Philosophy, BA

Introduction

The Philosophy Department prides itself on preparing students who intend to pursue a variety of career tracks. Our graduating majors should be able to enter graduate school or obtain jobs in their desire field with an education that offers them highly transferable skills fit for an ever-changing job market.

The department strives to help students cultivate the intellectual, civic, and moral virtues of the discipline of Philosophy–for example, intellectual integrity, objectivity, resilience in the face of obstacles and daunting problems, a commitment to consistency, a knack for seeing and articulating what issues are at stake, the courage to cross-examine opinions that one holds dear, respect for interlocutors and colleagues, a felt obligation to contribute to one’s community.

Our majors are able to reflect philosophically and express clearly their own goals and choices and make informed and thoughtful decisions both in their chosen careers and in their day to day lives.

Baccalaureate Degree Core

Baccalaureate Core & Other Graduation Requirements

Major Requirements

Required Courses: 22-24 Credits

PHIL 100 - Introduction to Philosophy 4 credit(s)
OR PHIL 202 - Ethics and Society 4 credit(s)
PHIL 212 /MATH 212 - Language and Logic 4 credit(s)*
PHIL 349W - Research and Dissemination 2 or 4 credit(s)
PHIL 494 - Senior Seminar I 2 credit(s)
PHIL 495 - Senior Seminar II 2 credit(s)
8 credits of upper-division electives in Philosophy
4 credits of additional Philosophy courses (200 or above)
OR POLS 209 - Ideas in Action: Pol Phil & Modern Soc   4 credit(s)
OR PSY 416 - Cognitive Science  4 credit(s)
OR SOC 414 - Sociological Theory  4 credit(s)

Complete Two Courses: 8 Credits

PHIL 205 - Ancient Philosophy 4 credit(s)
PHIL 206 - Medieval Philosophy 4 credit(s)
PHIL 207 - Early Modern Philosophy 1500-1800 4 credit(s)
PHIL 208 - Late Modern Phil 1800-2000 4 credit(s) *

Total: 34 - 36 Credits

*Majors must take PHIL 212 and one course from PHIL 205 , PHIL 206 , PHIL 207 , PHIL 208 before the senior year; these courses are a prerequisite for PHIL 494 - Senior Seminar I .

Program Details

Program Length

Four years for a complete BA degree. Two years for students transferring in with an AAOT degree. Program length may vary depending upon the student’s course load and academic progress.

Program Learning Outcomes

As a department, our goal is to educate our students with respect to the history, interpretive frameworks, and analytical techniques of the discipline of Philosophy; given this goal, graduating majors should be able to:

exhibit a general understanding of the history and development of Philosophy and a specific understanding of some portion of that history
describe and critique several of the most important historical and contemporary interpretive frameworks used in the discipline of Philosophy (for example, Plato’s Theory of Forms, the utilitarian approach to ethics, and the existentialist analysis of the human condition)
apply the analytical techniques of the discipline of Philosophy (for example, by presenting orally and in writing succinct analyses of philosophical texts and coherently structured arguments in defense of their own philosophical claims).