For Students: An Introduction

Philosophy is a diverse and challenging subject. Philosophers tackle some of the most abstract - yet basic - questions we can ask about the world and our experience in it. As a result, students will find that studying philosophy can involve pursuing a wide range of more specific interests, including language, morality, the law, the nature of scientific enquiry, art, literature, and mathematics. The philosophy department welcomes this diversity and encourages students to pursue those questions that most move them. By following the links above, you can learn more about the subject matter of philosophy; what kinds of topics we study, and what it means to study those topics philosophically. You can also find advice about where to start; which courses are tailored to the student with no philosophical background and how to choose among them.

Studying philosophy provides students with intellectual skills that will serve them well in just about any field or career they might choose to pursue after graduation. While some students continue on to graduate school in philosophy, many more opt for other paths, including law, medicine, and business. In all of these fields, the rigorous analytical training provided by philosophical study equips students to tackle new subjects effectively. For more information about the general benefits of philosophical training, consult the Why Philosophy page. To learn more about what Wellesley alums have done with their philosophy degrees, visit the Philosophy Futures page in the For Majors section.