BA Philosophy at University of California, Santa Barbara

Programme overview

As a student in Philosophy, you’ll grapple with fundamental questions that engage all reflective people, but which apparently cannot be answered by the empirical sciences: Are our actions determined by forces over which we lack control, or is free choice possible? What distinguishes people from (non-human) animals? Are there objective standards of right and wrong, or is morality subjective?

Faculty: College of Letters and Science | Department: Department of Philosophy | Study mode: full-time | Location: Santa Barbara, CA, United States

What you will study

Major requirements are organised as Preparation For The Major; Concentration I - Core Philosophy ; Concentration Ii - Ethics And Public Policy. The Philosophy major consists of a total of at least 48 units in Philosophy , at least 36 of which must be upper-division.

Career pathways

Graduate and professional pathways include Law; Government and politics; News and journalism; Business; Nonprofit organizations; Philosophy. Top employers include AppFolio (Software engineer), Caltech (Program coordinator), Baton Rouge School District (Classroom teaching, special education).

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission to UCSB is to the university and a college (College of Letters and Science, College of Engineering, College of Creative Studies), not to the individual major; applicants must meet the University of California subject requirements for first-year or transfer applicants and apply through the UC Application. Selective-major and second-choice-major rules are described by UCSB Undergraduate Admissions.

Entry term: fall. First-year and transfer applicants apply for fall 2027 through the UC Application.

First-year and transfer applications for fall 2027: UC Application filing period October 1 - November 30, 2026 (opens August 1). Application fee: $80 per campus for U.S. residents, $95 per campus for international students. Transfer applicants also submit the UCSB TAG Application September 1-30. First-year decisions mid-March; transfer decisions mid-April; Statement of Intent to Register May 1 (first-year) and June 1 (transfer).

SAT and ACT scores are not used in admission selection or scholarships; submission is optional and may be used for course placement. Students applying to College of Creative Studies majors submit a supplemental application; Dance and Music B.M. applicants complete an audition.

Graduate applicants apply through the UCSB online graduate application; the deadline is set by each department. Application fee: $135 for US citizens and permanent residents, $155 for all others, payable by credit card, check or money order. GRE required only by some programmes.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/

Explore more study programmes

Arts & Humanities