Minor in Philosophy

Explore the questions that matter. Think across disciplines.

A Minor in Philosophy gives you the critical tools to interrogate fundamental questions while tailoring your studies to your intellectual interests. After building a strong base with core introductory courses, you can shape your minor around the subjects that spark your curiosity most—from the philosophy of mind and artificial intelligence to social theory, ethics, and the theories of scientific discovery.

Big questions you can explore

• Mind & Technology: Can a synthetic system ever achieve genuine consciousness, or can it only simulate intelligence?

• Scientific Discovery: Are there universal rules of discovery, or does every major breakthrough rely on breaking the established rules? 

• Science & Society: Can complex human behaviors and social institutions be predicted using the same universal laws as physics?

• History of Ideas: How did ancient concepts of virtue transform into modern ideas of individual rights?

• Politics & Society: What gives a government legitimate authority over an individual’s personal liberty?

• Ethics & Value: Do non-human animals, ecosystems, or future generations have rights that obligate us today?

Because philosophy engages with fundamental questions across many fields, the minor is a natural complement to a degree in almost any discipline. Students from all departments are welcome to apply, and no prerequisite courses are required.

Admission & Application

For information about admission requirements, please visit the Minor Programs page.

Application deadline for Spring 2027: December 16, 2026

The required application forms can be completed and signed electronically. Please send the completed forms to phil@bilkent.edu.tr by the deadline.

Be sure to include a copy of your latest transcript.

Minor Curriculum