Want to explore big questions, strengthen your critical thinking skills, or add a unique perspective to your degree?
The Department of Philosophy offers a minor and two undergraduate certificates that can complement any major at CSU. Whether you're interested in ethics, global intellectual traditions, or philosophical inquiry, these programs help you develop the analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills valued across careers and disciplines.
Philosophy Minor
Curious about the ideas that shape how people think, act, and understand the world? The Philosophy Minor helps you investigate these questions while developing skills that complement any major. You'll learn how to analyze complex ideas, evaluate arguments, think critically, and communicate clearly. Throughout your courses, you'll explore topics such as ethics, logic, knowledge, human nature, and philosophical traditions from different times and places.
Open to students from any major, the minor pairs well with everything from business, engineering, and computer science to health professions, education, and the humanities. Philosophy encourages you to consider multiple perspectives, ask thoughtful questions, and develop well-reasoned solutions — skills that can help you succeed in the classroom, the workplace, and beyond.
Ethics & Society Undergraduate Certificate
Interested in the ethical questions shaping today's world? The Ethics & Society Undergraduate Certificate helps you explore issues such as artificial intelligence, environmental responsibility, healthcare, social justice, public policy, and animal welfare. You'll learn how to evaluate complex situations, understand different ethical perspectives, and apply ethical reasoning to real-world challenges.
Open to students in any major or minor, this certificate complements a wide range of academic interests and career goals. Whether you're preparing for a future in business, healthcare, technology, government, education, or environmental fields, you'll gain tools for thoughtful decision-making and a deeper understanding of how values influence individuals, organizations, and society.
World Philosophies & Religions Undergraduate Certificate
he World Philosophies & Religions Undergraduate Certificate gives you the opportunity to explore how people across cultures and throughout history have understood questions about meaning, truth, morality, and human experience. You'll engage with philosophical and religious traditions from around the world, including Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Confucian, Indigenous, African, Latin American, and Judeo-Christian perspectives. As you examine these diverse traditions, you'll learn to analyze ideas, interpret texts, and better understand the beliefs and values that shape societies around the globe.
Open to students in any major or minor, this certificate broadens your perspective while strengthening skills in critical thinking, communication, and intercultural understanding. The program pairs naturally with studies in the humanities, social sciences, education, international studies, and related fields, while offering valuable insight for anyone interested in the diversity of human thought, belief, and culture.
Advising
To add a Philosophy minor or certificate, contact Bruce Shields at bruce.shields@colostate.edu.
Bruce Shields
- Academic Success Coordinator
Next Steps
Are you interested in joining our community?