Philosophy (BA)
Engage with fundamental questions about existence and knowledge.
Why choose this program?
Philosophy asks fundamentally important questions - questions concerning knowledge, value, existence, ethics, race and gender, truth and justice - that have enduring relevance in everyday life. Students will learn to think deeply, systematically, rigorously, and productively about profound issues of life that affect us all.
Admission requirements
Minimum admission requirements
To be considered for admission to this program, you must meet minimum academic criteria:
- Completion of secondary school (Grade 12)
- Achievement of the minimum average for your program of choice.
- Completion of Grade 12 English (or equivalent course).
Admission to many Dalhousie programs is competitive. This means that meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Program-specific admission requirements
Minimum overall average: 70%
Academic English 12
Four additional academic subjects
Financial information
A university education is a significant financial investment. Every student is unique, and so are their financial circumstances. We offer competitive tuition, a robust scholarship and bursary program, and resources and support to help you explore financial options and develop a plan that works for you.
Program options
Any subject can be studied philosophically. Our program has interdisciplinary affiliations with many programs, including Psychology, Women’s Studies, Classics, International Development Studies, Computing Science, and Mathematics.
The following Philosophy program options are offered by Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Connect with an academic advisor after you start your studies to explore options such as:
Combined Honours Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
Honours Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
Bachelor of Arts with Major in Philosophy
Bachelor of Arts with Double Major in Philosophy
Minor in Philosophy, Applied Ethics or Bioethics
What you will learn
Our curriculum represents traditional areas of philosophy like ethics, epistemology, and logic, but we also investigate newer fields of philosophical inquiry like feminism, biomedical ethics, and philosophy of race. We designed our program to be extremely flexible, allowing you to focus on specific areas or acquire a wide-ranging knowledge of the discipline.
Sample courses may include:
Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy
Epistemology, Metaphysics
Ethics in Science
Legal Thinking
Ethics in the World of Business
Reasoning Skills
Animal Ethics
History of Ethics: Kant’s Moral Theory
Contemporary Feminist Theories
Contemporary Philosophical Issues
Philosophy of Race
Ethics, Justice, and Economics
We're recognized as the strongest philosophy department east of Montreal, with an active, engaged intellectual community both in and out of the classroom. Philosophy helps make sense of life. Our program encourages independent thinking and makes us more thoughtful, tolerant citizens. This program will prepare you for any career, as philosophy is the ultimate transferable skill.
Careers
Our graduates are creative thinkers, careful reasoners, clear writers, and self-starters. Philosophy will equip you with the mental skill and discipline to succeed at anything you put your mind to.
An ability to apply philosophical techniques to solve real-world problems puts you in an ideal position to manage, lead, and make solid ethical decisions.
Future studies could include programs at the graduate level in philosophy, public administration, or business administration. You might consider a professional program such as law or medicine.
