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.

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Program Requirements Overview

General Education Requirements42
World Languages and Cultures Requirements3-9
Major Requirements36
Free Electives 139-33
Total Credits120
1

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

Major Requirements

Required Courses
Logic
PHIL 264Critical Reasoning and Arguments3
Value Theory6
Complete 2 courses from the following:
PHIL 200
History of Ethics
PHIL 212
Social and Political Philosophy
PHIL 260
Philosophies of Art
PHIL 290
Special Topics in Fields in Philosophy
Knowledge and Reality6
Complete 2 courses from the following:
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 395
Special Topics in Periods of Movements
Traditions in Contemporary Philosophy3
Complete 1 course from the following:
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 102Ethics3
PHIL 106Logic3
PHIL 200History of Ethics3
PHIL 202Ethics and Business3
PHIL 204Philosophical Issues in Biomedical Ethics3
PHIL 206Philosophical Issues in Law and Justice3
PHIL 212Social and Political Philosophy3
PHIL 214Ethics of Love, Sex and Desire3
PHIL 231American Philosophy3
PHIL 233Contemporary Philosophers3
PHIL 237Asian Philosophy3
PHIL 239Existentialism3
PHIL 260Philosophies of Art3
PHIL 262Philosophy of Religion3
PHIL 266Philosophy of Science3
PHIL 270Philosophy of Mind3
PHIL 271Philosophy of Sport3
PHIL 280Philosophy of Technology3
PHIL 288Introduction to Cognitive Science3
PHIL 290Special Topics in Fields in Philosophy3
PHIL 295Special Topics in Periods and Movements3
PHIL 310Knowledge, Belief and Truth3
PHIL 312Existence and Reality3
PHIL 316Philosophy of Law3
PHIL 324Legal Reasoning3
PHIL 330Philosophy and Death3
PHIL 331History of Philosophy: Ancient Philosophy3
PHIL 333History of Philosophy: Modern Philosophy3
PHIL 337Analytic Philosophy3
PHIL 339Contemporary Continental Philosophy3
PHIL 376Feminist Jurisprudence3
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

General Education Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.

A. New Student Seminar
Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar1
C. Communication
1. Writing 3
2. Literature3
3. Communication3
D. Fine and Performing Arts
Complete a 3 credit Fine and Performing Arts course.3
F. Humanities
1. Great Works and Their Influences3
2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives 3
G. Computer Science
Complete a 3 credit Computer Science course.3
H. Mathematics
Complete a 3 credit Mathematics course.3
I. Natural Science Laboratory
Complete a 4 credit Natural Science Laboratory course.4
J. Physical Education
Complete a 1 credit Physical Education course.1
K. Social Science
1. American and European History 3
2. Global Cultural Perspectives3
3. Social Science Perspectives 3
Students in P12 Subject Area Teaching programs complete EDFD 200 as part of the Teacher Education sequence.
L. Interdisciplinary Studies
Complete a 3 credit Interdisciplinary Studies course.3
Students in P12 Subject Area Teaching programs complete SASE 210 as part of the Teacher Education sequence.
Total Credits42

World Languages and Cultures Requirements

Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.

World Languages
Based on language placement exam, complete one or two sequential courses in the same language. Requirement is automatically fulfilled by language major courses.3-6
World Cultures
Requirement may be fulfilled by course selected in General Education - Social Science: Global Cultural Perspectives. Requirement may also be fulfilled by major coursework. See list of courses.0-3
Total Credits3-9

Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion

This four-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years.  This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION: (A) New Student Seminar1GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature3
GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing3GENERAL EDUCATION: (H) Mathematics3
GENERAL EDUCATION: (C3) Communication3GENERAL EDUCATION: (K1) Social Science – American and European History3
GENERAL EDUCATION: (K3) Social Science – Social Science Perspectives3Philosophy Value Theory area course 13
PHIL 100, 102, or 1063Free Elective3
Free Elective3 
 16 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION: (G) Computer Science3GENERAL EDUCATION: (D) Fine and Performing Arts3
GENERAL EDUCATION: (K2) Social Science – Global Cultural Perspectives3GENERAL EDUCATION: (I) Natural Science Laboratory4
PHIL 2643World Cultures3
PHIL elective course3Philosophy History area course3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
 15 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
GENERAL EDUCATION: (L) Interdisciplinary Studies3GENERAL EDUCATION: (F1) Humanities – Great Works and Their Influences3
Philosophy Value Theory area course 23World Language 13
Traditions in Contemporary Philosophy area course3Philosophy Knowledge and Reality area course 13
PHIL Elective course3PHIL Elective course3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
World Language 23GENERAL EDUCATION: (J) Physical Education1
Philosophy Knowledge and Reality area course 23PHIL 4243
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
Free Elective3Free Elective3
 15 13
Total Credits 120