Philosophy

The study of philosophy is, at its core, the study of thought. Philosophy students learn how to think deeply about profound issues: human nature and happiness, death and the meaning of life, ethics and morality, society and politics, the existence of God, what constitutes knowledge, the nature of the human mind—and many other evergreen topics that have occupied the greatest minds for millennia.

UMass Amherst has a long and distinguished history of producing cutting-edge scholars who engage with each other and the world outside to produce philosophy that is rigorous and meaningful. At the graduate level, the department produces leading academics working in the fields of metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, logic, and more.

Whatever your career aspirations, the study of philosophy can help in strengthening your preparation, by developing your capacities to think and reason well, and to deal critically and analytically with the ideas, concepts, problems, and methodologies central to your chosen profession. It is also excellent preparation for professional schools that emphasize clear thinking and analytical ability.