Philosophy Schools and Programs in The United States

Philosophy Studies in The United States

Philosophy asks the most general questions about knowledge, reality, value and reasoning. The University of Wisconsin-Madison describes it as reflection on all phases of human activity, directed especially at the nature of knowledge and the basic concepts of human understanding and value: morality, society, art, science, politics and religion. In the United States it is a common major in the liberal arts tradition, and SpainExchange lists 174 schools that teach it.

How the degree is organised

Philosophy is studied as a major within a Bachelor of Arts (BA), which usually takes four years of full-time study. Students do not enter a philosophy faculty: they take courses in many subjects and complete the major alongside general education requirements. The major itself is a modest share of the degree. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison it requires 27 credits and 8 courses in philosophy out of 120 degree credits; at Yale University the standard major is twelve term courses; at Columbia University it requires a minimum of 30 points in philosophy.

Most majors share a core of logic and the history of philosophy. Wisconsin requires elementary or symbolic logic, the history of ancient philosophy and the history of modern philosophy; Columbia requires symbolic logic and at least one course in metaphysics or epistemology. Because the major is small, it is often combined with another subject. Duke University notes that many of its philosophy majors also major in another discipline, and several universities offer joint tracks: Yale has a psychology concentration, Stanford University a combined major in philosophy and religious studies, the University of Washington a BA in History and Philosophy of Science, and Binghamton University a programme in Philosophy, Politics and Law.

Community colleges teach the first two years. Pasadena City College, for example, offers a philosophy transfer degree whose courses satisfy lower-division requirements for a philosophy major at several universities.

Graduate study

The two main graduate degrees are the master's degree and the doctorate. Some universities let students add a master's in a fifth year: Vanderbilt University lists a 4+1 BA/MA programme and Binghamton University a five-year route to a master's in social, political, ethical and legal philosophy. The PhD is the research degree and the usual requirement for university teaching. At Stanford, the third and following years are devoted to dissertation work, and the department states that the PhD programme provides five years of financial support covering tuition, a stipend and health insurance.

Admission, language and costs

Undergraduates apply to the university, not to the philosophy department, and usually declare the major later; the Wisconsin major has no separate entry requirements. Teaching is in English, and universities require an English proficiency test before admission. EducationUSA advises starting the search 12 to 18 months before the planned start. For a full degree, international students need a student visa: once accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the international student office issues the Form I-20 used in the visa application.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), average tuition and fees at 4-year institutions in 2022-23 were $9,800 at public institutions and $40,700 at private nonprofit institutions. The public figure is the in-state rate, so check what each university charges non-residents. Starting at a community college, which is usually cheaper, and transferring after two years can lower the total cost of a bachelor's degree.

Where to study philosophy

Philosophy is taught at almost every kind of institution. Boston, New York and Philadelphia have four schools each on the list, among them Northeastern University, Columbia University and Saint Joseph's University. Research universities with doctoral programmes include the University of Pittsburgh, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Stanford University, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of California Los Angeles, Northwestern University and Duke University. The list also has smaller colleges such as Wellesley College, Lawrence University and Claremont McKenna College, and two-year colleges such as Pasadena City College and Seattle Central College.

Careers

Philosophy is not a vocational degree. NCES counts 11,230 bachelor's degrees in philosophy and religious studies in 2021-22, out of about 2.0 million bachelor's degrees. Departments present the major as preparation for further study: the University of Pittsburgh names law, medicine and business, and Wellesley College states that many of its graduates work in the legal profession while others earn graduate degrees, teach, or work in government or the nonprofit sector.

An academic career requires a PhD. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) counts 26,800 postsecondary teachers of philosophy and religion in 2025 and projects that number to grow 2% by 2035.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a philosophy degree take in the United States?

A bachelor's degree usually takes four years of full-time study. Some universities offer a combined bachelor's and master's in five years, and a PhD takes several more years.

Can I combine philosophy with another subject?

Yes. The major takes up only part of the degree, so double majors are common, and universities such as Yale, Stanford and Binghamton offer joint tracks with psychology, religious studies or politics and law.

What do philosophy graduates do?

Departments point to law, medicine, business, education and public service as common destinations, usually after further study. University teaching requires a PhD.

Do I apply directly to the philosophy department?

Not for a bachelor's degree: applicants are admitted by the university and choose the major afterwards. For a PhD, the application goes to the department's graduate programme.