At the time of graduation, majors in Philosophy will be able to demonstrate:

Dispositions

1. Courage to ask difficult questions
2. Commitment to rigorous thinking
3. Fairness and generosity towards others’ views
4. Honesty in assessing their own positions
5. Commitment to putting philosophical skills and knowledge to work to address contemporary challenges
6. Desire to think in creative and constructive ways

Skills

1. Competence in reading and interpreting difficult texts
2. Excellence in forming, refining, and evaluating arguments
3. Strength in critical thinking, including the ability to identify assumptions, distinguish empirical from normative claims, and articulate the significance of an issue
4. Effective oral and written expression, including the ability to formulate strong questions, thoughtfully engage others’ views, and clearly articulate their own thinking
5. Proficiency in research, including distinguishing and evaluating primary and secondary sources and integrating information from multiple sources

Knowledge

1. Fluency in the concepts and terminology of philosophical inquiry and dialogue
2. Familiarity with major problems, positions, debates in the history of philosophy
3. In depth knowledge of at least one major philosopher and/or topic in philosophy