Philosophy
About Philosophy
Our Program and Courses
Philosophy is a major and minor at F&M. You’ll deep-dive and analyze seemingly everyday questions, examine the historical traditions of philosophy, and explore a broad range of contemporary philosophical issues and topics — all while cultivating skills in critical thinking and philosophical argument. All philosophy majors share a common core of coursework and complete the major by exploring current work in philosophy, during which leading scholars in the field will visit and share their current research.
Curious what philosophy courses are like? Explore our course catalog to discover the types of classes available to you.
Learning Outside the Classroom
Our highly committed professors actively seek to engage you in cutting-edge scholarship, discussion, and research. They’re dedicated to tailoring your education to your interests and goals, and helping you to discover independent study and study-abroad opportunities that will broaden your understanding of the discipline.
Research Opportunities
If there’s a philosophical area or idea you’re eager to explore, you won’t have to
wait until graduate school to launch your investigation. Every student at F&M has
extraordinary opportunities to work closely with professors in faculty-led research
or engage in an independent research project.
Explore research at F&M
Off-Campus Study
Off-campus study, in the U.S. and internationally, is encouraged. Previous philosophy
majors have studied abroad in England, Italy, Japan, Germany, and have even spent
a semester at sea.
Explore off-campus study at F&M
Success Beyond F&M
What do philosophy majors typically do after college? Philosophical skills can be applied to any subject, issue, challenge, or topic. Many of our graduates go on to enjoy successful careers in a wide range of professions and attend excellent graduate programs.
Graduate School
Philosophy majors frequently go on to study in graduate programs, pursuing a wide range of advanced degrees at institutions such as Columbia University, Stanford University, Princeton University, New York University, Yale University, Georgetown University, and Carnegie Mellon University. Our graduates have gone on to study:
- Philosophy
- Law
- Philosophy of Education
- Medicine
- Psychology
- Creative Writing
- Cinematic Arts
- Business
Career Paths
The ability to think critically about multiple views and communicate your perspective clearly will serve you well in just about any career you choose. Philosophy graduates are prepared for a wide array of careers, including in law, education, business, medicine, and government. They hold positions such as:
- Professor of Psychology
- Professor of Philosophy
- Department Chair of Philosophy
- Teacher
- Law Associate
- Attorney
- Assistant Prosecutor
- Assistant General Counsel
- Assistant District Attorney
- Federal Prosecutor
- Senior Bibliographic Specialist
- Physician
- Director of Mental Health Services
- Creative Director
- Project Manager
- Marketing Manager
- Director of Sales
- Software Developer
Certificates are supplemental educational pathways you can pursue at F&M. Certificates
are not tied to your major or minor, but can be added to your resume to demonstrate
a specialized level of training and education in a particular area. Philosophy is
a major component of several of F&M’s certificates: Diversity and Equality in Education,
Legal Studies, Health Humanities, Data Science, and Language and Communication.Student Spotlight
“F&M’s commitment to experiential learning has allowed me to explore my interests
and prepare for my future in ways I never imagined.”
At Franklin & Marshall, we want you to gain hands-on experience and convert theory
into practice — not just read about it in a textbook. For William Gerber ’26, this
meant interning for the President Judge of the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas,
an experience that reinforced his decision to pursue a future in law.
“F&M’s commitment to experiential learning through internships like this has allowed
me to explore my interests and prepare for my future in ways I never imagined,” he
said.
Gerber, a philosophy minor, said the most fascinating aspect of his experience was
the insights he received from the judges themselves behind the scenes.
“Whether it be after they give their rulings, or in the middle of a settlement conference
where the judge is facilitating negotiations between opposing counsels and is privy
to information that each side is not aware of, getting to hear their thoughts and
reasoning before and after proceedings has deepened my understanding of how legal
decisions are made,” he said. “It’s one thing to learn about judicial reasoning in
the classroom, but another entirely to see it applied in real time and in real cases.”
Read More »Alumni Spotlight
London Calling: Kate McBride ’24 Chases Political Dreams Across the Pond
Discovering a passion and gaining the confidence to fulfill your dreams — that’s
the Diplomat way.
Emboldened by her research with F&M Global Barometers and a transformative study abroad
experience in London, Kate McBride ’24 moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a master’s
degree in political behavior at London School of Economics (LSE).
“Those opportunities allowed me to discover a calling within myself that I don't think
I would have discovered otherwise, and it completely altered my course of action going
forward,” McBride, a philosophy and government double major said. “I will never be
able to put into words how well F&M prepared me to tackle postgraduate study in the
U.K.”
Read More »Course Spotlight
F&M Students Take Philosophy to High School Classrooms
The internship-for-credit course Philosophy at McCaskey gives F&M students the opportunity
to visit the nearby McCaskey High School throughout the semester to lead discussions
on philosophy. The discussions cover a variety of subjects — from player safety in
the NFL to ghosting — and aim to apply philosophy to everyday scenarios.
“We always try to pick issues that are accessible for high school students,” said
Professor of Philosophy Lee Franklin, who teaches the course.
Taking philosophy into high school classes gives F&M students a new way of engaging
with the material they’re studying, shifting the dynamic and putting them in charge
of planning lessons. To do so effectively, they need to deeply engage with the material
and understand how to make it accessible to others. It also reminds students of the
practical applications of what they’re studying.
“I wanted to give our students the opportunity to see how philosophy could be applied
meaningfully in the community and outside of an academic context,” Franklin said.
Read More »F&M Certificates: Explore Innovative Fields of Study
Related Fields of Study
Cognitive Science
How do minds fit into the natural world? When you study cognitive science at F&M, you’ll employ intellectual tools from several disciplines to understand the nature of the mind and how it works, functions, and behaves.
Moral Psychology
What leads people to engage in selfless — or selfish — acts? Study moral psychology at F&M and investigate the psychological processes of humans in moral contexts through a blended lens of science and humanities.
Government
F&M’s Department of Government has earned a reputation as one of the finest in the country. Study government at F&M and examine power, politics, justice, equity, and change while developing skills in language, economics, mathematics and philosophy.
A Glimpse at Philosophy at F&M
October 23, 2025
Get to Know F&M's New Faculty
This fall, five new professors joined the Franklin & Marshall faculty—a vibrant community of scholars who shape the College’s distinctive academic experience. Their research interests range from parasitology to documentary film, from diplomatic networks in the Middle East to algorithmic surveillance online. Read on to get to know these new members of our campus community and hear what they had to say about the F&M experience, life in Lancaster, and more.
September 2, 2025
Internship Provides Compelling Evidence for a Future in Law
For William Gerber ’26, an internship for the President Judge of the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas reinforced his decision to pursue a future in law. “This practical experience I’ve gained has proven to be crucial in aiding my decision to apply to law school,” he said.
June 12, 2025
London Calling: Kate McBride ’24 Chases Political Dreams Across the Pond
Emboldened by her research with F&M Global Barometers and a transformative study abroad experience in London, Kate McBride ’24 moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a master’s degree in political behavior at London School of Economics (LSE). “Those opportunities allowed me to discover a calling within myself that I don't think I would have discovered otherwise, and it completely altered my course of action going forward,” she said.