Philosophy Major

Philosophy is integral to a person's education and to shaping how we understand our world and how we can live a fulfilling life.

Philosophy

Philosophy majors develop important skills through detailed textual analysis and lively intellectual debates that prepare them for careers in business, law, medicine, teaching, and the ministry. A low student-faculty ratio provides for a variety of carefully supervised individual research projects.

You'll explore theories of idealism, materialism, utilitarianism, pragmatism, and existentialism, and you'll study the world's great philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Mill, Nietzsche, Arendt, and Beauvoir.

You will learn to analyze, evaluate, and construct arguments in defense of particular views. There also is considerable attention paid to writing, with the aim of producing better, more precise, and persuasive writers.

Related Minors

Think Big

Philosophy majors can work with faculty mentors on senior independent projects, diving deeply into topics that interest them.

You may present your research at the annual Student Symposium.

Research & Independent Study Theory-to-Practice Grants

Comparing Sectarianism and Racism

Eli Reed '19 used a Theory-to-Practice Grant to compare sectarianism in Northern Ireland to American race relations.

Watch the Video

The Language of Heresy

Kiersten Payne '17 worked with Prof. Susan Gunasti to examine the language contemporaries used to discuss the Donatists, beginning in the fourth century, and the Anabaptists, beginning in the sixteenth century.

Are Numbers Real?

For his senior research project, Joseph Kirinic '16 explored Ludwig Wittgenstein's ideas about mathematical objects.

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Excellence in Coursework

As a senior, Daniel Sweet '16 (left) won the Loyd D. Easton Award for "superior overall work in philosophy."

Go Global

The OWU Connection provides a variety of opportunities for all students to go global. Travel-Learning Courses combine classroom study with travel to areas of the world where you may study how the issues you discuss in class really come to life. Or you can use a Theory-to-Practice Grant to explore a topic anywhere in the world.

Philosophy and Religion students have studied and pursued research projects in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Travel-Learning Courses Study Abroad

A Taste of Knowledge

Vincent Sack '27 of North Olmstead, OH, traveled to the U.K. to study food regulatory policies as part of a Travel-Learning Course.

'Embracing New Experiences'

Kahlil Mitchell-Smith '25 spent a semester at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, stuyding how culture impacts people's understanding of ecological preservation and mitigation of climate change.

Exploring Apostle Paul in Greece

Religion minor Alexis Thomas '20 used an OWU Connection Grant to travel to Greece to study the Apostle Paul's journeys and learn more about the influence he held and continues to hold in the region.

Conflict Resolution in Northern Ireland

Daniel Delatte '19, Leslie Melton, Eli Reed '19, HannahJo Grimes '20, Adedayo Akinmadeyemi '19, Lisa Hp, Cara Harris '18 and Anna L. Davies '19 with Father Martin Magill, a priest and peaceworker in Northern Ireland. Their trip was funded by a Theory-to-Practice Grant.

Seeking God in Switzerland

Jackie Everetts '18 spent two weeks exploring L'Abri communities to study the role of theology in daily living.

Fulbright Scholar

Mark Mandych '16 earned a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program grant to teach English in Germany. While at OWU, he studied abroad in Austria.

Modernity & Colonialism

Professor Stone-Mediatore's "Modernity & Colonialism" class traveled to Chiapas, Mexico, where they lived in a Zapatista community, learned about indigenous philosophies, and participated in a mural-painting project with internationally known muralist/community-activist, Gustavo Gutierrez.

Get Real

Build your experience and connections to the professional world with internships both on and off campus. You can work with the Career Connection office to identify and secure internships.

You can also join interfaith service teams that travel across the country and overseas during spring break to volunteer in areas of high need.

Career Connection Office

Real Service

During spring break, student interfaith service teams make a difference across the U.S. and internationally.

Inspired Teaching

OWU faculty are outstanding scholars and researchers—and passionate teachers. They will push you, challenge you, inspire you, and work with you on your own research and creative projects.

They can even pack a 3-minute lecture with ideas, insight, and imagination. Check out our unique I³ lectures.

I³ Lectures

Dr. Erin Flynn

What's Wrong with a Good Foul?

Watch the Video

Highlights

Guest Lectures

The Merrick Lecture series brings a visiting renowned scholar in religion or philosophy to OWU every year. In addition to a lecture, the scholar leads a discussion with a small group of students.

Merrick Lecture

Senior Research

Present your senior research project to the campus community at the annual Spring Student Symposium, or during the end-of-the-year Philosophy senior capstone presentations.

More Information

Honor Society

Participate in Phi Sigma Tau, the international philosophy honor society. Students can be eligible by their sophomore year if they've completed two semesters of philosophy courses and rank in the upper 35 percent of their class.

Rare Liturgical Works

Beeghly Library has many uncommon and valuable 19th-and early 20th-century works on religion. In addition, students have access to the library of the nearby Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

Graduate Outcomes

Joe Kirincic '16

A Philosophy and Mathematics double-major, Joe is a data analyst at OnShift, a computer software company in Cleveland, Ohio.

Philosophy: Honors & Awards

Recent OWU philosophy graduates have won university writing prizes and have been published in peer-reviewed journals. High-achieving students are frequently accepted to M.A., Ph.D., and J.D. programs.

Law School

Philosophy major Jessica Monroe '09 earned her J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and moved on to become an attorney at a law firm in Cleveland, advocating for and advising unions on the forefront of the fight for economic justice.

Jobs in Social Justice

Jess Choate '17 is a housing specialist with Santa Maria Community Services, where she helps families find affordable housing and apply for government programs. Emily Burns '18 works as a community organizer at Sunnyside United Methodist Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Success in Customer Service

Jessica Kyler '10 found success working in the customer service industry. She currently works as a relationship banker for BB&T in Charleston, West Virginia.

Headlines

Events

A Look at Philosophy

See All 8 Items
Stratford Ecological Center— Vicky Bush and Professor Shari Stone-Mediatore enjoy the Environmental Ethics class trip to Stratford Ecological Center.

Stratford Ecological Center

Vicky Bush and Professor Shari Stone-Mediatore enjoy the Environmental Ethics class trip to Stratford Ecological Center.
Off-Campus Learning— Small class sizes means courses often feature an off-campus component for students to apply their research and classroom skills.

Off-Campus Learning

Small class sizes means courses often feature an off-campus component for students to apply their research and classroom skills.
Environmental Ethics— Keionna Badie meets a goat during an Environmental Ethics field trip to Stratford Ecological Center.

Environmental Ethics

Keionna Badie meets a goat during an Environmental Ethics field trip to Stratford Ecological Center.
Travel-Learning Course— Students explore postcolonialism on a Travel-Learning Course with Dr. Stone-Mediatore in Mexico.

Travel-Learning Course

Students explore postcolonialism on a Travel-Learning Course with Dr. Stone-Mediatore in Mexico.
Supporting Prisoners' Rights— In 2018, Dr. Shari Stone-Mediatore helped design a "Prisoners' Lives Matter" stamp to combat prison stigma. She exhibited the stamp at a fundraiser in Chicago.

Supporting Prisoners' Rights

In 2018, Dr. Shari Stone-Mediatore helped design a "Prisoners' Lives Matter" stamp to combat prison stigma. She exhibited the stamp at a fundraiser in Chicago.
Travel Opportunities— Philosophy students have ample opportunities to travel, furthering their research and expanding their worldviews. Recent Theory-to-Practice Grant recipients have traveled to India, Switzerland, and Nepal.

Travel Opportunities

Philosophy students have ample opportunities to travel, furthering their research and expanding their worldviews. Recent Theory-to-Practice Grant recipients have traveled to India, Switzerland, and Nepal.
Colin Stolly: philosophy, accounting, & baseball— Colin Stolly '18 talks about his experience as a double-major in philosophy and accounting - and as an infielder on the OWU baseball team.

Colin Stolly: philosophy, accounting, & baseball

Colin Stolly '18 talks about his experience as a double-major in philosophy and accounting - and as an infielder on the OWU baseball team.
Environmental Ethics— Alex Reichardt meets llamas at the Environmental Ethics class trip to Stratford Ecological Center.

Environmental Ethics

Alex Reichardt meets llamas at the Environmental Ethics class trip to Stratford Ecological Center.

Department Contact Info

Location

Phillips Hall 114
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015
P 740-368-3802
E philrel@owu.edu

Department Contact

Chair: Erin Flynn
Professor in the Department of Philosophy & Religion
Phillips Hall 114
740-368-3794
eeflynn@owu.edu

Academic Assistant: Christina Muirhead-Gould
Phillips Hall 052A
740-368-3802
csmuirheadgould@owu.edu