FAQs

The B.Phil. is an honors-level undergraduate degree. It is designed for students who seek an intellectually enriched education that integrates the Great Texts of the Western Tradition with a secondary major in another discipline. The program culminates in a thesis through the Honors Program and is intended to prepare students for advanced academic and professional opportunities. 

A degree is the overall academic credential you earn (such as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Philosophy), while a major is the specific subject you focus on within that degree (like Biology, Philosophy, or Great Texts). For example, a student might earn a B.Phil. degree with a major in Great Texts and a secondary major in Political Science.

The B.Phil., unlike other degrees offered at Baylor, is a research baccalaureate that utilizes an alternative core that is more rigorous in nature. B.Phil. students must complete a primary major in Great Texts of the Western Tradition, a secondary major, and an honors thesis through the Honors Program.  

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis after students are admitted to Baylor University. Applicants generally have a high class ranking and score above 1450 SAT, 33 ACT, 100 CLT, and have a GPA of 3.8 or higher on a 4.0 scale. 

Yes, however, all B.Phil. students must choose a secondary major to broaden their course of study. 

Yes, all B.Phil. students will enroll in the Honors Program and will pursue research that will culminate in the completion of a thesis. 

All B.Phil. students are required to pursue a secondary major from another discipline. This ensures that graduates receive both breadth and depth in their education, integrating multiple fields of study in a way that prepares them for diverse career paths and graduate studies. 

Research is a primary component of the B.Phil. degree. Students are required to complete a thesis through the Honors Program to satisfy their graduate requirements. The type of research will be dependent on each individual student's academic interests.  

Graduates of the B.Phil. program are well-prepared for graduate school, law school, medical school, and professional careers in academia, policy, ministry, journalism, business, and more. The program's emphasis on writing, research, and interdisciplinary thinking makes graduates highly competitive for elite fellowships and postgraduate opportunities. 

The B.Phil pairs with three out of the five Honors College offerings. B.Phil. students are automatically admitted to the Honors Program and must complete an research thesis and must study Great Texts of the Western Tradition as their primary major. The B.Phil. curriculum is also compatible with the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core. 

No, other than Great Texts, the Honors Program, and the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core, the B.Phil. is not compatible with other Elite Opportunities at Baylor. 

Elite Opportunities at Baylor

Yes, all B.Phil. students are eligible to live in the HRC, located in Alexander and Memorial Halls.