Philosophy (Morality, Politics and Law), BA
Explore answers philosophically when moral questions arise concerning politics and law. You can sharpen the argument, evidence analysis and precise writing skills that employers prize across law, government and business. As a specialized philosophy major, this concentration shares philosophy's top LSAT scores and law-prep reputation.
Quick facts
Locations
Courses
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Accelerated MGM program options are not available to ASU Online students at this time.
Degree description
Philosophy (Morality, Politics and Law) degree description
The Bachelor of Arts program in philosophy with a concentration in morality, politics and law combines the basic analytical approaches of philosophy with an emphasis on the moral questions that arise in political theory and law. The foundations of political and legal systems are moral values, such as individual liberty, equality and justice. These are contested values, open to different understandings of their nature and implications.
You explore the nature of morality, political theory, legal theory and the interconnections between them. You complete philosophy courses and courses from disciplines related to philosophy to enrich and enliven your understanding of the intersections of morality, politics and law.
This degree program is of special interest if you plan to pursue postgraduate work in law, policy or politics.
In addition to reviewing the guidelines in the Concurrent Program Options section below, if you're interested in pursuing concurrent or second baccalaureate degrees in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, you can visit The College's website for more information and requirements.
Why specialize in morality, politics and law at ASU?
Morality, politics and law is an especially strong groundwork area for law school as the close reading and argument-building skills the program fosters are exactly the skills law schools and the legal profession require.
Philosophy faculty within the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies are accomplished scholars whose work shapes their fields. Through undergraduate research experiences, you can step into research assistant roles and work alongside individual faculty on their projects.
You can also fast-track your education with an accelerated option that pairs your BA in philosophy with a concentration in morality, politics and law with a master's degree in a variety of global management subjects in as few as five years.
Additional details
Each week in the Philosophy Lounge on ASU's Tempe campus, the Philosophy Club gathers students to discuss and debate a wide range of topics, where every perspective is welcome and members hone the reasoned, respectful argument that prepares morality, politics and law students for law, politics and public life. Meetings draw a lively mix of philosophy majors and students who simply love a good debate; more than a club, it's a close-knit network that makes a large university feel small and gives you a genuine home among peers and faculty eager to think alongside you.
Courses
Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.
| Sample courses |
|---|
| PHI 300 Philosophical Argument and Exposition |
| PHI 420 Topics in Philosophy |
| PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy |
| PHI 335 History of Ethics |
| PHI 307 Philosophy of Law |
| PHI 401 Rationalism |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.
If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.
See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Present and defend a philosophical view about a specific sub-topic in philosophy using concepts, technical terminology, and methods acquired in an advanced topical seminar as well as skills in logical analysis and civil and respectful argumentation.
- Evaluate how well different normative ethical theories such as consequentialism, deontology, virtue theory, provide moral standards that dictate which (if any) actions are right and wrong.
- Evaluate different approaches to constitutional interpretation and their application to actual case law.
- Apply the concept of formal validity and the rules of deductive inference to evaluate the deductive validity of prose arguments and to construct formalized proofs in symbolic logic.
Present and defend a philosophical view about a specific sub-topic in philosophy using concepts, technical terminology, and methods acquired in an advanced topical seminar as well as skills in logical analysis and civil and respectful argumentation.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)
A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.
Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Students can explore the diverse variety of cultures and philosophies around the globe. With more than 300 distinct programs available to them, students can tailor their study abroad experience to their interests and skill sets. Study abroad programs help students gain valuable skills, such as problem-solving, communication and adaptability skills, as well as cultural competence --- all of which enhance their resumes.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recommends these study abroad programs for students majoring in philosophy with a concentration in morality, politics and law.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimate
Build the career and future you want
Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
| Career | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Intelligence Analyst | 34.6% | $120,230 | Learn more |
| Detective Sergeant | 0.2% | $93,790 | Learn more |
| Editor | -1.1% | $77,920 | Learn more |
| Intelligence Officer | 0.2% | $93,790 | Learn more |
| Judge | 2.8% | $153,990 | Learn more |
| Law Clerk | 2.8% | $64,920 | Learn more |
| Lawyer | 4.7% | $159,670 | Learn more |
| Mediator | 4.7% | $75,530 | Learn more |
| Politician | Not available | Not available | Learn more |
Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
More about careers
Careers this morality, politics and law concentration prepares you for
Graduates are prepared for career opportunities in law, policymaking and analysis, politics and intelligence work. For example, graduates may find employment with the U.S. Department of State, the Central Intelligence Agency or the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is excellent preparation for law school.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies, Sch
|
COOR 4591
SHPRSadvising@asu.edu
480-965-8364
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
