Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate students of Philosophy at UC benefit from small class sizes and accomplished and supportive faculty. Upon graduation, many of our students go on to successful careers in academia, social work, entrepreneurship, law, and medicine. If you plan to major or minor in philosophy, we encourage you to make an appointment with Lucas Dunlap, Philosophy Department's Director of Undergraduate Studies at dunlapld@ucmail.uc.edu, to make sure that you are taking the proper courses toward your major or minor.

As a philosophy major at the UC College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), you learn how to read texts closely and how to write clearly. You also develop keen analytic and critical skills. Admission into the program is based on admission into the college and success in the first year of course work. To graduate with a major in philosophy, students must be admitted to A&S, declare a philosophy major and meet the following requirements:

  1. Complete two Introduction to Philosophy courses
  2. Complete one logic course
  3. Complete two Philosophy free electives
  4. Complete six Upper-Level Philosophy Courses 3000 or higher PHIL 5099 is not eligible
  5. Complete the Philosophy Senior Capstone Seminar course
  6. Complete a Minor or Certificate of your choosing within the College of Arts & Sciences, OR complete a double-major, dual-degree, or cross-college major

To learn more about the admission and graduation requirements, along with curriculum and career opportunities, please visit the Philosophy BA webpage.

The emerging field of cognitive science unites researchers in philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, anthropology, and sociology in the study of the human mind. The Philosophy-Cognitive Studies major at the University of Cincinnati allows students to take a wide variety of courses in these disciplines. Students gain a strong foundation in cognitive science, while maintaining a focus on the "big" questions concerning cognition and mentality. PHIL/PSYC 1006, Introduction to Cognitive Studies, serves as the gateway course and is a great place to begin if you are interested in exploring this major. To graduate with a major in Philosophy and Cognitive Studies, students must be admitted to A&S, declare a philosophy and cognitive studies major and meet the following requirements:

  1. Complete all three Introduction to Philosophy courses
  2. Complete one Statistics or Logic course
  3. Complete one Psychology Core course
  4. Complete two Cognitive Studies Core course
  5. Complete four Philosophy free electives
  6. Complete the Philosophy Senior Capstone Seminar course
  7. Complete a Minor or Certificate of your choosing within the College of Arts & Sciences, OR complete a double-major, dual-degree, or cross-college major

To learn more about the admission and graduation requirements, along with curriculum and career opportunities, please visit the Philosophy and Cognitive Studies BA webpage.

As a philosophy minor at UC’s College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), you’ll sharpen your reading, writing, and critical thinking skills through the study of philosophical texts and ideas. To graduate with a minor in philosophy, students must be complete the following requirements:

  1. Complete two Introduction to Philosophy courses
  2. Complete one Logic course
  3. Complete one Philosophy free elective
  4. Complete three Upper-Level Philosophy Courses 3000 or higher (but not 5099)

To learn more about the admission and graduation requirements, along with curriculum and career opportunities, please visit the Philosophy Minor webpage.

Bioethics looks at the ethical issues that come up in medicine, science, and everyday life. It uses ideas from philosophy, history, and the social sciences to help us think about illness, care, and what it means to be human. It also explores how culture and society shape medical choices and how health care works within larger systems. At its heart, bioethics asks how we should care for one another in a changing world. To obtain a bioethics certificate, students must be complete the following requirements:

  1. Complete one Introductory Ethics course
  2. Complete PHIL 3028 Bioethics
  3. Complete four Philosophy free electives

To learn more about the admission and graduation requirements, along with curriculum and career opportunities, please visit the Bioethics Certificate webpage.

Cooperative education was founded by UC in 1906, and today the university ranks in the Top 5 in the nation for these programs. From international affairs to environmental studies, co-ops and internships take nearly as many forms as there are fields of study. Students from the College of Arts and Sciences have gained real-world experience working in Fortune 500 companies like P&G, and broadcast giants like NBC’s “Today Show,” applying their classroom learning to real-world challenges, building their resumes and gaining a competitive edge in the marketplace.

What is a curricular internship?

A curricular internship is an opportunity for you to gain real-life experience related to your academic major—building your resume—and earn credit toward your degree at the same time. These internships can be full time or part time and may occur while you are still enrolled in other classes. The number of credits and compensation earned varies with the department and position.

What is the difference between a co-op position and a curricular internship position?

While both of these programs focus on providing opportunities for students to enhance their learning through experience, the format and the time commitment of the programs vary. A traditional co-op position is generally a full time position (40 hours per week) for the duration of a semester. In nontraditional Co-Op positions, time commitment and pay may vary. Internships may also be full time but generally require fewer hours of work (8-12 hours per week). Due to programs varying, students interested in Co-Op or an internship position are encouraged to reach out to their departmental contact.

For more information, please visit the Internship Information page.