Program Details
Program Details

Program Details

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

Bachelor of Arts
Sweet Briar College

Among the oldest of the academic disciplines, philosophy explores fundamental questions about the world, including the nature of reality, knowledge, beauty, truth, justice, consciousness, the self and the good life. With its emphasis on cultivating the art of thinking, philosophy is also among the most useful of contemporary disciplines, teaching the essential skills of critical reflection, analytical reasoning, creative problem solving and articulate expression. By studying philosophy, students both sharpen their minds and deepen their understanding of the world and the wonder it inspires.


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
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External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree Philosophy explores fundamental questions about the world, including the nature of reality, knowledge, beauty, truth, justice, consciousness, the self and the good life. Students will sharpen their minds and deepen their understanding of the world and the wonder it inspires. This is accomplished through reading complex texts, evaluation of evidence, and effective deployment of written and verbal skills.
Program Requirement Notes
Program Requirement Notes

This major requires 33.0 hours of coursework. Required Courses: Logic, Political Philosophy, and History of Philosophy. Additional Required Courses: 12.0 hours of additional philosophy with a minimum of 9.0 hours of 300-level coursework. Electives Selected From: 9.0 hours of electives to be taken from mythology, archaeology, history, and psychology. Culminating Experience: Senior seminar/capstone
Considerations When Selecting Courses

Students should expect to take at least 3.0 hours of philosophy their first year.

  • 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
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Sweet Briar College within your first year via College Connect
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses
Doing More With Your Degree As a strong interdisciplinary program, a second major or minor in other programs are natural companions. History and political science programs are often added, especially for students who want to pursue law school.
Program Successes & Highlights Based on national averages, philosophy students perform better than any other majors on LSAT and composite GRE scores while ranking in the top 4 on GMAT scores. Recent majors have attended law school, pursued medicine, studies at the graduate level or launched careers in business, education and nonprofit organizations.
Program Credit Requirements
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Credit and Course Requirements for the Program are expected in a future release. Please look above to see if a Transfer Guide is available for this program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college.

If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
  • Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
  • View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
If you are interested in the cost of attending this institution, please visit the institution's cost page to review costs
Applicable Admissions Agreements
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There are no Applicable Admission Agreements for the Program.

What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion Exemption from the general education requirement, our Leadership Core.

Completion of an associates degree (AA,AS, or AA&S) replaces Sweet Briar's required leadership core curriculum, the college's version of traditional general education requirements. Eligible students may move directly into coursework that fulfills the requirements of their major of choice.
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School Completion of an associates degree (AA,AS, or AA&S) replaces Sweet Briar's required leadership core curriculum, the college's version of traditional general education requirements. Eligible students may move directly into coursework that fulfills the requirements of their major of choice.
Credit for Prior Learning We accept AP and IB results for college credit if the score earned meets college expectations.
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all 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: Sweet Briar College
College Level Information
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Transfer Center
Visit our transfer site for more information
External Link
Transfer Admission Application
Transfer Students - Apply Here
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
Financial Aid for Transfer Students
External Link
Number of Transfer Students
81
Percent of Accepted Transfer Students
65%
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? Sweet Briar has a total enrollment of about 460 students, of which approximately 80 are transfer students. Our average class size is about 12 and the vast majority of our students live on campus.
Transfer Student Catalog Year Catalog year determined by the first semester of attendance. However, students can petition to move back a year to be in the same catalog year as their classmates.
First Year Student Catalog Year Catalog year determined by the first semester of attendance.
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions Same as other transfer students.
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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This section displays degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Hollins UniversityBA in PhilosophyBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Mountain Gateway Community CollegeAssociate of Science Degree in General StudiesAssociateAssociate of Science2-YearIn-Person, Online
Eastern Shore Community CollegeAssociate of Science Degree in General StudiesAssociateAssociate in Science2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
Germanna Community CollegeAssociate of Arts & Sciences Degree in Liberal ArtsAssociateAssociate of Arts and Sciences2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid, Online
Germanna Community CollegeAssociate of Arts & Sciences Degree in General StudiesAssociateAssociate of Arts and Sciences2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid, Online
J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeAssociate of Arts in Liberal Arts - American Sign Language/Deaf Studies MajorAssociateAssociate of Arts2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
Brightpoint Community CollegeAssociate of Arts Degree in Liberal ArtsAssociateAssociate of Arts2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
Brightpoint Community CollegeAssociate of Science Degree in General StudiesAssociateAssociate of Science2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
Laurel Ridge Community CollegeAssociate of Art degree in Liberal ArtsAssociateAssociate of Art2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
Laurel Ridge Community CollegeAssociate of Science Degree in General StudiesAssociateAssociate of Science2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
Northern Virginia Community CollegeGeneral Studies, A.S.AssociateAssociate of Science2-YearIn-Person, Online
Northern Virginia Community CollegeLiberal Arts, A.A.AssociateAssociate of Arts2-YearIn-Person, Online
Rappahannock Community CollegeAA&S Degree in Arts and SciencesAssociateAssociate of Arts and Sciences2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Wytheville Community CollegeAssociate of Arts & Sciences Degree in General StudiesAssociateAssociate of Arts & Science2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
Southside Virginia Community CollegeAssociate of Arts and Sciences with a major in General StudiesAssociateAssociate of Arts and Sciences2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid, Online
Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeAssociate of Arts in Liberal ArtsAssociateAssociate of Arts2-YearIn-Person, Online
Tidewater Community CollegeAssociate of Arts - Liberal ArtsAssociateAssociate of Arts2-YearOnline
Tidewater Community CollegeAssociate of Science - General StudiesAssociateAssociate of Science2-YearOnline
Virginia Western Community CollegeAssociate of Arts Degree in Liberal ArtsAssociateAssociate of Arts2-YearIn-Person, Online, Hybrid
Virginia Western Community CollegeAssociate of Science Degree in General StudiesAssociateAssociate of Science2-YearIn-Person, Hybrid
Christopher Newport UniversityBachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Major in PhilosophyBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Christopher Newport UniversityBachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Major in Philosophy, Concentration in Pre-Seminary StudiesBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Christopher Newport UniversityBachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Major in Philosophy, Concentration in Studies in ReligionBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Roanoke CollegeBachelor of Arts in PhilosophyBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
University of LynchburgBA in PhilosophyBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Virginia Wesleyan UniversityBachelor of Arts in PhilosophyBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
George Mason UniversityPhilosophy, BABachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
William & MaryPhilosophy - Bachelor of ArtsBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Old Dominion UniversityPhilosophy-BABachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityPhilosophy, Bachelor of ArtsBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityPhilosophy with concentration in Ethics and Public Policy, Bachelor of ArtsBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityPhilosophy with concentration in Philosophy and Law, Bachelor of ArtsBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityPhilosophy with concentration in Phlisophy and Science, Bachelor of ArtsBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Emory & Henry UniversityNursing Pre Licensure (BSN)BachelorBachelor of Science Nursi4-YearIn-Person
Randolph-Macon CollegePhilosophy (BA)BachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
University of LynchburgBA in Criminology-PhilosophyBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
University of LynchburgBA in Philosophy-Political ScienceBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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O*Net Code Name Description Parent
25-1126.00Philosophy and Religion Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
Cost To Complete
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This section provides you with a very high-level estimate of your costs and is purely intended as a guide. You should consult the institution via College Connect to get a more detailed estimate based on the totality of your circumstances. The selections below are based on information gathered from your Profile and the estimated costs are calculated based on the 120 credits remaining to be completed

Please select the "Cumulative Months of Service" that determine your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.
Estimated Cost for the Plan Name Not Provided at Sweet Briar College
These costs are based on an estimated 8 semesters or 4 years remaining to complete this degree (assuming a full-time load of 16 hours per semester)
Category Cost Basis Cost (To You) Estimated Benefits Net Cost Notes
Tuition $11,865 Per Semester $94,920 $0 $94,920 Per semester tuition for a full time status of 12 - 19 credit hours. $990 per credit hour for part-time students or for credits taken over 19
Fees
Technology Fee $380 Per Semester $3,040 0 $3,040
Student Life Fee $600 Per Semester $4,800 0 $4,800 Reduced to 100 for non-residential students
*Please note that the above estimated costs do not include all Federal, State or other financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc. for which you may qualify. All such aid could substantially reduce these costs.
Tuition & Fee Notes:
  • New Student Reservation Fee
    • $250 non-refundable fee credited on the first-term fees.
  • Course Supply Fee
    • $100 - Only for applicable courses (such as science labs and arts)
  • Additional Fees
    • Additional fees may include Health Fee ($400), Parking Fee ($170), Post Office box ($72), Graduation ($150) and riding fees (vary) per year.
Other Financial Aid to Pay for College:
  • You may be eligible for additional financial aid from Federal, State, and Local sources. Military education benefits are not considered in determining eligibility for federal financial aid. Everyone is therefore encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), because many will qualify for additional educational funds like Pell Grants, worth over $5,500/yr.