Engaged in the Contemporary World

MSU Philosophy aspires to be a pluralist department that supports a wide range of approaches to doing philosophy. As a department, we pursue this work through attention to our core values: accountability, responsibility, and respect.

By pursuing these values, we commit to taking necessary actions to develop a departmental culture that sustains safety, inclusivity, and equity. These actions include self-reflection, open conversation, and focused workshops.

Accountability

We will hold each other accountable as we engage in the ongoing process of building a safe, supportive, and trusting environment, which includes  transparency about the processes that govern the department and the bases for important decisions.

Responsibility

We consider it our individual and collective responsibility to be caring and supportive colleagues to all members and to engage ethically with the broader communities we work with.

Respect

Our departmental culture is grounded in pervasive mutual respect and the work that we do, as reflected in our willingness to listen to diverse perspectives on complex issues and to learn from each other.

Academics

Our graduate program offers traditional and practical areas in

Bioethics
environmental philosophy & ethics
social and political thought
socially engaged philosophy of science

We offer

Small Class Sizes & Flexible Scheduling

Individual attention from award-winning faculty, staff, and advisors in classes offered on campus and online – create your own path through a major or minor.

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Philosophy That Matters

Philosophical methods, resources, and elements of traditional areas of philosophy to help address practical issues of concern to society at large and to disciplines outside of philosophy.

Philosophy Beyond the Classroom

Senior Thesis, Philosophy Club, Fellowships, Distinguished Philosophy speaker series, experiential learning, career preparation.

Degree areas

Philosophy BA

Philosophy BA critically examines the most basic beliefs about the world and the place of people in it.

Philosophy Law Major

Philosophy BA-MA

Admission to the Linked Bachelor’s-Master’s program allows the application of up to 9 credits toward the master’s program

Philosophy MA

Philosophy PHD

Philosophy Minor

Philosophy Minor is for those interested in studying philosophy within a broader intellectual perspective.

Philosophy Law Minor

The Philosophy Law minor covers such issues as law and morality and how changes in technology contribute to law.

Philosophy BA

A Philosophy BA critically examines the fundamental beliefs about the world and the place of people in it.

Philosophy BA-MA

Admission to the Linked Bachelor’s-Master’s program allows the application of up to 9 credits toward the master’s program

Philosophy MA

We no longer admit students to the MA program.

Philosophy PHD

The PhD program emphasizes a broad range of philosophical issues. Opportunities exist for interdisciplinary work, specializations, and concentrations.

Philosophy Minor

A Philosophy Minor is for those interested in studying philosophy within a broader intellectual perspective.

Philosophy Law Minor

The Philosophy Law minor covers such issues as law and morality and how changes in technology contribute to law.

How Can Philosophy Impact Communities? 

Chayse Hurley ‘19 

Student

What Unique Skills can Philosophy Provide? 

Victor Draine ‘12 

Alumni

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How can Philosophy impact communities?
Chase Hurley ’19
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What unique Skills can Philosophy provide?
Victor Draine ’12
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undergraduate experience

Our Philosophy major offers a you a personalized experience. We empower our students to think critically and examine the most basic beliefs about the world we live in.

CHANGING THE WORLD WITH ENGAGED PHILOSOPHY​

Through the creation of the Engaged Philosophy Internship Program (EPIP), MSU’s Department of Philosophy is hoping to change how the world views philosophy.

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“What we do in the Toolbox Dialogue Initiative is use philosophy to structure a dialogue among collaborators in complex projects that focus on real-world issues like climate change or invasive species.” 

Michael O’Rourke

Professor of Philosophy
Director of the Toolbox Dialogue Initiative, an NSF-sponsored research initiative 

Philosophy Professor Interviewed for the APA

Megan Dean discusses her work on the ethics of eating in a recent interview for the American Philosophical Association Blog. 

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Philosophy Department Recognized for the Engaged Philosophy Internship Program

The Daily Nous, a philosophy news site, recently recognized the department for excellence in preparing graduate students for non-academic career paths through the Engaged Philosophy Internship Program. 

Fusing Ideas Through Philosophy: Center Elevates Collaborative Research Between the Arts and Sciences

“When we practice philosophy in C4I, we practice engaged philosophy. We apply principles and offer services that leverage the power of philosophy and help others understand why philosophy is important to the world.”

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Philosophy Professor Recognized for Anti-Violence Research

Elena Ruíz’s anti-violence research has attracted the interest and support of advocacy organizations and philanthropic groups world-wide, including the Me Too Movement Organization for which she was named principal researcher for gender-based violence in January 2020. 

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