idad

S2 is interested in this track. I was wondering if their any opinions about the program, courses, faculty, etc. Is it good law school preparation?

fallenchemist

Philosophy majors in general have one of the highest acceptance rates into law schools, according to numerous university sources. Their 4 years of experience with having to actually understand what they read and take it to another level is fantastic preparation for law school. My S considered such a major (wound up in Russian studies, not at Tulane) and at every school he visited this was a point made by profs in the philosophy departments. That seemed like a self-interested selling point, so I researched it and it is true.

So not only does this seem like a fascinating and intellectually fulfilling subject to study, it is in fact good preparation for the LSATs and law school.

idad

fallenchemist: Thank you for your usual thoughtful reply. I should have been a little more clear in my question. S2 & I are aware that philosophy majors tend to do well on the LSAT (though that is not the only reason S2 wants to study philosophy). S2 & I are interested in what Tulane students, alums, or parents who have had direct contact with it think of the major. It looks very good on paper. Many schools now offer multidisciplinary programs. For example, at UChicago they have Law, Letters, and Society; at USC they have Philosophy, Politics and Law; at Claremont McKenna College they have Philosophy, Law and Economics. S2 is curious about how the Tulane program is constructed, is it multidisciplinary, is there law school involvement, what are the internship possibilities, etc.? On a more general note, how many students study philosophy at Tulane?

fallenchemist

Ah, I see. Well, I cannot answer the specifics about the program, but hopefully someone involved will come on here and comment.

However, I can answer the last question for 2008-2009. This only considers people that have declared their majors, so it undercounts since many freshman and some sophomores won't have officially declared at the time of this count.

Philosophy majors: 83
Philosophy minors: 38
Philosophy L,M& S: 12 majors, minor not offered

As points of reference, there were 233/15 English majors/minors, 243/30 for History, 8/2 for Russian, and 16/7 for Women's Studies.

fallenchemist

I should have been clearer that the LM&S majors are NOT part of the 83 count, so in effect there were 95 philosophy majors, not counting those freshman and sophomores that simply had not declared yet. Seems like a pretty decent number.

idad

It does indeed. Thank you.

181818

Idad: Just a slight correction the CMC program is PPE, Philosophy, Politics and Econ,(not law). There is also a straight philosophy major, and I think I have heard of a dual major in both, PPE and Philosophy. (I'm not positive about that though, I think I heard a student mention it during a school visit.)

I'm sorry if that's more info than what you wanted given that this is the Tulane site.

idad

You are correct it is PPE at CMC, I miswrote.