Online Bachelor's in Philosophy Overview
Ask big questions as you take a deep dive into logic, ethics, and morality. The fully online Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy offered by the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences is an accessible, flexible program that develops critical thinking, refines communication skills, and builds interdisciplinary knowledge.
In this program, you will attempt to answer questions about values, human existence, and the nature of reality. As a philosophy major, you may choose either the general path (no minor), or you may specialize in one of four minors, including:
- Religious Studies
- Asian Studies
- Classics
- Pre-Law
The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy is one of the only online undergraduate philosophy programs available in the U.S. It is ideal for students who have already earned some credit and would like to complete their bachelor’s degree in a flexible format.
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
College of Letters, Arts & Sciences
100% Online
Delivery Method
$435*
Cost Per Credit
*Approximate In-state
$636*
Cost Per Credit
*Approximate Out-of-state
Priority Application Deadline
Rolling Admissions
Application Deadline
120
Credit Hours
4 Years
Average Completion Time
BA in Philosophy Course Overview
The BA in Philosophy offers fully online courses with no on-campus requirements, meaning you can complete your coursework at the best time and place for you. Faculty in the online program also teach at the Colorado Springs campus. That means you will receive the same high quality courses and instruction as students on campus.
The philosophy courses in the program cover a wide array of topics like cosmology, world religions, Greek and Roman mythology, virtue ethics, epistemology, politics and law, and more. You’ll graduate equipped with critical thinking skills and a body of knowledge for working in multiple industries, including law, medicine, management, education, government, writing, computer science, psychology, sociology, ministry and more.
In the online philosophy program, you’ll learn to:
- Build capacities for and skills in critical thinking
- Write and orally express clear, logical, and grammatically correct philosophical arguments
- Develop detailed knowledge of the current literature or historical background of a philosophical problem
- Research resources for answering and exploring philosophical questions
No more than 60 credit hours of philosophy (PHIL) coursework may apply to the bachelor’s degree. Fall and spring semester courses in the online BA in Philosophy program are 16 weeks long, and summer courses are eight (8) weeks long.
The senior thesis course is a research project on the topic of your choosing that is supervised by a faculty member. Senior Thesis gives you the opportunity to dig deeper into an area that interests you and build specialized knowledge for your next career move.
Example Courses
The following courses are a sample of available courses for the BA in Philosophy program at UCCS. You can explore all undergraduate upper division courses on the Department of Philosophy website.
This course traces the path of philosophical and scientific world views, from Aristotle to Newton to Relativity and the corresponding philosophical and cultural transformations that each worldview gives rise to. Emphasis will be placed on the philosophical ideas of each era and on the application of these ideas to culture.
This course examines virtue ethics from antiquity to the present. It investigates what virtues are, whether virtues are better than vices, whether virtues are culturally relative or objectively good, and what anthropology best supports virtue ethics.
This course introduces students to decision theory and game theory. Topics will include rationality; strategic reasoning; Nash equilibria; strategic games; symmetric and non-symmetric games; coalitions and cooperation; zero and non-zero-sum games; and prisoner's dilemmas.
Bachelor's in Philosophy Career Outlook
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reported that approximately 50% of 2022 bachelor’s in philosophy graduates from surveyed institutions were employed overall (including full-time, temporary, and contract work) after graduation. Around 6% were seeking to continue their education. Philosophy graduates also had a mean starting salary of $52,606. The surveyed institutions included data from across the U.S.
What Can I Do with a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy?
Philosophy graduates can utilize their degrees in several industries and positions. In addition to the sampling of roles below, graduates can also continue their education in graduate school or law school.
- Cultural affairs
- Technical writing
- Marketing
- Journalism
- Pre-law (paralegal)
Ultimately, the online philosophy program at UCCS provides an excellent foundation for students who wish to pursue law school, certain graduate school paths, and jobs in the non-profit and corporate spaces.
Take the First Step
Complete the form on this page to be contacted by an Enrollment Advisor.
Tuition and Fees
At UCCS Online, we strive to keep our tuition costs affordable so that you can get a world-class education that fits your budget. When you earn a degree, you’re not simply getting a diploma — you’re making a lifelong investment in yourself and empowering your future career. We know that affordability is an important factor, and that’s why we’re here to help you explore all of the options available to fund your education.
Application fees can vary based on the program, but there is typically a small fee that will be required upon submission of your application. Please reach out to an Enrollment Navigator for more information about any costs associated with your application.
You may be eligible to pursue scholarships. Each year, UCCS awards $100 million in financial aid, and you can explore options through the UCCS Financial Aid Office.
In State Cost Per Credit:
$435
Approximate tuition per credit hour based on the number of credits taken
Out of State Cost Per Credit:
$636
Approximate tuition per credit hour based on the number of credits taken
We know that affordability is an important factor, and that’s why we’re here to help you explore all of the options available to fund your education. Our Enrollment Navigators can answer any of your questions about tuition and financial aid, help you take care of the paperwork, and make sure you’re able to focus on reaching your goals. From financial aid and scholarships to transfer credits and corporate tuition assistance programs, we’ll work with you to find the best way to finance your UCCS Online degree. Complete the formComplete the form on this page to be contacted by an Enrollment Advisor.
Financial aid is available for eligible students to use toward paying educational costs while enrolled in a UCCS Online program. To determine your eligibility and apply for financial aid, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When you submit your FAFSA, you will be considered for three types of aid: grants, work-study, and student loans. To be considered for federal financial aid, you will need to apply early and annually.
- Scholarships | You may be eligible for scholarships at UCCS. We offer many scholarships and grants to students who are ready to earn their degrees and achieve success. Between both UCCS-offered and external scholarships, our students earned more than $10 million in scholarship awards last year alone.
- College Opportunity Fund (COF) | The College Opportunity Fund (COF) is a trust fund created by the Colorado Legislature that provides a tuition stipend to eligible undergraduate students. The stipend pays a portion of your total in-state tuition when you attend a participating college. All students must create a COF account directly through the College Opportunity Fund (COF) website.
- WICHE | The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) has given many students from Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming the opportunity to study at UCCS. The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is an agreement through which 160+ participating public colleges and universities provide significant nonresident tuition savings for undergraduate programs, with eligible students pay no more than 150 percent of resident tuition rates.
UCCS Online is military-friendly and committed to providing service members and their families with a high-quality education that fits their distinct needs. As a UCCS Online student, you will have access to the UCCS Veteran and Military Affairs, which connects veteran, active duty, reservist, National Guard, and dependent students with fundamental support, services, and resources to ensure academic and professional success. UCCS is a proud home campus to many veteran and military students.
Eligible veteran and military students may use veteran benefits, military tuition assistance, and/or financial aid to pay for their education. Military benefits with UCCS Online include:
- Waived application fee for active duty and veterans
- Military benefits approved program
Connect with our Enrollment NavigatorsConnect with our Enrollment Navigators to learn more about the benefits and financial assistance available to military and veteran students.
All students are automatically opted in to the TAAP program with the choice to opt out. The TAAP program provides all your course materials for one flat fee per credit hour. That means no more time spent searching for, ordering, and paying out of pocket for your own course materials.
Many companies offer tuition assistance benefits as part of their employee compensation program. Generally, these policies determine a set number of credit hours per year that the company will pay for on behalf of the student/employee. Some policies place a cap on eligible tuition dollars and related expenses while others reimburse employees on a per-credit-hour basis. Get in touch with your organization's human resources department to learn more about your educational benefits.
Admissions Information
Interested in UCCS Online’s philosophy program? In the application, simply select the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy online program as you are filling out your application form. You can refer to UCCS Admissions for more information based on your status as a first-time student, returning student, or transfer student. To learn more or talk to our enrollment team, fill out the form included on this page.
UCCS accepts applications throughout the year through a rolling admissions process. However, submitting your application by the preferred deadlines is advisable.
Our stated application deadlines are as follows, but we admit students up to a week before the semester starts. We have also started admitting students mid-semester before Session B begins.
- Fall Semester: August 1
- Spring Semester: November 1
- Summer Semester: May 1
- Spring 2025 – January 21, 2025
- Summer 2025 – July 9, 2025
- Fall 2025 – August 25, 2025
Completion of the online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Philosophy requires the following:
- A minimum of 30 credit hours of PHIL coursework. At least 21 of those hours must be upper division (courses numbered 3000 or higher).
- Completion of one of the following courses:
- PHIL 1120: Critical Thinking
- PHIL 3420: Symbolic Logic I
- Completion of the following course (exception made if double majoring in Philosophy and another discipline):
- PHIL 4950: Senior Thesis
- A grade of C or better in courses applied to the major.
- A minimum 2.0 GPA must be maintained in all PHIL coursework.
Expand Your Opportunities
Earn an education that creates opportunity. Start the admissions process with an enrollment advisor by filling out the form on this page today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A philosophy degree can give you plenty of professional flexibility, allowing you to enter a variety of industries and career paths where you can use your new knowledge and skills. In addition to a foundation of interdisciplinary knowledge, an undergraduate philosophy degree will help you build skills in critical thinking, writing, verbal communication, and more.
The top selling point for philosophy majors is that they can pursue jobs in several fields. Philosophy teaches widely applicable knowledge and skills. Some general career paths listed by the American Philosophical Association include:
- Government / Politics / Law
- Teaching / Academia
- Business
- Religion / Ministry
- Writing / Journalism / Communications
- Arts / Entertainment
Note that some career paths may require additional training, certifications or education to qualify for practice or employment.
No internship is required; however, students will complete a thesis project during their junior or senior year of the program. The senior thesis course is a research project on the topic of your choosing that is supervised by a faculty member.
There is no admission or selection process for this program. Once you are admitted to UCCS Online, you will simply declare your major.
During fall and spring terms, courses are typically 16 weeks long. During the summer term, the courses are eight (8) weeks long.
Online learning will offer you the flexibility to study at the best place and time for you. You can choose a pace that is sustainable for your lifestyle, which can help you take into account your current career, family, and other commitments outside of school.
Additionally, at UCCS Online, our online programs are taught by the same faculty who teach on campus, which means you’re earning the same high quality degree as traditional students, and your diploma will not mention that your degree was earned online.