Philosophy

The Philosophy Department offers five programs:

• Philosophy, B.A. (major)
• Philosophy, B.A. with honors (major)
• Ethics (minor)
• Philosophy (minor)
• Religious Studies (minor)

Philosophy: Preparation for a successful 21st century life and career

Philosophy is the love of wisdom. Whether you are considering your professional life, your personal life, or your communal life, the same skills will allow you to live that life wisely and so will lead to that life being successful, particularly in the 21st Century. Philosophy courses at Buffalo State concentrate on the development of these 21st Century skills.

By studying philosophy, students learn how to

• Be more thoughtful and reflective
• Think analytically, critically, and logically
• Analyze beliefs and values, especially on controversial issues
• Examine and develop their own values
• Write and speak with greater clarity and persuasiveness
• Read and listen with deeper understanding and appreciation
• Reason and argue with greater ease and authority
• Act and think with greater independence and self-motivation
• Recognize and examine multiple alternatives and perspectives
• Be open to similarities and differences
• Collaborate with others, and
• Resolve conflicts

These are the skills that are needed for successful friendships, relationships, government, and careers. As the Center for Public Education explains in its article "Defining a 21st Century Education":

Computers are substituting for humans in performing "routine" work tasks that require the rote following of rules or directions. At the same time, workers are increasingly being required to perform more complex thinking tasks that computers still cannot perform, such as those that involve complex interaction with other humans (whether collaborating, persuading, or selling), or that require solving unexpected problems. Strong math (logic), reading, and writing skills—"the three R's"—are essential, too, since they form the foundation for complex communication and expert thinking. Research shows that students who develop a broad set of in-demand competencies—the ability to think critically about information, solve novel problems, communicate and collaborate, create new products and processes, and adapt to change--will be at a great advantage in work and life.

Also, you might want to check out alumni stories, which talk about how our alumni use these skills in their careers.

Ethics or Philosophy: A perfect complement to any major

Philosophy is the only major (or minor) that will help you with any career path. It is worth remembering that most people who start their careers in the 21st Century will change career paths multiple times. The skills you learn in philosophy classes will help you navigate this ever-changing world of work with efficiency and success. How can this be? Philosophy, as the founding discipline of many areas of research, provides skills needed by all of these other areas, and so it is a natural complement to many different disciplines today.

In the past, majors from these disciplines have found philosophy an excellent way to enhance and broaden their studies and skills: biology, business, communications, computer science, criminal justice, earth sciences, economics, education, English, history, mathematics, psychology, political science, social work, and sociology. Students from other majors are encouraged to consult our philosophy faculty for advice on which philosohy courses will best complement their interests.

So, even if your heart is set on starting a career in a field that requires you to major in a particular subject that's not philosophy, you might want to consider a minor in either ethics or philosophy, or adding a second major in philosophy.

Philosophy: Some additional perks:

• Dedictaed, talented faculty
• Caring and supportive environment, particularly for women and minority students
• Exceptional advisement
• Multiple speaker series
• Scholarship opportunities, and
• Student clubs and acivities, such as ethics bowl, WIP, and Phi Sigma Tau.

Religious Studies: Preparing for a diverse world

The religious studies program equips students with skills that help them to be competitive in their academic, professional and social lives. The courses in our religious studies minor have three objectives:

1. To supplement courses from other disciplines so that students from all majors can deepen their understanding of courses in their chosen fields of study.
2. To enhance our students' abilities to find employment in areas requiring the ability to work with people from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds.
3. To develop our students’ abilities to interact and communicate with individuals in various social environments.

Our students always find the religious studies program both valuable and essential. Students across various disciplines have stated the following reasons for choosing to enroll in our program.

• Education: To sympathize with the diverse backgrounds of their students.
• Communication: To competitively work in journalism, media production and public communication.
• Criminal Justice: To understand different cultures in the areas where their service is performed.
• Business: To understand the needs of their clients, customers and employees.
• Healthcare: To understand their patients’ religious sensibilities, their preferences and their restrictions.
• Arts: To appreciate the contribution of religious traditions to art and music.
• Social sciences (such as political science, history, anthropology): To provide greater depth in their course work.
• Humanities (such as philosophy, literature and modern and classical languages): To understand the intersecting and diverging points of view of religion, philosophy and languages.