哲学涉及对一系列问题的严格，持续的思考，例如人们应该如何生活，上帝的存在和邪恶问题，身心之间的关系以及为信仰辩护的方式。哲学课程的学生学习：了解哲学史上的重要时期，主题，运动和人物，将伦理理论应用于重大社会问题，使用逻辑原理和方法分析论据，发展自己的哲学观点和论据，评估对形而上学，认识论和其他哲学领域问题的回应。对哲学的研究可能会对一个人的信念和价值观产生重大影响，并且有助于发展各种智力技能和能力，学生可以在生活中运用这些知识和能力，无论他们毕业后选择做什么。在这些技能和能力中，有能力进行批判性，纪律性和
Philosophy involves rigorous, persistent reflection on a wide range of issues, such as how one ought to live, the existence of God and the problem of evil, the relation between mind and body, and the ways in which beliefs may be justified. Students in philosophy courses learn to: understand important periods, themes, movements, and figures in the history of philosophy, apply ethical theories to major social issues, analyze arguments using the principles and methods of logic, develop their own philosophical views and arguments, evaluate responses to problems in metaphysics, epistemology, and other areas of philosophy. The study of philosophy can have a significant impact on one's beliefs and values, and it helps develop a variety of intellectual skills and abilities which students can put to use in their lives, whatever they choose to do after they graduate. Among those skills and abilities are the capacities to engage in thinking that is critical, disciplined and creative, to express oneself effectively and appreciate the ideas and perspectives of others, to uncover and examine assumptions, to understand, construct, and evaluate arguments on different sides of issues, and to deal reasonably with questions to which there are no easy answers.