Overview

Philosophy is closely involved with other disciplines because, as human activities and quests for knowledge, they and their findings provide the material for philosophical inquiry. The courses offered by the department are designed to help students develop their own capacities to reflect intelligently on questions of fundamental and lasting significance.

The Philosophy major at University of Wisconsin Madison is intended to meet the needs of four types of students:

those who wish to use philosophy as the organizing core of a liberal education;
those who desire to study philosophy in preparation for graduate work in some other field, such as law, government, or theology;
those who plan to major jointly in philosophy and one of the social and natural sciences or humanities; and
those who have a professional interest in philosophy and intend to do graduate work in the subject.

Key Facts

Ability to think critically about arguments.

Ability to interpret complex texts accurately and analyze them logically.

Ability to communicate precisely and concisely in both writing and speech.

Familiarity with the history of Western philosophy and the major debates withing that tradition.

Ability to be engaged citizens who think carefully and well about their responsibilities to others.

Ability to exchange reasons about controversial matters respectfully and with the aim of uncovering the truth.

Interpretative charity and intellectual honesty, which includes appropriate attribution to others of their ideas, and recognition and frankness about the limitations of one's own ideas.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Theory of Knowledge
Metaphysics
Freedom, Fate and Choice
Methods of Logic
Modern Ethical Theories
Political Philosophy
Existentialism
Environmental Ethics
Topics in Feminism and Philosophy

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-01-19 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-10-01 00:00:00
Starting 2027-09-02 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-15 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

115

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

120 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Madison, United States

Disciplines

Philosophy View 1000 other Bachelors in Philosophy in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

115

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TOEFL^® IBT

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IELTS

6.5

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Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

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AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

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98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Admissions application
Application fee
Course and grade information from grades 9-12
Two essays: tell us about your academic and personal achievements
One required letter of recommendation
English language proficiency
Official test scores: scores from either the ACT or the SAT

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

44210 USD / year

≈ 44210 USD / year
Out-of-State

44210 USD / year

≈ 44210 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

12186 USD / year

≈ 12186 USD / year

Additional Details

Minnesota Resident: $16,638

Living costs

Madison

United States

1015 - 1752 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Philosophy.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Key Facts

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Additional Details

Living costs

Madison

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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