Philosophy Degree at Work in Court

At Taylor University, students are encouraged to ask big questions. The Philosophy program in particular equips students to think critically and holistically, grappling with the big questions of life within a supportive, discipleship-oriented community.

For Craig Martin ‘14, a Taylor philosophy degree prepared him for the LSAT, law school, and beyond.

Learning the Law

Martin holds a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Indiana University Maurer School of Law and currently works as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Robert L. Miller, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.

Martin’s job entails daily meetings with Judge Miller and the other clerks, reviewing cases, and drafting legal documents. He also analyzes current cases and works to find conclusions. Looking back, Martin credited his time in Taylor’s philosophy program as being invaluable to his development as a lawyer and a critical thinker.

“My time at Taylor taught me how to break down complex problems to their component parts, analyze them, and formulate solutions based on that analysis,” Martin said. “Those skills are directly applicable to taking a law school exam or writing a legal brief… I started developing the fundamental skills it takes to be a good law student and lawyer as a philosophy major at Taylor.”

Philosophical Inquiry Rooted in Christ

Taylor philosophy graduates don’t just go on to be excellent professionals; they go on to be thoughtful Christians. Taylor’s philosophy program is unique in the way it brings philosophy and theology together while rigorously engaging different philosophical perspectives on important questions.

“At Taylor, we bring a Christian faith deeply rooted in Scripture into thoughtful and honest conversation with what the most influential philosophers have written about the pressing issues of our day," said Philosophy Program Director Dr. Brad Seeman.

Philosophy professors in the Biblical Studies, Christian Ministries, and Philosophy department are well prepared to facilitate the integration of faith and philosophy; each of them has a seminary degree in addition to a PhD in Philosophy. This blend of philosophy and theology helps set Taylor’s philosophy program apart.

Developing relationships between faculty and students is another key component of the Philosophy program at Taylor. “All of my professors were professional, but not at the expense of being accessible,” Martin said. “I knew I could meet with my professors about more than just my coursework and that they knew me on a personal level.”

Seeman recalls some of those personal connections. “I remember walking around campus and talking with Craig as he processed his experience working cross-culturally with indigenous peoples of America…Craig and I also spent nearly a month together in Spain when he was taking a class with me where we studied the problem of evil and other hard questions in philosophy of religion.”

As for the usefulness of a philosophy degree, both Martin and Seeman said that a philosophy degree opens doors to graduate school across many areas of study, from medical or law school to a continued study of philosophy. Philosophy majors routinely achieve high scores on graduate entrance exams, including the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Law School Admission Test (LSAT), and Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). They also represent a significant percentage of individuals accepted into medical school.

“Soak up as much as you can from your time as a philosophy major at Taylor,” Martin advises students. “Commit to the coursework and take advantage of the relationships with your professors.”

Interested in Exploring Philosophy at Taylor?

Schedule your campus visit today. Nothing will give you a better sense of whether or not Taylor and our Philosophy program is the right fit for you than visiting our campus in Upland, Indiana. Come have lunch with some current philosophy students, talk with philosophy professors, visit classes, and take a personalized tour. See why Taylor’s philosophy program is a great place to open career doors and explore life’s big questions with other Christians.