- Policy analyst, BC Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction
- Video journalist and associate producer, CBC News
- Assistant professor of Philosophy, Rice University
- Medical officer, Canadian Armed Forces
Get a post-graduate work permit for up to three years if you are a full-time UBC international student graduating from a bachelor’s degree program and meet all eligibility criteria.
Want to learn more?
Visit the Faculty of Arts website to learn more about Philosophy.
View full program detailsProgram information
Philosophy covers everything from fundamental questions about knowledge, the meaning of life and how to live it, to questions about how to design intelligent robots, the ethics of scientific and technological innovation, and how to evaluate government policies.
Program overview
- Campus
- Vancouver
- Program length
- 4 years
- Honours This option has additional requirements compared to those required in a Major specialization. Students must maintain high academic standing and may have to write a graduating thesis.
- Yes
- Co-op Co-op is an optional program where students alternate between academic terms and paid work terms. It’s an opportunity to gain relevant job experience while completing your degree.
- Yes
- Faculty
- Faculty of Arts
- Degree
- Bachelor of Arts
What you'll learn
The study of philosophy gives you tools to think carefully and critically about almost any subject that you may be interested in. You will learn how to analyze arguments, construct your own arguments, and understand the historical context of many of today’s most pressing problems. Philosophy can help you improve your ability to read, write persuasively, and present your ideas effectively; to analyze and evaluate complicated information usefully; and to solve complex problems.
UBC’s Vancouver campus has strengths in a variety of areas of philosophy, including the philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, the analytic tradition, ethics, political philosophy, aesthetics, and feminist philosophy.
Experiential learning and research
By taking advanced courses, you can write research papers on topics of your own design. Topical courses include environmental ethics, biomedical ethics, philosophy of sex and gender, minds and machines, science and technology, and law. Participate in an international experience, and study topics in philosophy – such as power, oppression, and economic development – in a different part of the world.
Campus features
Hemlock is an online philosophy journal for undergraduate students published at the University of British Columbia.
Program advantages
Establish a knowledge base that is transferable to other academic disciplines and a breadth of careers. Strengthen your communication skills, critical reasoning skills, and general problem-solving skills. Earn a degree with high rates of salary growth.
Courses
There are hundreds of courses you can take in Philosophy. Here are a few you might like.
Basic problems and methods of Philosophy. Topics such as the existence of God, the nature and scope of human knowledge, the relationship between mind and body, personal identity, free will, issues and problems in moral philosophy
Moral issues such as life and death decisions, paternalism, markets, animal welfare, technology, and global justice
Relationship between sex, gender, and philosophy. Topics may include ethics, epistemology, science, social relations, law, and personhood
The contribution of the senses to knowledge of the external world; the nature of perception and its contribution to empirical knowledge
Outcomes
As a Philosophy graduate, you will be well prepared to start careers in any field that values clear thinking, expression, and persuasion. Graduates can go into business, public service, education, or research. It is also an excellent springboard to professions such as law and public administration.
Program graduates
Take action & plan
Program requirements
Choose application type:
English-language requirements
English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. There are numerous ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.
General admission requirements
IB Diploma Programme
- Completed IB Diploma, including at least three Higher Level courses.
IB Certificate Courses
- IB Certificate courses (Standard and Higher Level) may be used in an admissions average if you are graduating from a recognized high school curriculum that can be used as your basis of admission.
- IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, do not satisfy the math requirement for admission to UBC’s science-based programs, the Faculty of Management, the UBC Sauder School of Business, or the Vancouver School of Economics.
Degree-specific requirements: Arts
- No specific courses required beyond those needed for general admission
Related courses
The following subject categories are particularly relevant for this degree. Consider taking courses in these areas in your junior year and senior year.
- Language Arts
- Mathematics and Computation
- Second Languages
- Social Studies
- Visual and Performing Arts
Want to get a feel for campus?
If you’re unable to visit UBC in person, or you just want to get a sneak peek at your new home campus before you arrive, take one of our virtual tours. Current UBC students walk you through UBC’s residences, study spots, recreational facilities, lecture halls, academic buildings, and more.
Related programs
Want to learn more?
Visit the Faculty of Arts website to learn more about Philosophy.
View full program detailsGet a post-graduate work permit for up to three years if you are a full-time UBC international student graduating from a bachelor’s degree program and meet all eligibility criteria.
Want to learn more?
Visit the Faculty of Arts website to learn more about Philosophy.
View full program details