AB Philosophy - UST Philosophy Department

Countless graduates have continued with postgraduate studies in the University and even abroad to further their study of Philosophy and to eventually teach and do research.  Majority of our current faculty members are UST graduates of both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  The diversity of the AB Philosophy curriculum at UST offers our students an array of themes both in Eastern and Western theories, spanning ancient to contemporary debates, and our graduates confirm that this allows them to easily be at par with their cohorts who are graduates of universities abroad.  The scope of the curriculum and the skills fostered in the various courses prepare our graduates for potential scholarship applications, which several of our alumni have successfully experienced.

Philosophy is a staple prelaw degree, and our alumni testify to the advantage offered by the type of critical thinking fostered by philosophical studies compared to other prelaw degrees.  Critical and analytical thinking skills honed through various assessments in classes are aided by the theoretical insights gathered from extensive discussions on ethical reasoning and political philosophy found in our curriculum are vital for those in the legal profession.  Our graduates have eventually proceeded to the law profession, becoming attorneys, counsels, and even undertaking (para)legal research.  

Our curricular and extracurricular activities expose our graduates for key positions.   Seminar classes and activities of the undergraduate council offer students the opportunity to organize and participate in conferences, learn essentials communicative skills, and practice proper information dissemination.  Debates and other intellectual stimuli in our courses are foundational for the cultivation of strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, prerequisites for confronting bigger challenges in the workplace.  Several of our alumni thus have thrived in various corporate and administrative positions, and even within the University, our alumni have held administrative positions, some testifying that this is a product of the formation offered by the Philosophy degree programs.

The scope of our curriculum exposes students to a more holistic approach to human behavior and reasoning, grounded on cultural diversity and competence.  This is evidenced by the range of readings included in each of the courses and the centrality of cultural diversity found especially in discussions of non-Western philosophy.  Beyond this, the student council at the undergraduate level allows for a more pronounced approach to organizational skills and human resource management.  This is given emphasis through group activities found across courses ranging from class debates and discussions on philosophical problems to group presentations and case studies. A number of our alumni have eventually managed human resources of top companies of the country.  

Philosophy is a discipline that prepares individuals for higher service.  This entails both a civic and religious direction.  Our curriculum exposes students to an array of key thinkers and debates in moral and political philosophy that raises pertinent questions for nation-building.  Alongside this, courses on Thomism and Philosophy of Religion provide the proper the intellectual climate for pondering on greater realities.  These theoretical underpinnings are given greater emphasis through the extracurricular activities organized by the Department and the University that foster a culture of stewardship among our students—a stewardship of talents that require giving back to the community in the form of community extension and religious service.  Our alumni thus have served in different government positions in LGUs throughout the country and also have continued to the religious life.

Besides analytical and critical thinking skills, a degree in Philosophy also offers creativity and a historical appreciation. A philosophical background fosters the ability to integrate diverse perspectives and create holistic interpretations of cultural and artistic phenomena, allowing professionals in arts, culture, and historical studies to draw on the relationship between philosophy and other disciplines, such as history, literature, and sociology.  The Department’s pedagogy and that broad range of courses in our curriculum encourages an interdisciplinary approach to appreciate the world from an aesthetic perspective, with emphasis given to specific cultural nuances and the close connection between history and philosophy.  Our graduates have excelled in the fields of literature and creative works, at times becoming successful and award-wining writings, while other potential careers may be found in eventual focus on curatorship, cultural studies, and artistic expressions.