Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religious Studies in Philosophy Pre-Law

Catalog Year 2026-2027

Based on VCCS Curriculum for PHILOSOPHY

Transfer Guidance

Guaranteed Admission to University of Mary Washington

• Earn a transfer associate degree.

• Earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 for your associate degree.

• Earn grades of "C" or higher in all community college courses.

Important Links & Dates

• University Transfer Center: https://www.umw.edu/admissions/transfer/

• Register Intent to Transfer: After the first 15 credits, complete this form and submit to admit@umw.edu to receive application fee waiver: https://www.umw.edu/admissions/adult/our-commitment/guaranteed-admission...

• Admission Application: Apply by October 15 for spring admission, March 1 for summer admission, and April 1 for fall admission. Additional details and a transfer checklist are available at https://www.umw.edu/admissions/transfer/

• Financial Aid: https://www.umw.edu/financialaid/

• FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid: Apply by April 1 to ensure you receive the maximum aid for which you are eligible. FAFSA’s will still be accepted after the April 1 deadline. The required forms are found at http://studentaid.gov

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses?

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year. For help, see Transfer Steps and Resource Center at www.TransferVirginia.org

• Connect with an advisor at your community college and University of Mary Washington within your first year. College Connect available in your account at www.TransferVirginia.org

Is This Degree Right For Me?

• While a college student planning to pursue law can major in any discipline, philosophy is among the more common choices, and many of our Philosophy majors have continued successfully in law school. Law schools want students to come in with a background in logic, reasoning, and problem-solving. For the student who enjoys thinking and rational argument, and who is eager to pursue a challenging course of study, the pre-law philosophy major is a good option.

• Philosophy is meaningfully connected to virtually all other disciplines and can prove a valuable major or double major for a range of professional interests. It is expected of the philosophy major to learn to read and analyze texts with attention to argument, to develop the ability to reason dispassionately and critically, to acquire the ability to articulate ideas and arguments both orally and in writing with clarity, precision and cogency.

• Students majoring in philosophy will develop knowledge of the history and current state of Western philosophy, critical areas of Asian philosophy, a grasp of representative philosophical issues and ways of dealing with them, a capacity to apply philosophical methods to intellectual problems, and a sense of how philosophy bears on other disciplines and on human life more generally. A philosophy major, leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies, develops a critical mind, a balance of analytic and interpretive abilities, and a capacity for the imaginative development of abstract formulations and their concrete applications. These virtues make philosophy especially good preparation for responsible citizenship and positions of leadership.

What Is The Impact On My Degree Of Work I Have Already Completed?

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: Transfer students with a VCCS transferable associate degree have completed the UMW general education requirements except second language competency, digital intensive, diverse and global perspectives, after Mary Washington, and beyond the classroom general education requirements. UMW does allow students to satisfy these requirements through qualifying transfer coursework.

• Dual Enrollment - Completion of Associate Degree in HS: Students participating in dual enrollment programs are considered as freshman applicants. Dual enrollment courses taken at the high school are treated identically with the same course when taken on a college campus; dual enrollment status does not affect the transferability of the course.

• Credit for Prior Learning: UMW accepts credit for AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge, and other qualifying previous coursework. Equivalencies are provided here: https://academics.umw.edu/registrar/transfer-information/resources-and-p...

• Catalog Year: Students must complete general education requirements associated with the academic year that they enroll at UMW. Students complete major requirements associated with the academic year in which they declare their major.

Is This College Right For Me?

• UMW is a small university located in suburban Fredericksburg, VA. We offer small class sizes and courses are taught by faculty committed to student learning and success.

• Home is precisely what UMW will come to feel like. Our campus is gorgeous, green, and full of opportunity. Join a club sports team. Audition for a musical. Lead the way in Student Government Association. See a performance or an exhibition. Or sit back, relax, and take it all in from the cozy comfort of Ball Circle.

• UMW offers high impact experiences beyond the classroom. Faculty are committed to collaborating with students on research projects and outreach experiences.

• UMW is located between Washington DC and Richmond, VA, both of which boast significant visual art resources. UMW students enjoy a multitude of internship opportunities where they can apply their academic knowledge while gaining professional experience. UMW students receive support with resumes and job searches through the department and University resources and can earn academic credit for qualifying internship experiences.

• Learn more about our college at www.TransferVirginia.org

Did You Know That…

• Completing your associate’s transfer degree satisfies most lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor’s degree.

• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at the University of Mary Washington.

What Can I Do With This Degree?

• A Philosophy major is a superb pre-law major, looked upon with favor by many top-notch law schools.

• Explore possible careers, salaries, and job outlook at www.TransferVirginia.org

Program Successes & Highlights

• Philosophy at Mary Washington is located in the Department of Cultural and Philosophical Inquiry, an exciting interdisciplinary department housing Anthropology, Art History, Classical Studies, Philosophy, and Religious Studies. We have a lively department culture.

• The Philosophy degree at UMW offers concentrations in Philosophy and in Philosophy Pre-Law (see separate Transfer Guide). We also offer minors in Practical Ethics and in Pre-Law.

• Interested in shortening your law degree? UMW offers a 3+3 program in collaboration with GMU.

• Active student groups including the Pre-Law Society and Moot Court Club offer great chances for student engagement.

• The department’s Leidecker Center for Asian Studies and Khatib Center for Religious Dialogue provide additional opportunities.

• Requirements for departmental honors in Philosophy include an overall GPA of at least 3.2 (3.5 in Philosophy) PHIL 485 during senior year; a substantial written thesis; an oral, public defense of the thesis; deposit of the thesis in CPIN and Simpson Libraries.

• Although not required for the Pre-Law major, we also offer PHIL 110 Introduction to Law and Legal Writing, which provides an overview of the U.S. legal system, basic categories of the law, and practice at writing legal briefs. This course is taught by a local attorney who also coaches the Moot Court club.

• Latin has an important place in legal history and terminology; some background in Latin is advantageous to the student of law. Learning a classical language fosters analytical skills, writing skills, attention to detail, and contributes to self-awareness.

• In addition to the required course Introductory Logic (PHIL 151), Advanced Logic (PHIL 306) is also recommended. Law school admissions committees continue to treat LSAT scores as significant indicators of a student’s likelihood of success in the study of law, and there is no better preparation for that test than a good background in basic logic.

• Philosophy of Law: PHIL 320 and 325 provide an overview of the major theories of law, as well as addressing specific areas of study within legal theory, such as punishment, rights, equality, causality, liberty, etc.

• Fredericksburg’s proximity to Washington DC and Richmond as well as its Amtrak train station provide great opportunities for internships and other professional experiences.

What Are My Chances For Getting Accepted?

• With an associate’s degree and a 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA, you may qualify for UMW’s Guaranteed Admissions Agreement with the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). Additional details are available here: https://www.umw.edu/admissions/adult/our-commitment/guaranteed-admission...

• Each fall, UMW enrolls approximately 300 students from the Virginia Community College System and other schools inside and outside of Virginia.

• Learn more about applying at www.TransferVirginia.org

Do More With Your Degree!

• Many students take advantage of on-campus internships and employment opportunities within our department.

Other Than Classes, Are There Other Program Requirements?

• There are no additional requirements but students are welcome to consult with the Department Chair with any questions.