Philosophy

Department Overview

For wisdom's sake.

Our curriculum aims to educate you in whole-souled wisdom, a state of character marked by both intellectual clarity and well-ordered loves. As thoughtful Christian faculty guide you toward intellectual clarity, you will develop a deep grasp of God’s world, coupled with a range of analytical skills: the ability to recognize connections and implications; the ability to define, distinguish, and argue an issue; and the ability to recognize and articulate central assumptions that drive a thinker or culture. As you rightly align your loves, you will cultivate an ever more discerning appetite for the good, the true, and the beautiful, a heartfelt sensitivity to what genuinely matters in human life.

Tradition, arts, and community.

Discover the three pillars which make our program unique. First, we nurture our students on the greatest thinkers and texts from both inside and outside of the Christian wisdom tradition. We contend that growth in wisdom requires a disciplined receiving of the best of what has gone before. So you will read and grapple with the works of notable philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Lucretius, Seneca, Augustine, Aquinas, Dante, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, and Kierkegaard, among others. Second, we train students in the arts of reading, writing, and conversing. Learn how to interpret and analyze works, how to discern and defend a viewpoint, and how to express your discoveries through the written and spoken word. Third, you will thrive in our community of scholars who eat, laugh, and argue with each other for the glory of God and the common good.

From language to law, religion to politics, education to business — a cultivated philosophical mind lends itself to profound influence in any field. Through rigorous study and debate, you will learn to think clearly and analytically about a host of subjects and issues, which will enhance your studies beyond philosophy especially with the option to pursue a double major or minor. We will train you to take a posture toward life that is marked by a deep longing to know your place in the world, understand the fundamental nature of reality, and discern how best to use your gifts to love God and neighbor.

To support your professional development, faculty offer research opportunities to juniors and seniors through which you can apply your skills and dig deeper into special areas of interest. You may also pursue internships, which have recently taken our students to law firms, schools, churches, nonprofit organizations, and businesses for cross-disciplinary experience around the country. Additionally, our program facilitates student participation in various academic conferences and seminars nationwide.

Like 95% of Grove City College graduates within six months of graduation, you will be prepared to land a job that demands critical thinking and wise decision-making, whether you end up in education, policy, journalism, or ministry, among other fields. You’ll also be well equipped to thrive in graduate and law schools such as MIT, University of Notre Dame, Oxford, and Harvard Law — where some of our recent graduates have landed. Wherever you are called to make an impact, you will stand out as a deep thinker who can perceive Truth, make informed decisions, communicate humbly and convincingly, and pursue the good life for God’s glory and your neighbors’ well-being.

Department Fact Sheet

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

The Philosophy program at Grove City College offers students in their junior and senior years the opportunity to conduct meaningful research under the supervision of experienced and well-published faculty.