Why Study Here?

The SMU Department of Philosophy is well known for strength in ethics, moral psychology, metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of science.

Students focus on the development of skills in reasoning, their understanding of arguments and viewpoints, the critical evaluation of varied perspectives, and clear written and oral communication. The critical thinking skills developed in the major and minors are of benefit to students in many disciplines and are especially useful as preparation for law school.

Undergraduate Degrees

Department Features

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Faculty

Preparing students with critical thinking and writing skills necessary for a successful life after graduation.
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Events

Undergraduate students have opportunities to attend interdisciplinary events with campus experts.
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Coursework

Upper-level courses cover core areas of philosophy, important historical figures, and specialized topics such as animal rights, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of law.

Get involved

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Alumni Testimonials

Our alumni have gone on to have rewarding lives and successful careers in diverse fields. We asked them to tell us what studying philosophy at SMU has done for them. Here is what they told us.

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Philosophy Club

Undergraduate students in Philosophy Club attend exclusive social events, study sessions, talks, and discussions with faculty members.

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Current Events

The Philosophy Department has hosted conferences on Free Will and on Consciousness and the Self, as well as two workshops in Ethical Theory.

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Top Notch Students

We help students build critical thinking skills that are beneficiary in many disciplines and are especially useful as preparation for law school.