Philosophy

Philosophy has helped Jaime Griesemer C’99 design some of the world’s most popular video games, including the Xbox game Halo. During game development, he must imagine all possible scenarios and be objective throughout the testing process. “Philosophy…asks you to step outside yourself and analyze your own thoughts objectively. It causes you to be flexible with your thinking around many different arguments.”

Why Study Philosophy?

Ponder life’s important questions, and then learn how to question those questions. With 2,500 years of philosophical thought as your guide, you will gain critical insight into the most pressing issues facing society today. Philosophy will teach you to think critically, listen closely, speak deliberately, write clearly, interpret experience, and evaluate well—skills that are valued in every business, organization, and community.

Why North Park?

Our philosophy major incorporates all of North Park’s distinctives—Christian, urban, and multicultural. We explore the connections between religion and philosophy, move our classroom to Chicago’s urban environment, and bring in multicultural viewpoints from a diverse group of philosophers. Small classes allow you to engage in deep discussions with your peers and professors as you examine the major issues of our time and ask some of life’s biggest questions.

Philosophy In Every Career

The highly valued skills you will develop as a philosophy major—critical thinking, writing, speaking, listening, interpreting, and evaluating—are practical, marketable, and transferable to any field. Our majors work in politics, art, business, law, community development, education, ministry, and more.

Alumni Graduate Schools

Recent philosophy majors have gone on to top graduate schools and seminaries, including Yale University, Northwestern University, Boston College, University of Illinois, University of Notre Dame, St. Andrews University in Scotland, Fuller Seminary, and University of Chicago Divinity School.

Alumni Profile

Philosophy classes and a tutoring experience propelled David D’Antonio C’08 into the plight of urban education—and to Naples, Italy, where he is teaching and researching the issue as a Fulbright Scholar.

Read more about David's experience.

Meet the Faculty

Dr. Clark says philosophy teaches you to think about the questions that a Google search can’t answer.

Learn more about Dr. Clark and the philosophy faculty.

Double Major

Philosophy complements many subjects by teaching how to think about the significant issues in our society. Common double majors include art, biblical studies, business, literature, music, physics and politics.

Interesting Classes

Zombie Apocalypse: Students travel to Covenant Point in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to learn how to survive after the collapse of civilization and question what distinguishes us from zombies in the context of art, disgust, language, and ethics.

Next Steps

Program Requirements