Explore the intractable questions of the human experience in a rigorous and novel way.
Why Major in Philosophy, Law, and Ethics?
Whether you are interested in a career in law or want to become a leader in your organization and community, pursuing a degree in Philosophy, Law, and Ethics provides a pathway to success.
The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Law, and Ethics (PLE) program is a selective interdisciplinary major with a core of philosophy courses designed to prepare students for law school, graduate school, and a range of leadership positions in the public and private sectors. Students will find a highly flexible and transfer-friendly curriculum that can be adapted to the interests of each student. The program includes government and history courses and an area of concentration outside of philosophy. Through the student-designed concentration, the PLE program is particularly well-suited for students interested in entering The University of Baltimore School of Law through the Early Entry Law School Program.
The PLE program provides options for community college transfers, high school graduates, and those returning to school after years in the workforce.
What You'll Study
Through rigorous philosophy coursework, you will strengthen your essential leadership skills, including critical and analytical thinking, effective writing, problem-solving, decision-making, and oral communication. PLE majors study great works of philosophy and social science, and debate and write about important local, national, and global controversies. As a PLE major, you’ll benefit greatly from dynamic classroom interactions, personalized advising, and co-curricular activities sponsored by the University’s Hoffberger Center for Professional Ethics. The major requirements are designed to broaden your exposure to and engagement with ideas, policy debates and important topics in public, personal, and professional life.
View the Philosophy, Law, and Ethics degree requirements and course descriptions.
Concentrate Your Studies
In consultation with a faculty adviser, PLE majors choose one of five concentrations based on their areas of interest:
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Philosophy and Public Policy Concentration
The Philosophy and Public Policy Concentration will prepare you for a career in public service, or graduate study in public policy, public affairs, law, political theory or philosophy.
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Philosophy, Economics and Business Concentration
The Philosophy, Economics and Business Concentration will help you acquire skills that can be leveraged into a career in business and management or professional development and advancement within another career. It is also excellent preparation if you're looking to pursue law school or graduate study in interdisciplinary programs that combine philosophy, politics and economics.
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Philosophy, Sustainability and the Environment Concentration
The Philosophy, Sustainability and the Environment Concentration is ideal if you are interested in a career in advocacy for environmental causes, environment-related business or the nonprofit sector.
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Applied Ethics and Professional Life Concentration
The Applied Ethics and Professional Life Concentration is a great fit if you are already working in a field where ethics and compliance are of particular importance, and you're looking to advance: government contractors, finance professionals, human resource managers and compliance officers, among others.
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Student-Designed Concentration
The Student-Designed Concentration allows you to integrate your core study of philosophy with a sub-field drawn from any major or minor at UBalt. Your philosophy studies will prepare you to succeed in a wide range of fields: business, digital communications, entrepreneurship, journalism, law, education, advocacy or government.
Hear from our alums...
“The program helped me learn so much and inspired me to continue my pursuit of a law career. I am currently going on my third year working as a paralegal, and there isn't a day that goes by that I do not use the skills I learned at UBalt in one way or another. Furthermore, I am happy to say I will soon be taking the LSAT to pursue law school."
-Elia Franco, B.A. '20
“A philosophical background is useful for law school. The ability to read different writings in a short amount of time and to understand them—that’s two-thirds of the battle. It helps you explain the reasoning of judges, and you can always connect to law professors based on a philosophical theory.”
-Candice Miller, B.A. '19 and current UBalt School of Law student
"I followed the student-designed concentration and minored in business management. I have nothing but good things to say about the program, especially the logic-based courses. Much of the material I learned in my philosophy courses was retaught in my first semester of law school. As a result, I had a clear advantage."
-Haley Wittstadt, B.A. '21 and current UBalt School of Law student
Academic Options
Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's
The University of Baltimore offers an accelerated option that lets you take up to 9 graduate credits that "double count" toward both your B.A. in Philosophy, Law, and Ethics and the M.A. in Legal Studies—saving you time and money! Get a head start on your graduate degree while saving up to $9,000.
Helen P. Denit Honors Program
As a Helen P. Denit Honors scholar, you'll become a vital part of a University-wide community of thinkers, doers, strivers, motivators and leaders. There is no single honors curriculum—at UBalt, you can customize your academic experience through your selection of honors and enhanced courses.
Law School Early Entry Option
Earn both your undergraduate and law degrees in a minimum of five years through the Law School Early Entry Option to the UBalt School of Law. Learn more about the Law School Early Entry requirements for the PLE program.
Minors
Want to add a minor to your major? Learn more about our minors. (Note that not all minors are possible to combine with every major.)
For more information about undergraduate admission, please contact the Office of Admission at admission@ubalt.edu or 1.877.ApplyUB.