University Catalog

Philosophy (B.A.)

Philosophy is the rational inquiry into our most basic beliefs and values. Socrates famously said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” This examination involves seeking answers to questions like these:
 
How should I live? • What is truth? • How is the mind related to the body? • Do we have free will? • What is justice? • How should we make ethical judgments when there seems to be no clear right or wrong answer? • Are we more likely to know what is real through reason or through the senses? • How am I related to the world and to others? • What is the value of art? • How does technology mediate our engagement with the world and with others? 
 
A philosopher’s examination into these issues is grounded on evidence, reasoning, and argument. If you are a curious person who enjoys intellectual challenges, then you may find a philosophy classroom invigorating.
 
What many people do not know about studying philosophy is that it is practically valuable. How so? Philosophy students acquire the following set of cognitive transferable skills, which are valuable in many professions within the 21st-century knowledge economy:    
 
• Logical reasoning
• Problem solving and creative thinking
• Clear and persuasive writing
• Abstract conceptualization
• Mental dexterity
• The ability to develop and assess different perspectives and frameworks
 
Common professions for philosophy majors:
 
• Technology
• Business
• Law
• Government
• Advertising
• Journalism
• Sales
• Human Resources
• Activism
• Teaching
• Public Policy

120 credits of coursework is required for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, and a minimum 2.0 major GPA.

Degree Requirements Overview

SEEDS General Education Requirements24-27
New Student Seminar1
Major Requirements36
Free Electives 159-56
Total Credits120
1

Graduate Swing Courses will count toward free electives for students in combined (UG/GR) programs.

Major Requirements

Required Courses
In addition to PHIL 424, two courses must be at the 300-400 level.
Logic
PHIL 106Logic3
Value Theory6
Complete 2 courses from the following:
PHIL 200
Ethical Reasoning
PHIL 207
Meaning In Life
PHIL 212
Social and Political Philosophy
PHIL 260
Philosophies of Art
PHIL 281
Ethics and Technology
PHIL 290
Special Topics in Fields in Philosophy
Knowledge and Reality6
Complete 2 courses from the following:
PHIL 264
Critical Reasoning and Arguments
PHIL 266
Philosophy of Science
PHIL 270
Philosophy of Mind
PHIL 310
Knowledge, Belief and Truth
PHIL 312
Existence and Reality
PHIL 390
Special Topics in Fields of Philosophy
History3
Complete 1 course from the following:
PHIL 331
History of Philosophy: Ancient Philosophy
PHIL 333
History of Philosophy: Modern Philosophy
PHIL 345
Philosophies of the Self
PHIL 395
Special Topics in Periods of Movements
Traditions in Contemporary Philosophy3
Complete 1 course from the following:
PHIL 218
Feminist Philosophy
PHIL 231
American Philosophy
PHIL 337
Analytic Philosophy
PHIL 339
Contemporary Continental Philosophy
PHIL 397
Special Topics in Periods of Movements
Seminar
PHIL 424Seminar in Philosophy3
Major Electives12
Complete 4 courses from the list below. Only 1 course may be at the 100 level.
Total Credits36

Major Electives

PHIL 100Introduction to Philosophy3
PHIL 102Ethics and Community Engagement3
PHIL 105Happiness and Meaning in Life3
PHIL 200Ethical Reasoning3
PHIL 202Ethics and Business3
PHIL 204Philosophical Issues in Biomedical Ethics3
PHIL 206Philosophical Issues in Law and Justice3
PHIL 207Meaning In Life3
PHIL 212Social and Political Philosophy3
PHIL 214Ethics of Love, Sex and Desire3
PHIL 216Stoicism3
PHIL 218Feminist Philosophy3
PHIL 231American Philosophy3
PHIL 233Contemporary Philosophers3
PHIL 237Asian Philosophy3
PHIL 239Existentialism3
PHIL 260Philosophies of Art3
PHIL 262Philosophy of Religion3
PHIL 264Critical Reasoning and Arguments3
PHIL 266Philosophy of Science3
PHIL 270Philosophy of Mind3
PHIL 271Philosophy of Sport3
PHIL 280Philosophy of Technology3
PHIL 281Ethics and Technology3
PHIL 288Introduction to Cognitive Science3
PHIL 290Special Topics in Fields in Philosophy3
PHIL 291Special Topics in Fields of Philosophy3
PHIL 292Special Topics in Fields of Philosophy3
PHIL 293Special Topics in Fields of Philosophy3
PHIL 295Special Topics in Periods and Movements3
PHIL 297Special Topics in Periods and Movements3
PHIL 298Philosophy and AI3
PHIL 310Knowledge, Belief and Truth3
PHIL 312Existence and Reality3
PHIL 330Philosophy and Death3
PHIL 331History of Philosophy: Ancient Philosophy3
PHIL 333History of Philosophy: Modern Philosophy3
PHIL 337Analytic Philosophy3
PHIL 339Contemporary Continental Philosophy3
PHIL 345Philosophies of the Self3
PHIL 390Special Topics in Fields of Philosophy3
PHIL 395Special Topics in Periods of Movements3
PHIL 397Special Topics in Periods of Movements3
PHIL 446Independent Study in Philosophy3-12

New Student Seminar

Students in the Adult Learner program must take GNED 100.
Complete one course from the following. Some courses may be restricted by major. Consult with an academic advisor.1
ADVS 198
Pathways to Success
CHEM 190
Freshman Seminar in Chemistry
FYS 100
First Year Seminar
GNED 100
Adult Academic Success Seminar
GNED 199
New Student Seminar
HPEM 199
Freshman Seminar in Health and Physical Education
IDS 155
Pathways to Adult Learning
JUST 199
New Student Seminar
MATH 102
New Student Experience for Mathematical Sciences
MUGN 199
Freshman Seminar for Music Majors
NURS 199
Introduction to Nursing
POLS 199
Freshman Seminar in Political Science and Law

SEEDS General Education Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill the SEEDS requirements.

Foundations
Effective Writing I
Complete one Effective Writing I coruse.3
Effective Writing II
Fulfilled by PHIL 264 in the major.
Complete one Effective Writing II course. 3
Interactive Communication
Complete one Interactive Communication course.3
Quantitative Reasoning
Complete one Quantitative Reasoning course.3
Political and Civic Life
Fulfilled by PHIL 212 in the major.
Complete one Political and Civic Life course.3
World Language
Complete two sequential classes in one World Language when starting at the Beginner I or Beginner II level. Complete one class when starting at the Intermediate/Advanced Level.3-6
Exploration
Complete one course from four different Exploration categories:6
Analyzing Cultures and Societies
Creative Expression
Ethical Inquiry
Fulfilled by PHIL 100, PHIL 102, or PHIL 105 in the major.
Historical Thinking
Literary and Artistic Analysis
Scientific Reasoning
Fulfilled by PHIL 266 in the major.
Total Credits24-27

Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion

This recommended degree plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years and 120 credits. This plan is a recommendation and MUST be used in consultation with their academic advisor. Important note: Students should be aware this plan assumes no pre-requisite coursework is required. If pre-requisite coursework is needed, students may have additional requirements to fulfill which do not appear on the plan.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
New Student Seminar1SEEDS: Effective Writing I3
SEEDS: Quantitative Reasonings3SEEDS: World Language 2 or Free Elective3
PHIL 100, 102, or 105 (fulfills SEEDS: Exploration 1 - Ethical Inquiry & PHIL major elective course 1)3SEEDS: Exploration 2 - Historical Thinking recommended3
SEEDS: World Language 13PHIL major elective course 23
FREE Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3 
 16 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHIL 212 (fulfills SEEDS: Political and Civic Life & PHIL major Value Theory course 1)3PHIL 264 (fulfills SEEDS: Effective Writing II & PHIL major Logic course)3
SEEDS: Interactive Communication3SEEDS: Exploration 3 - Creative Expression recommended3
PHIL major elective course 33PHIL Major Traditions in Contemporary Philosophy course3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
 15 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHIL 266 (Fulfills SEEDS: Exploration 4 - Scientific Reasoning & PHIL Knowledge & Reality course 1))3PHIL major History course3
PHIL Major Value Theory course 23PHIL major elective course 43
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHIL major Seminar course3PHIL major Knowledge & Reality course 23
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective2
 15 14
Total Credits 120