Department of Philosophy : University of Rochester

Addressing theoretical and practical issues

Undergraduate Program

Asking questions, seeking answers

About Us

A group of philosophy students who participated in the 2019 Ethics Bowl.

Applying philosophy to contemporary issues

Majors & Minors

Philosophical issues addressed include both traditional and contemporary topics.

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Graduate Studies

Our small, close-knit PhD program facilitates close interaction among faculty and students.

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PHL for Pre-Law

Our courses explore philosophical issues that motivate the formulation and application of laws.

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Illustration of three couples facing each other and joining hands with speech bubbles above them.

In the News

Take a vow: On keeping your word in the modern world

Bestselling author Cheryl Mendelson ’73 (PhD) discusses marital vows, including their history and role, and why ditching the classic ones may be a bad idea.

Academic Announcement

2025 Summer Courses

The course listings for summer 2025 are now available.

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Department Newsletter

The 2025 Department of Philosophy newsletter PDF is now available online. Our archived newsletters can be found under News and Events.

95percent

Ninety-five percent of University of Rochester applicants are accepted into law school. That’s 19 percent higher than the national average.

Why PHL?

At Rochester, students can combine philosophy with another major. The writing and analytical skills our students learn supplement their interests in law, history, science, and more, while preparing them for graduate studies and careers.

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