Philosophy, BA
Program Description
Philosophy involves rigorous, persistent reflection on a wide range of issues, such as how one ought to live, the existence of God and the problem of evil, the relation between mind and body, and the ways in which beliefs may be justified. Students in philosophy courses learn to:
- understand important periods, themes, movements, and figures in the history of philosophy;
- apply ethical theories to major social issues;
- analyze arguments using the principles and methods of logic;
- develop their own philosophical views and arguments;
- evaluate responses to problems in metaphysics, epistemology, and other areas of philosophy.
The study of philosophy can have a significant impact on one’s beliefs and values, and it helps develop a variety of intellectual skills and abilities which students can put to use in their lives, whatever they choose to do after they graduate. Among those skills and abilities are the capacities to engage in thinking that is critical, disciplined and creative; to express oneself effectively and appreciate the ideas and perspectives of others; to uncover and examine assumptions; to understand, construct, and evaluate arguments on different sides of issues; and to deal reasonably with questions to which there are no easy answers.
Studying philosophy also prepares students well for professional careers in such fields as law, ministry, psychology, business, and medicine, and for postgraduate work in philosophy. In recent years, philosophy majors have achieved exceptionally high scores on admissions tests to law schools and business schools (the LSAT and the GMAT) and on the GRE. They have been extremely successful in gaining admission to law schools and medical schools.
Students may select philosophy as a major or as a minor. Philosophy courses are also offered as electives for students in all fields of study.
Program Requirements
Students majoring in philosophy must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of philosophy course work, at least 21 of which must be at the upper-division level.
General Requirements
Requirements | Credit Hours |
---|---|
Core Curriculum Program | 42 |
University Seminar (when applicable)1 | 0-2 |
Philosophy Major Requirements | 30 |
University Electives | 42 |
Foreign Language Requirements | 6 |
Total Credit Hours | 120-122 |
- 1
Full-time, first time in college students are required to take university seminar.
- USSE 1201 University Seminar (2 sch)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Full-time, First-year Students | ||
USSE 1201 | University Seminar | 2 |
Core Curriculum Program | ||
University Core Curriculum | 42 | |
Philosophy Major Requirements | ||
PHIL 1301 | Introduction to Philosophy 1,2 | 3 |
PHIL 2303 | Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking 1,2 | 3 |
PHIL 2306 | Introduction to Ethics 1 | 3 |
History of Philosophy | ||
Select 6 hours of the following: | 6 | |
History of Eastern Philosophy I | ||
History of Eastern Philosophy II | ||
American Philosophy 3 | ||
Ancient Philosophy 3 | ||
Modern Philosophy 3 | ||
Contemporary Philosophy 3 | ||
Metaphysics and Epistemology | ||
Select 6 hours of the following: | 6 | |
American Philosophy 3 | ||
Minds and Machines | ||
Metaphysics | ||
Truth, Knowledge, and Justification | ||
Ancient Philosophy 3 | ||
Modern Philosophy 3 | ||
Contemporary Philosophy 3 | ||
Philosophy and History of Science and Technology | ||
Issues in Philosophy of Religion | ||
Values and Society | ||
Select 3 hours of the following: | 3 | |
Philosophy of Love and Sex | ||
Philosophy of Law | ||
Social and Political Philosophy | ||
The Meaning of Life | ||
Ethics, War, and Terrorism | ||
Moral Issues in Contemporary Medicine | ||
Environmental Ethics | ||
Moral Philosophy | ||
Prescribed Electives | ||
Select 6 hours of the following or any other upper-level Philosophy courses not used to satisfy the requirements of the groups listed above: | 6 | |
Elementary Formal Logic | ||
Philosophy and Science Fiction | ||
Advanced Seminar in Philosophy | ||
Philosophy of Language | ||
Topics in Philosophy | ||
Directed Individual Study | ||
University Electives | ||
Select 42 hours of university electives. | 42 | |
Foreign Language Requirements | ||
See the College of Liberal Arts for the college language requirement. | 6 | |
Total Hours | 122 |
- 1
May not be taken for both Philosophy credit and Core Curriculum credit. Students who take the course for Core Curriculum credit must take an upper level Philosophy course to meet this Basic Philosophy Course requirement.
- 2
Students are encouraged to take PHIL 1301 Introduction to Philosophy (3 sch) and PHIL 2303 Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking (3 sch) as early as possible in their pursuit of the major.
- 3
May count towards either the History of Philosophy requirement or the Metaphysics and Epistemology requirement (but cannot be counted towards both requirements).
Course Sequencing
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | |
ENGL 1301 | Writing and Rhetoric I | 3 |
USSE 1201 | University Seminar | 2 |
PHIL 1301 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
Foreign Language Requirements | 3 | |
Hours | 17 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 1302 or COMM 1311 | Writing and Rhetoric II or Foundation of Communication | 3 |
PHIL 2303 | Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking | 3 |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
Foreign Language Requirements | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
PHIL 2306 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
Lower Divisional Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Third Year | ||
Fall | ||
PHIL 3342 | Philosophy of Love and Sex | 3 |
PHIL 4322 | Modern Philosophy | 3 |
Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
PHIL 3327 | American Philosophy | 3 |
PHIL 4303 | Minds and Machines | 3 |
Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall | ||
PHIL 4305 | Truth, Knowledge, and Justification | 3 |
PHIL Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
PHIL Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Total Hours | 122 |