Wichita State University
WSU Philosophy programs
Philosophy Programs
The study of philosophy is relevant to all aspects of life and living well, ranging from investigating various perspectives on the nature of reality, conditions of knowledge, and nuances of critical reasoning to the foundations of morality, justifications for political authority, and criteria for aesthetic evaluation.
Here at WSU, we offer two pre-law programs in philosophy: a traditional 4-year pre-law concentration for philosophy majors, and a Legal Education Accelerated Degree track (LEAD) in partnership with the KU School of Law.
Philosophy Pre-Law Concentration
The Pre-Law Concentration provides training in critical reasoning and argumentation, including specific courses in legal and political philosophy. The BA in Philosophy and the BA in Philosophy with Pre-Law Concentration follow the same general degree requirements, including an applied learning experience that may be satisfied by a paid internship or other alternatives. Philosophy majors and minors develop an individualized course of study in consultation with a faculty advisor.
Legal Education Accelerated Degree
The Legal Education Accelerated Degree (LEAD) affords qualified students majoring in criminal justice, English, history, philosophy, or political science with an accelerated pathway to the University of Kansas School of Law.
New Course in Legal Ethics!
PHIL 314 Introduction to Legal Ethics
This pre-professional introduction to legal ethics provides a practical approach to ethical decision-making for common ethical issues in civil and criminal law, policing, and corrections, with the theoretical grounding necessary to adapt and apply these skills to new and changing contexts.
Important for students in any legal career path. Fulfills the ethics requirement for Criminal Justice majors.
Pre-Law Concentration
To earn the pre-law concentration, students must complete all graduation requirements for the BA in philosophy, and successfully complete at least one philosophy course in each of the four concentration areas: analytical reasoning, ethics, philosophy of law, political and social philosophy. These courses focus on the skills and knowledge that students need to do well on the LSAT and flourish in law school. Philosophy students learn to analyze and construct arguments, reason abstractly, and write clearly and cogently. Nationally, philosophy majors perennially score at or near the top of all majors on the LSAT, consistently averaging 157.
Jobs: Philosophy to Law and Governance
When we think of careers in law, we typically think of policing and criminal justice or courtroom attorneys and judges. Those are only the tip of the legal iceberg. Your undergraduate degree in philosophy might lead you to a great career that you've never considered. Some of these don't even require law school!
- Legal secretary
- Paralegal
- Practice administrator
- Course clerk
- Mediator
- Lawyer / attorney
- Judge
- Law professor
- Political speech writer
- Legislative aide
- Court reporter
- Consultant
- Diplomatic aide
- Investigator
- Social justice advocate
- City manager
We'll work with you to create a career path that suits your interests and needs. Our Pre-Law Student Association and Shocker Career Accelerator can be great resources for helping you make contacts and develop your goals. For current data on educational requirements and typical pay for common careers in law, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Philosophy Minor
A minor consists of philosophy courses, selected in consultation with a department advisor, that orient students to the philosophic aspects of their major fields.
Suggested courses for Ethics emphasis
Introductory courses (choose 1)
- Meaning of Philosophy
- Introductory Logic
- Critical Reasoning
Moral Philosophy (choose 3)
- Ethical Theory
- Contemporary Ethics
- Metaethics
- History of Ethics
- Ancient Chinese Philosophy (95% ethics)
Applied ethics (choose 1)
- Environmental Ethics
- Ethics of Space Exploration
- Ethics of Big Data
- Bioethics
- Ethics and Computers
- Engineering Ethics
- Values and the Modern World
- Business Ethics
Suggested courses for Philosophy of Science emphasis
Choose 5
- Introduction to Logic
- Formal Logic
- Philosophy of Science
- Science and the Modern World
- Values and the Modern World
- The History and Philosophy of the Physical Sciences in the 20th Century
- Women and Computers: Two Historical Episodes
- Philosophy of the Social Sciences
- Philosophy of Medicine
- Ethics of Space Exploration
- Ethics and Computers
- Engineering Ethics
- Ethics of Big Data
- Evidential Reasoning
- Theory of Knowledge
Additional options for the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
Suggested courses for philosophy PhD preparation
Students who want to build a career as a professional philosopher should take courses in each of the classic divisions. These provide excellent preparation for PhD programs for students who want to become Professors of Philosophy.
Suggested courses for philosophy PhD Preparation
Argumentation
- Introductory Logic
- Formal Logic
Metaphysics and Epistemology
- Metaphysics
- Theory of Knowledge
Value Theory
- Ethical Theory
- Political Philosophy
History of Philosophy
- Ancient Greek Philosophy
- Early Modern Philosophy
- Late Modern Philosophy
As with all our tracks, we work with students to develop a plan of study that suits their particular educational and career goals.
Other recommended courses
- Philosophy of Science
- Analytic Philosophy
- Philosophy of Language
- Philosophy of Feminism
Suggested courses for Humanities emphasis
Delve into what it means to be human, what we ought to value in our humanity, and what kind of place we can have in the world.
Suggested courses for Humanities emphasis
Introductory Courses
- Meaning of Philosophy
- Critical Reasoning
Moral and Political Philosophy (choose 2)
Theory
- Ethical Theory
- Contemporary Ethics
- History of Ethics
- Contemporary Chinese Philosophy
- Philosophy of Feminism
- Philosophy of Law
Application
- Moral Issues
- Bioethics
- Business Ethics
- Ethics of Space Exploration
- Ethics of Big Data
- Values and the Modern World
History of Philosophy (choose 2)
- Ancient Greek Philosophy
- Ancient Chinese Philosophy
- Early Modern Philosophy
- Late Modern Philosophy
- 19th Century Philosophy
Science and Reality (choose 2)
- Metaphysics
- Philosophy of the Social Sciences
- Minds and Machines
- Theory of Knowledge
- Truth & Reality
- Science and the Modern World
- Philosophy of Science
- Philosophy of Medicine
- Philosophy of Mind
- Philosophy of Religion
Electives (choose 1)
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- Philosophy of Sex and Love
- Philosophy of the Arts
- Philosophy of Religion
- Survey of Asian Philosophy
Suggested courses for a History of Philosophy emphasis
This is a great plan for students who are pursuing a history minor or a double major in history and philosophy.
Suggested courses for History of Philosophy emphasis
Introductory courses
- Meaning of Philosophy
- Introductory Logic or Critical Reasoning
History of philosophy (choose 5)
- Ancient Greek Philosophy
- Ancient Chinese Philosophy
- Early Modern Philosophy
- Late Modern Philosophy
- 19th Century Philosophy
- Women & Computers: Two Historical Episodes
- Analytic Philosophy
- The History and Philosophy of the Physical Sciences in the 20th Century
- History of Ethics
- Rationalism
Philosophy courses with deep historical roots (choose 2)
- Philosophy of Language
- Political Philosophy
- Metaphysics
- Theory of Knowledge
- Philosophy of Religion
- Philosophy of Sex and Love
- Philosophy of Mind
- Survey of Asian Philosophy
- Truth & Reality
Philosophy course catalog
Browse a listing of all active philosophy courses.
