Skip to main content
  • Current Students
  • Parents & Families
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Staff

Footer quick links

  • Request Info
  • Plan a Visit
  • Apply Now
  • Apply
  • About
    • Campus Map
    • College Profile
    • Community Commitments
    • Our Commitment to Diversity
    • History of Westmont
    • Institutes & Centers
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Gaede Institute for the Liberal Arts
    • Ridley-Tree Museum of Art
    • Westmont Magazine
    • Consumer Information
      • Request Info
      • Plan a Visit
      • Apply Now
  • Academics
    • Academic Services
    • Augustinian Scholars Program
    • Academic Opportunities
    • Majors and Programs
    • Office of the Provost
    • Outcomes
    • Voskuyl Library
    • Consumer Information
      • Request Info
      • Plan a Visit
  • Admissions & Aid
    • Prospective Students
    • Visit Westmont
    • Financial Aid
    • Admitted Students
    • Confirmed Students
    • Prospective Parents
    • Meet your Counselor
    • Confirm your Place
    • Consumer Information
      • Request Info
      • Plan a Visit
      • Apply Now
  • Student Life
    • Words of Warriors
    • CATlab
    • Living on Campus
    • On Campus Activities
    • Off Campus Activities
    • Our Commitment to Diversity
    • COVE Career Center
    • Ministries
    • Chapel
    • Consumer Information
      • Request Info
      • Plan a Visit
      • Apply Now
  • Giving
    • Why Give?
    • Where to Give
    • How to Give
    • Giving Societies
    • Contact Us
      • Give Today
  • Athletics
  • Research

Academics Sidebar Menu

  • Academics
    • Majors & Programs
    • Faculty
    • Our Approach
    • Experience Opportunities
    • Outcomes
    • Academic Services
    • Voskuyl Library
    • Augustinian Scholars Program
    • Registrar/Student Records Office
    • Office of the Provost
    • Our Commitment to Diversity
    • Consumer Information
Philosophy Major Flyer
Program Review

Degrees and Programs Philosophy

If you love arguments and big ideas, philosophy is for you.

You will rigorously explore our deepest beliefs and biggest questions—about reality, about human nature, about what we can be sure of, about how we should treat one another and why. At Westmont, philosophy is the practice of faith seeking understanding, emboldened by the promise to the prayerful that “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7). Belong to a community that fosters both steadfast Christian commitment and no-holds-barred grappling with the questions and puzzles that thoughtful people of all stripes and every era have asked.

Sample Schedule

First Year
Fall
  • PHI 6 or PHI 6H: Philosophical Perspectives (4)
Spring
  • PHI 12: Critical Reasoning and Logic (4)
Second Year
Fall
  • PHI 103: Ancient Philosophy (4) or PHI 105: Medieval Philosophy (4)
  • PHI 108: Formal Logic (4)
Spring
  • PHI 106: Modern Philosophy (4) or PHI 107: 19th & 20th Century Philosophy (4)
Third Year
Fall
  • PHI 104: Ethics (4) or Upper Division Philosophy Elective (4)
Spring
  • PHI 170: Epistemology (4) or Upper Division Philosophy Elective (4)
Fourth Year
Fall
  • PHI 175: Metaphysics (4) or Upper Division Philosophy Elective (4)
Spring
  • PHI 195: Senior Seminar (4)
  • First Year
  • Second Year
  • Third Year
  • Fourth Year

Faculty Highlights

Mark Nelson, Ph.D.

Authors articles such as “Non-contradiction: Oh Yeah and So What”
 

Read more

James Taylor, Ph.D. - Department Chair

Writes about apologetics and seeking wisdom in a postmodern age

Read more

David Vander Laan, Ph.D.

Studies ultimate realities, loves logic, and designs board games.

Read more

Edward H K Song, Ph.D

Research interests in moral and political philosophy, especially political obligation and state authority, distributive justice, property rights, and some more practical public policy issues related to poverty.

Read more

All Faculty

Meet the Staff

Career Paths

  • Business (management, marketing, human resources, etc.)
  • Law
  • Education
  • Accounting
  • Tech (software engineers, data analysts, etc.)
  • Christian Ministry (pastors, missionaries, etc.)
  • Peace Corps (a number of our students have done this over the years.)
  • Editorial work
  • Social work

See career paths for graduates who majored or minored in philosophy at Westmont.

Philosophy Alumni

Amy Seymour ’07 is an assistant professor of philosophy at Fordham University. She specializes in metaphysics. Amy earned her master’s degree in philosophy at Northern Illinois University, where she also received the Best Philosophy Graduate Student of the Year award in her second and last year. She then went on to the University of Notre Dame where she received her doctorate in philosophy. 

Stephen Bilynskyj ’77 received his master’s degree and doctorate in philosophy from Notre Dame and a Master of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary. He is the pastor of Valley Covenant Church in Eugene, Oregon. He says he has quoted philosophers in his sermons on numerous occasions.

Cristiana Caporale ’10 is a product manager for a tech firm in Seattle. She says, “It’s constructive; we’re building software products. It’s my role to collaboratively pursue answers to: what we build, why we should build it, how to build it and were we successful? I genuinely love what I do.” Her advice for graduating students is to note that you are leaving a system of accountability for your discipline. You could compensate by working out a routine to maintain habits (reading, writing, thinking) and don’t let your momentum slip. 

Footer links menu

  • Request Info
  • Plan a Visit
  • Apply Now

Footer Utility menu

  • Employment
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Emergency Info
  • Consumer Information

955 La Paz Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93108 

805-565-6000

Contact Us

 

Social media menu

©2023
Westmont College - All rights reserved