Philosophy, B.A. (27-Credit Major)
Effective: Fall 2019. Students whose major declaration for this program is effective beginning in the Fall of 2019 or thereafter must follow these requirements. Students whose declarations were for previous semesters follow the requirements that were in effect at the time of declaration. See link below for the most recent Philosophy, B.A. requirements prior to Fall 2019. Please refer to DegreeWorks or consult an advisor to review your requirements and track your progress.
Students who Major in Philosophy may choose either Option A: Knowledge and Reality or Option B: Ethics and Public Policy.
- One 3-credit course in Logic (Category 1)
- One 3-credit introductory course (Category 2) Of the remaining seven courses, at least three courses (9 credits) should be at the 300- or 400-level.
- Two 3-credit courses in Knowledge, Language, and Mind (Category 3)
- Two 3-credit courses in Ethics, Politics, and Aesthetics (Category 4)
- Two 3-credit courses in Philosophical Traditions (Category 5), one of which must be either PHI 242 or PHI 243
- One additional 3-credit course from Categories 3 or 5, or PHI 365
- One 3-credit course in Logic (Category 1)
- One 3-credit introductory course (Category 2) Of the remaining seven courses, at least three courses (9 credits) should be at the 300- or 400-level.
- One 3-credit course in Knowledge, Language, and Mind (Category 3)
- Four 3-credit courses in Ethics, Politics, and Aesthetics (Category 4)
- One 3-credit course in Philosophical Traditions (Category 5)
- One additional 3-credit course from Categories 3 or 5, or PHI 365
| Category 1: Logic 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| PHI 170 | Introduction to Logic | 3 |
| PHI 230 | Intermediate Logic | 3 |
| Category 2: Introductory Courses | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| PHI 169 | Critical Reasoning | 3 |
| PHI 171 | Problems of Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 172 | Contemporary Moral Issues | 3 |
| PHI 173 | Justice and Society | 3 |
| PHI 174 | Theories of Human Nature | 3 |
| PHI 175 | Philosophy of Religion | 3 |
| PHI 176 | Philosophy of Freedom | 3 |
| PHI 177 | Philosophy of Contemporary Music | 3 |
| Category 3: Knowledge, Language, and Mind | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| PHI 231 | Philosophy of Language | 3 |
| PHI 237 | Issues in the Philosophy of Religion | 3 |
| PHI 349 | Philosophy of Mind | 3 |
| PHI 353 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| PHI 354 | Philosophy of the Social Sciences | 3 |
| PHI 355 | Theory of Knowledge | 3 |
| PHI 356 | Metaphysics | 3 |
| PHI 357 | Educating Kings and Citizens | 3 |
| Category 4: Ethics, Politics, and Aesthetics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| PHI 218 | Fundamentals of Human Rights and Peace | 3 |
| PHI 221 | Ethical Issues in Computing and Technology | 3 |
| PHI 232 | Classical Ethical Theories | 3 |
| PHI 233 | Aesthetics | 3 |
| PHI 234 | Philosophy of Law | 3 |
| PHI 235 | Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 236 | Social Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 239 | Philosophical Ideas in Literature | 3 |
| PHI 247 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 248 | Philosophy and Film | 3 |
| PHI 250 | Contemporary Social Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 330 | Business Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 336 | Disability, Ethics & the Body | 3 |
| PHI 338 | Race and Ethnicity in Society | 3 |
| PHI 339 | Philosophy of Sport | 3 |
| PHI 341 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 358 | Ethical Theory | 3 |
| PHI 364 | Capitalism and Its Critics | 3 |
| PHI 369 | Global Justice | 3 |
| PHI 370 | Legal Reasoning | 3 |
| PHI 434 | Neuroethics | 3 |
| Category 5: Philosophical Traditions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| PHI 225 | Philosophy and Gender | 3 |
| PHI 238 | Asian Philosophies | 3 |
| PHI 241 | Existentialism | 3 |
| PHI 242 | History of Philosophy I: Ancient | 3 |
| PHI 243 | History of Philosophy II: Modern | 3 |
| PHI 244 | History of Philosophy III: Nineteenth Century | 3 |
| PHI 245 | American Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 251 | History of Philosophy IV: 20th Century | 3 |
| PHI 269 | Introduction to African Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 305 | African Philosophical Thought | 3 |
Option A Goals: Upon completion of Option A, a student in our department will be able to do the following:
Goal I. Articulate a diversity of philosophical problems or positions
Measurable objectives for this goal:
- Explain a philosophical problem or position as well as alternative or opposing problems or positions (paper/exam)
- Explain the meaning/use of philosophical concepts essential to the topic at hand (paper/exam)
Goal II. Identify and apply basic logical and analytical concepts and principles
Measurable objectives for this goal:
- Distinguish a writer's views from a view they criticize (paper/exam)
- Identify some of a philosopher's premises and conclusions (paper/exam)
- Construct an argument in which a conclusion follows from premises (paper/exam)
Goal III. Explain key developments in the history of philosophy
Measurable objectives for this goal:
- Compare and contrast some of a philosopher’s views with related ideas in earlier and later periods (paper/exam)
- Identify a theme that connects past philosophy to more recent philosophy (paper/exam)
Option B Goals: Upon completion of option B, a student in this Department will be able to do the following:
Goal I. Articulate a variety of ethical theories
Measurable objectives for this goal:
- Explain a key ethical theory as well as alternative or opposing theories (paper/exam)
- Explain the meaning/use of philosophical concepts essential to the theory (paper/exam)
Goal II. Identify and apply basic logical and analytical concepts and principles
Measurable objectives for this goal:
- Distinguish a writer's views from a view they criticize (paper/exam)
- Identify some of a philosopher's premises and conclusions (paper/exam)
- Construct an argument in which a conclusion follows from premises (paper/exam)
Goal III. Analyze particular moral problems
Measurable objectives for this goal:
- Identify and describe a moral dilemma (paper/exam)
- Apply one or more key ethical theories to a moral problem (paper/exam)
