Philosophy Major and Minor
Religion and Philosophy Division
The philosophy major at Seaver College offers students a broad education in historical and contemporary philosophical explorations of various regions of human experience, including the nature of knowledge and reality, the theoretical foundations of morality and ethics, and the distinction between cogent and fallacious reasoning. In so doing, we draw upon work of the greatest thinkers of the ancient, modern, and contemporary periods.
Philosophy Degree
Philosophy examines the fundamental assumptions and problems implicit in the framework of the human experience, critically assesses those assumptions, and seeks to articulate and defend alternatives for their improvement. As such, our philosophy degree program offers students a valuable educational background for the pursuit of careers in a variety of fields including law, journalism, government, public service, and business.
Philosophy 4-Year Plan
Philosophy Minors
Philosophy Minor
Because of its emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving, and persuasive writing and speech, the philosophy minor is an ideal complement to many majors and helps prepare students for careers in a wide range of fields including business, law, medicine, advertising, and criminal justice. Two lower-division and three upper-division courses are required, for a total of 20 units.
Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science/Philosophy
Our computer science/philosophy curriculum provides students with a working knowledge of logic with applications to philosophical argumentation and to program analysis. Students learn multiple programming paradigms and their languages and experience a senior capstone course in philosophy.
What Religion / Philosophy Division Grads Are Doing
Data collected from the 2021 class within six months of graduation.
Employed Full-Time or Part-Time
Admitted to Graduate School
Total Settled Graduates
Why Pepperdine
Pepperdine Seaver College is consistently recognized among the top-ranked universities in California and the United States. We are a Christian university where students grow in knowledge and character. As a liberal arts institution, we focus on providing rich opportunities for intellectual and spiritual exploration for students with a diverse community.
Located in Malibu, CA
13:1 Student-to-Faculty Ratio
80% of Students Participate in an International Program
120,000+ Alumni Network
Philosophy Major Curriculum
With its emphasis on logical analysis, problem-solving, and cogent writing, the philosophy major is excellent preparation for nearly any profession. In addition to graduate work in the humanities or theology, many philosophy majors advance to successful careers in law, journalism, government, and business.
Because the philosophy degree can easily be a second major, the program complements many other studies, from the natural sciences to business.
Phi Sigma Tau Honor Society
The Religion and Philosophy Division sponsors a chapter of Phi Sigma Tau, the national honor society of philosophy. Phi Sigma Tau recognizes excellence in scholarship and promotes philosophical discussion outside of the classroom through informal events. The national honor society publishes the biannual journal, Dialogue, providing undergraduate students in philosophy the opportunity to be published. Interested students should contact Dr. Garrett Pendergraft.
Our Pepperdine philosophy majors have impressive records. Some have pursued careers immediately after graduating, while others have gone on to graduate from professional programs, including doctoral programs in philosophy, medical schools, law schools, and nursing schools.
The Philosophy Club is committed to providing a venue for philosophical activities that is both distinct from and complementary to what goes on in the classroom. Our discussions on philosophical topics—ranging from personal identity, the existence of God to the philosophy of language and animal rights—make up the club's core.
Philosophy Student Testimonials
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Religion Philosophy Division
Office: APC 201
Daniel A. Rodriguez
Divisional Dean & Professor of Religion and Hispanic Studies
Tiffany Ferguson
Priscilla Wesely
Center for Faith and Learning
Faith and Vocation