Undergrad Information

Philosophy in Business and Medicine

Business students will find the study of philosophy helpful for their interests. Managers must often develop and defend their proposals, which requires skill in critical thinking as well as clear and precise writing. In addition, managers are often required to make decisions that require ethical judgment and sensitivity to diverse people and cultures. All these skills, and more, are acquired through the study of philosophy.

The Graduate Management Admission Test is taken for admission to graduate studies in business. In a recent study, philosophy majors who took this exam scored first of all 32 fields surveyed in verbal abilities, ninth in quantitative scores, and third (behind only Mathematics and Physics) in combined total scores.

The study of philosophy assists those who wish to enter the medical fields. Medical school admission records indicate that undergraduate philosophy majors who apply to medical schools are more likely to be admitted than all but 3 of the 35 fields represented.

The study of philosophy will not substitute for business or science courses. But it makes for a good secondary discipline by equipping the mind to think critically and to reason broadly and deeply.

Students who are pre-med or studying for medicine-related professions or for a business degree are recommended to take one or more of the following courses:

  • Ethical Theory
  • Environmental Ethics
  • Ethics in Business
  • Epistemology
  • Philosophy of the Social Sciences
  • Philosophy of Science