Philosophy

Our Philosophy program explores timeless questions and problems and prepares you for a wide variety of career paths shaping our world

professor alwishah lectures to a group of philosophy students

About This Program

  • Your coursework will hone your critical thinking skills and introduce you to Philosophy's history, its traditional problems, and its connections to other subject disciplines. 
  • Take courses at all five undergraduate Claremont Colleges and at Claremont Graduate University.
  • Many Pitzer students self-design majors that include a Philosophy component. Learn more about our Self-Designed Major option.
  • As a Philosophy major, you'll be prepared for a wide variety of career paths, including professions in law, medicine, the humanities, and the natural and social sciences. 

At a Glance

Degree Awarded

  • Bachelor of Arts

Field Group

Philosophy

Program Type

Area of Study

Meet a Pitzer Professor

Brian L. Keeley, Professor of Philosophy

Professor Brian L. Keeley discusses how philosophy is a "gym for the mind" and the unique interdisciplinary atmosphere at Pitzer. 

Philosophy Program Details

View Course Catalog

The regular Philosophy major is offered in cooperation with Pomona College. The requirements include nine courses in Philosophy consisting of the following:

  1. Five core courses: PHIL 031 PZ – Ethical Theory: Ancient to Early Modern or PHIL 032 PO – Ethical Theory: Contemporary; PHIL 040 PO – Ancient Philosophy; PHIL 042 PO – History of Modern Philosophy; PHIL 060 PO – Logic; and PHIL 030 PZ – Knowledge, Mind and Existence 
  2. Three elective non-introductory courses in Philosophy to be chosen from the offerings of the 5 colleges and CGU in consultation with the students’ advisers.
  3. A senior capstone project designed and completed in consultation with the Pitzer Philosophy Field Group. Two ways of meeting this requirement are: a) completing a senior thesis, normally involving taking a one-credit “Senior Thesis”; or b) taking a senior seminar class in Philosophy, which could be an appropriate upper-division Philosophy course. Note that completing a senior thesis with distinction is a necessary condition for being nominated for “Honors in Philosophy” upon graduation.

Pitzer students are also encouraged to design combined and self-designed majors that include Philosophy. All such majors must be approved by the Pitzer Philosophy Field Group before the second semester of the student’s junior year.

Students who wish to major in Philosophy or in a joint or self-designed major which includes Philosophy must arrange to have a Philosophy Field Group adviser by the beginning of their junior year. Self-designed or joint majors choose a second adviser from Pitzer or any of the other colleges.

Learn More

Visit the Philosophy Field Group page for more information and resources. 

Philosophy Field Group

A minor in Philosophy requires a total of six philosophy courses, no more than two of which can be numbered below 10. No course for the minor may satisfy a requirement for a major.

In addition to the following, see course listings for Claremont Graduate University, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, and Scripps College.

Philosophy Faculty

faculty portrait of ahmed alwishah

Ahmed Alwishah

  • Professor of Philosophy
  • Philosophy Field Group
  • Associate Dean of Faculty
Professor Brian Keeley

Brian L. Keeley

  • Professor of Philosophy
  • Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Science, Technology & Society Field Groups
  • IRB Chair
Pitzer philosophy professor Thomas Lambert

Thomas Lambert

  • Assistant Professor of Philosophy
  • Philosophy Field Group

Contact Us

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