To earn Honors in the Major in Philosophy, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements:
- Minimum 3.300 University GPA
- Minimum a 3.500 GPA for all PHILOS and major courses
- One additional course from either the Metaphysics and Epistemology or Value Theory categories with a grade of B or better
- PHILOS 681 (for 1-3 credits) and PHILOS 682 (for 3 credits) with a grade of AB or better.2
Footnotes
- 1
Courses between PHILOS 400–699 are considered upper-level in the major.
- 2
Students will not be permitted to write a Senior Honors Thesis unless they have taken at least one advanced course on the topic on which they will be writing. Credits earned by writing a Senior Honors Thesis will not count toward the 27 minimum credits required for the major.
Learning Outcomes
- Ability to think critically about arguments.
- Ability to interpret complex texts accurately and analyze them logically.
- Ability to communicate precisely and concisely in both writing and speech.
- Familiarity with the history of Western philosophy and the major debates withing that tradition.
- Ability to be engaged citizens who think carefully and well about their responsibilities to others.
- Ability to exchange reasons about controversial matters respectfully and with the aim of uncovering the truth.
- Interpretative charity and intellectual honesty, which includes appropriate attribution to others of their ideas, and recognition and frankness about the limitations of one's own ideas.
Four-Year Plan
This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Communications A | 3 | Ethnic Sudies | 3 |
| PHILOS 101 | 3-4 | Foreign Language (if needed) | 4 |
| PHILOS 210 | 3-4 | I/A MATH, STAT or COMP SCI (for BS degree) | 3 |
| Physical Science Breadth | 3 | PHILOS 241 | 3-4 |
| Foreign Language (if needed) | 4 | PHILOS 211 (Quantitative Reasoning B) | 3-4 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHILOS 430 | 3-4 | Communication B | 4 |
| Literature Breadth | 3 | PHILOS 432 | 3-4 |
| Social Science Breadth | 4 | I/A MATH, STAT, or COMP SCI (for BS degree) | 3 |
| INTER-LS 210 | 1 | Social Science Breadth | 4 |
| Biological Science Breadth | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Metaphysics and Epistemology category course | 3-4 | Value Theory category course | 3-4 |
| Natural Science Breadth | 3 | PHILOS 400+ Electives | 3-4 |
| Literature Breadth | 3 | Electives | 7 |
| Electives | 5 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PHILOS Electives | 3 | PHILOS 500+ Electives | 3 |
| Electives | 12 | Electives | 12 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Advising and Careers
Declare or Cancel This Major
Please follow the process described on the Philosophy website.
The Department of Philosophy encourages our students to begin working on their career exploration and preparation soon after arriving on campus. Philosophy students develop important and widely marketable skills, like the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems. This means that having a major in Philosophy provides excellent preparation for a variety of careers.
Studying philosophy can also help you get into graduate school. Philosophy students excel on standardized tests like the GRE, GMAT, and LSAT. They rank first among all majors on the verbal and the analytical sections of the GRE. Philosophy students also tend to do better than just about any other major on the LSAT. With a mean score of just over 157, they are second only to Physics students. When it comes to the GMAT, Philosophy students rank in the top five of all majors, and they consistently have higher scores than Business students (including Management, Finance, Accounting, and Marketing).
Study Abroad
Learning in Letters & Science emphasizes discovery, growth, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself, which makes studying abroad an excellent fit for many L&S students: studyabroad.wisc.edu
As a university with global influence, we have more than 300 study abroad programs in over 80 countries. These vary in length, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and level of independence. There are many programs to complement every major and any year of college (including the final semester)—and all meet UW–Madison’s high academic standards. Students admitted into Letters & Science can even choose a short program in the summer before they start college or their whole first year: studyabroad.wisc.edu/launch. Talk with your academic advisor about how studying abroad might fit with your academic plan.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students
Resources and Scholarships
Undergraduate Scholarships
The Department of Philosophy has received generous support in order to fund two scholarships each academic year.
The Charles Manthey Winter Philosophy Scholarship is given to a student majoring in Philosophy who will graduate within the next four terms of the award and who has at least a 3.500 grade point average over the past two terms, and who can demonstrate financial need.
The Colonel Jerome Ellis Goodrich, USMC (retired), Scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate student majoring in Philosophy with academic merit and financial need, and who is a U.S. citizen.
Applications for these scholarships are typically due in early April and winners are honored at our annual Awards Banquet in May.
We also have an annual paper prize called the Temkin Undergraduate Essay Prize in Value Theory. This prize recognizes an outstanding essay in value theory, where this is construed quite broadly to include topics in political philosophy, philosophy of law, metaethics, applied ethics, etc. Essays are typically submitted in early April and the winner is also honored at our Awards Banquet.
If you have any questions about these scholarships or essay prizes, you may send an email to frontoffice@philosophy.wisc.edu.