About Us

Mission Statement

​The primary objective of the Philosophy faculty is to explore, through our research and with our students, the experience of studying and understanding major philosophical questions. The faculty believes it is essential to be aware of the alternative answers proposed by philosophers and the ways answers are achieved.

Through our teaching, our research, and through the activities of our graduates, the Department seeks to further the understanding of  philosophy both inside the university community and beyond its bounds. The course offerings reflect the particular questions and problems of philosophy that each faculty member seeks to explore and understand through research, study, and teaching. The Department shares with the University an ongoing dedication to excellence in preparation and strives to enrich the lives of our students and enhance their leadership abilities.
 
Moreover, the faculty seeks to aid its students in developing a new view of life. In addition, philosophy courses help students achieve the goals common to all liberal arts studies that will provide a solid basis for their future intellectual life.

Program Highlights

The Philosophy Department offers several classes at the 100 level that students use to fulfill their Liberal Studies requirements. Among classes that students may choose from at all levels are: Introduction to Philosophy, Introduction to Logic and Scientific Method, Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, History of Modern Philosophy, History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of Mind, Epistemology, a variety of applied ethics classes, and World Religions.

Special Programs and Facilities

The philosophy program at Northern is traditional but also includes a minor in applied ethics and a minor in religious studies. The department does try to be attentive to the educational desires and changing needs of its students in our global, multicultural environment. The courses offered provide students with an historical foundation of the discipline and its concerns about problem areas in ethics, religion, science, epistemology, existentialism, logical and analytic skills, etc. The department stays in touch with current developments in the field and has integrated critiques from postmodern and feminist voices into the curriculum.