Philosophy
While the pursuit of knowledge has evolved into specialized disciplines, philosophy continues to address the larger, fundamental questions underlying these disciplines such as "What is knowledge?", "What is truth?", "What is justice?". By studying philosophy, you will learn about the intellectual foundations of our society, but you will also develop critical thinking and problem solving skills that will enable you to re-examine society with an inquisitive mind and a discerning lens.
We will explore fundamental philosophical concepts, from Ancient Greek to the modern era, in order to understand contemporary thinking about ethics and justice in context. Our programs emphasize reasoning skills, oral debate, and writing proficiency with the balance of coursework dedicated to such philosophical topics as
- Gender
- Popular Culture
- Paranormal
- Love
- Biomedical Ethics
- Existentialism
- Environmental
You will graduate from our program with the ability to:
- Analyze and interpret arguments
- Justify beliefs with reference to standards of proof
- Describe major philosophical trends
- Apply a historical understanding to key philosophical questions
- Identify theoretical assumptions
- Plan and conduct research that is accurate, thorough, and broadly based
Due to the multidisciplinary relevance of the field, you may combine your studies with disciplines such as English, History, French, Indigenous Learning, Psychology, or Political Science. We are also one of the few universities in Canada to offer a minor in Professional Ethics. This is a great option if you are interested in examining ethical issues in business, biomedical science, the environment, or digital technology.
The Lakehead Advantage
While other universities tend to take- a fairly prescriptive approach to their programming, we provide you with the ability to define your area of interest within the discipline. Beginning in your first year, you may choose first year courses from amongst intellectual history, popular culture, the human condition, or the paranormal critical thinking to fulfill your introductory credit to the program. The power to tailor your philosophy education from the beginning is something that makes us unique and encourages our students become independent thinkers.
The small size of our department facilitates one-on-one time with faculty, fosters great friendships among peers, and is conducive to providing students with research and job opportunities as they arise. Our professors have an open-door policy and are easily accessible.
Transfer Options
It’s easy to transfer to Lakehead. Our pathway and general transfer policies are designed to help you maximize your credits from your current or previous studies at either college or university – or even both.
There are a number of ways to transfer to Lakehead. Let us help you achieve your degree completion goals. For more information regarding specific admission requirements from college or university, check out the “Admissions Requirement” tab above and select your most recent level of study.
Applying to Lakehead University is easy and we are here to help you along the way.
Step 1 – Determine your general admission requirements:
To determine your general admission requirements, select one of the definitions below:
Step 2 – Determine your program-specific prerequisite requirements for your program(s) of choice:
To determine your program-specific prerequisite requirements, choose from the drop-down menus below:
Program Specific Requirements
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English & PhilosophyDegree:ArtsAlberta/NWT/Nunavut:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for Ontario High School Students:English (ENG4U)Program Specific Requirements for Alberta/NWT/Nunavut High School Students:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for British Columbia/Yukon High School Students:English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12Program Specific Requirements for International Students:EnglishProgram Specific Requirements for Manitoba High School Students:English Language Arts (Comprehensive Focus, Literary Focus, or Transactional Focus) 40SProgram Specific Requirements for Mature/Transfer Students:English (ENG4U). Other secondary or post-secondary courses that are equivalent to the English prerequisite requirement are accepted.Program Specific Requirements for New Brunswick High School Students:English Language Arts 121 or 122Program Specific Requirements for Newfoundland/Labrador High School Students:English 3201Program Specific Requirements for Nova Scotia High School Students:English 12 or English 12 African HeritageProgram Specific Requirements for PEI High School Students:English 621AProgram Specific Requirements for Quebec (CEGEP) Students:2 English (603 or 604)Program Specific Requirements for Quebec (Private) Students:English (ENG4U) or equivalentProgram Specific Requirements for Saskatchewan High School Students:English Language Arts 30 A or English Language Arts 30 B
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French & PhilosophyDegree:ArtsAlberta/NWT/Nunavut:English Language Arts 30-1, 1 from: Francais 30-1, Francais 30-2, French 30-3Y/9Y, French 31 A/B/C, French Language Arts 30-1, or French Language Arts 30-2Program Specific Requirements for Ontario High School Students:English (ENG4U), French (FEF4U, FIF4U, or FSF4U)Program Specific Requirements for Alberta/NWT/Nunavut High School Students:English Language Arts 30-1, 1 from: Francais 30-1, Francais 30-2, French 30-3Y/9Y, French 31 A/B/C, French Language Arts 30-1, or French Language Arts 30-2Program Specific Requirements for British Columbia/Yukon High School Students:English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12, 1 from: Français langue et culture 12, Français langue seconde - immersion 12 or French 12Program Specific Requirements for International Students:English, FrenchProgram Specific Requirements for Manitoba High School Students:English Language Arts (Comprehensive Focus, Literary Focus, or Transactional Focus) 40S, French 40SProgram Specific Requirements for Mature/Transfer Students:English (ENG4U), French (FEF4U, FIF4U, or FSF4U). Other secondary or post-secondary courses that are equivalent to these prerequisite requirements are accepted.Program Specific Requirements for New Brunswick High School Students:English Language Arts 121 or 122, 1 from: French 121, 122, or French Immersion Language Arts 120Program Specific Requirements for Newfoundland/Labrador High School Students:English 3201, 1 from: Accelerated French 3203, Francais 3202 (Immersion), French 3200, or French 3201Program Specific Requirements for Nova Scotia High School Students:English 12 or English 12 African Heritage, Core French 12 or Francais Immersion 12Program Specific Requirements for PEI High School Students:English 621A, French 621A or French Immersion 621FProgram Specific Requirements for Quebec (CEGEP) Students:2 English (603 or 604), 2 French (601 or 602)Program Specific Requirements for Quebec (Private) Students:English (ENG4U), French (FEF4U, FIF4U, or FSF4U). Equivalent courses to the Ontario high school prerequisite requirements will be considered.Program Specific Requirements for Saskatchewan High School Students:English Language Arts 30 A or English Language Arts 30 B, French 30
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History & PhilosophyDegree:ArtsAlberta/NWT/Nunavut:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for Ontario High School Students:English (ENG4U)Program Specific Requirements for Alberta/NWT/Nunavut High School Students:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for British Columbia/Yukon High School Students:English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12Program Specific Requirements for International Students:EnglishProgram Specific Requirements for Manitoba High School Students:English Language Arts (Comprehensive Focus, Literary Focus, or Transactional Focus) 40SProgram Specific Requirements for Mature/Transfer Students:English (ENG4U). Other secondary or post-secondary courses that are equivalent to the English prerequisite requirement are accepted.Program Specific Requirements for New Brunswick High School Students:English Language Arts 121 or 122Program Specific Requirements for Newfoundland/Labrador High School Students:English 3201Program Specific Requirements for Nova Scotia High School Students:English 12 or English 12 African HeritageProgram Specific Requirements for PEI High School Students:English 621AProgram Specific Requirements for Quebec (CEGEP) Students:2 English (603 or 604)Program Specific Requirements for Quebec (Private) Students:English (ENG4U) or equivalentProgram Specific Requirements for Saskatchewan High School Students:English Language Arts 30 A or English Language Arts 30 B
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Indigenous Learning & PhilosophyDegree:ArtsAlberta/NWT/Nunavut:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for Ontario High School Students:English (ENG4U)Program Specific Requirements for Alberta/NWT/Nunavut High School Students:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for British Columbia/Yukon High School Students:English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12Program Specific Requirements for International Students:EnglishProgram Specific Requirements for Manitoba High School Students:English Language Arts (Comprehensive Focus, Literary Focus, or Transactional Focus) 40SProgram Specific Requirements for Mature/Transfer Students:English (ENG4U). Other secondary or post-secondary courses that are equivalent to the English prerequisite requirement are accepted.Program Specific Requirements for New Brunswick High School Students:English Language Arts 121 or 122Program Specific Requirements for Newfoundland/Labrador High School Students:English 3201Program Specific Requirements for Nova Scotia High School Students:English 12 or English 12 African HeritageProgram Specific Requirements for PEI High School Students:English 621AProgram Specific Requirements for Quebec (CEGEP) Students:2 English (603 or 604)Program Specific Requirements for Quebec (Private) Students:English (ENG4U) or equivalentProgram Specific Requirements for Saskatchewan High School Students:English Language Arts 30 A or English Language Arts 30 B
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PhilosophyDegree:ArtsAlberta/NWT/Nunavut:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for Ontario High School Students:English (ENG4U)Program Specific Requirements for Alberta/NWT/Nunavut High School Students:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for British Columbia/Yukon High School Students:English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12Program Specific Requirements for International Students:EnglishProgram Specific Requirements for Manitoba High School Students:English Language Arts (Comprehensive Focus, Literary Focus, or Transactional Focus) 40SProgram Specific Requirements for Mature/Transfer Students:English (ENG4U). Other secondary or post-secondary courses that are equivalent to the English prerequisite requirement are accepted.Program Specific Requirements for New Brunswick High School Students:English Language Arts 121 or 122Program Specific Requirements for Newfoundland/Labrador High School Students:English 3201Program Specific Requirements for Nova Scotia High School Students:English 12 or English 12 African HeritageProgram Specific Requirements for PEI High School Students:English 621AProgram Specific Requirements for Quebec (CEGEP) Students:2 English (603 or 604)Program Specific Requirements for Quebec (Private) Students:English (ENG4U) or equivalentProgram Specific Requirements for Saskatchewan High School Students:English Language Arts 30 A or English Language Arts 30 B
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PhilosophyDegree:Arts and Education (PJ)Alberta/NWT/Nunavut:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for Ontario High School Students:English (ENG4U)Program Specific Requirements for Alberta/NWT/Nunavut High School Students:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for British Columbia/Yukon High School Students:English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12Program Specific Requirements for International Students:EnglishProgram Specific Requirements for Manitoba High School Students:English Language Arts (Comprehensive Focus, Literary Focus, or Transactional Focus) 40SProgram Specific Requirements for Mature/Transfer Students:English (ENG4U). Other secondary or post-secondary courses that are equivalent to the English prerequisite requirement are accepted.Program Specific Requirements for New Brunswick High School Students:English Language Arts 121 or 122Program Specific Requirements for Newfoundland/Labrador High School Students:English 3201Program Specific Requirements for Nova Scotia High School Students:English 12 or English 12 African HeritageProgram Specific Requirements for PEI High School Students:English 621AProgram Specific Requirements for Quebec (CEGEP) Students:2 English (603 or 604)Program Specific Requirements for Quebec (Private) Students:English (ENG4U) or equivalentProgram Specific Requirements for Saskatchewan High School Students:English Language Arts 30 A or English Language Arts 30 B
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Philosophy & Political ScienceDegree:ArtsAlberta/NWT/Nunavut:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for Ontario High School Students:English (ENG4U)Program Specific Requirements for Alberta/NWT/Nunavut High School Students:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for British Columbia/Yukon High School Students:English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12Program Specific Requirements for International Students:EnglishProgram Specific Requirements for Manitoba High School Students:English Language Arts (Comprehensive Focus, Literary Focus, or Transactional Focus) 40SProgram Specific Requirements for Mature/Transfer Students:English (ENG4U). Other secondary or post-secondary courses that are equivalent to the English prerequisite requirement are accepted.Program Specific Requirements for New Brunswick High School Students:English Language Arts 121 or 122Program Specific Requirements for Newfoundland/Labrador High School Students:English 3201Program Specific Requirements for Nova Scotia High School Students:English 12 or English 12 African HeritageProgram Specific Requirements for PEI High School Students:English 621AProgram Specific Requirements for Quebec (CEGEP) Students:2 English (603 or 604)Program Specific Requirements for Quebec (Private) Students:English (ENG4U) or equivalentProgram Specific Requirements for Saskatchewan High School Students:English Language Arts 30 A or English Language Arts 30 B
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Psychology & PhilosophyDegree:ArtsAlberta/NWT/Nunavut:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for Ontario High School Students:English (ENG4U)Program Specific Requirements for Alberta/NWT/Nunavut High School Students:English Language Arts 30-1Program Specific Requirements for British Columbia/Yukon High School Students:English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12Program Specific Requirements for International Students:EnglishProgram Specific Requirements for Manitoba High School Students:English Language Arts (Comprehensive Focus, Literary Focus, or Transactional Focus) 40SProgram Specific Requirements for Mature/Transfer Students:English (ENG4U). Other secondary or post-secondary courses that are equivalent to the English prerequisite requirement are accepted.Program Specific Requirements for New Brunswick High School Students:English Language Arts 121 or 122Program Specific Requirements for Newfoundland/Labrador High School Students:English 3201Program Specific Requirements for Nova Scotia High School Students:English 12 or English 12 African HeritageProgram Specific Requirements for PEI High School Students:English 621AProgram Specific Requirements for Quebec (CEGEP) Students:2 English (603 or 604)Program Specific Requirements for Quebec (Private) Students:English (ENG4U) or equivalentProgram Specific Requirements for Saskatchewan High School Students:English Language Arts 30 A or English Language Arts 30 B
The Philosophy Department offers a variety of first year courses. Any two of the following can be combined to satisfy your first year Philosophy requirement:
- Philosophy 1110 – Introduction to Philosophy: Origins
- Philosophy 1111 – Introduction to Philosophy: Modern Developments
- Philosophy 1119 – Philosophy Through Popular Culture
- Philosophy 1118 – Philosophy of the Occult & Paranormal
- Philosophy 1571 – Contemporary Moral Issues
- Philosophy 1573 – Philosophy and the Human Condition
- Philosophy 1117 – Introduction to Thinking
All degree programs in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities require students to take a minimum of one full credit in Type A (Humanities) and two full credits in Type B (Social Sciences) courses in the first year. Students are also required to take a half credit Type E (Indigenous Content) course. The balance of your courses can be chosen according to your interests and need not be limited to the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. Do some exploring.
Occasionally research opportunities will become available for undergraduate students who wish to supplement their academic pursuits with hands-on study. This is particularly helpful for students considering graduate studies.
Philosophy graduates consistently outperform almost every discipline in benchmark exams such as the LSAT, GRE, and GMAT for entry into law, graduate, and business schools (respectively). If you're considering professional or graduate school, we encourage you to tailor your electives to complement such post-graduate study.
More information about Payment Methods, and Payment Due Dates can be found here: Student Fees Information
Arts (Includes, but is not limited to: ISTEM, ILIP, HB Mus, HBFA, Palliative Care, Dementia Studies, etc.)
Thunder Bay
Year | Tuition | Ancillary Fees | Total |
---|---|---|---|
1 | $5,984.51 | $1,408.45 | $7,392.96 |
2 | $5,955.86 | $1,325.73 | $7,281.59 |
3 | $5,915.30 | $1,325.73 | $7,241.03 |
4 | $5,398.29 | $1,325.73 | $6,724.02 |