Philosophy, B.A.

The major in Philosophy is an excellent preparation for entry into professional schools, law school and for graduate study in the humanities or social sciences. Philosophy majors develop the ability to analyze arguments and assess their strengths and weaknesses, which means the program also offers valuable training for a wide variety of jobs.

Requirements for the Philosophy Major

Core Curriculum Requirements:

See Undergraduate Core Curriculum

Philosophy requirement:

Included within the major.

Major Requirements:

30 credit hours, as follows

15 hours of required courses

3 hours of one of the following

12 hours of major electives chosen from:

PHIL 300-397

Note(s):

A 2.000 cumulative average must be attained for all PHIL courses.

Departmental Honors Track

Departmental honors enables students who are so inclined to prepare themselves better for graduate study in philosophy, or to pursue a more challenging undergraduate course of study in philosophy.

In addition to the standard requirements for the major, candidates for departmental honors will have to compose a senior thesis while working under the direction of one of our faculty members. The senior thesis project culminates in an oral thesis defense.

Honors Thesis:

TOTAL Minimum Hours Required for Degree: 120 Semester Hours

B. A. Philosophy

This block serves as a guideline for progress toward a degree. See your academic advisor.

Freshman Year

First Semester

First Year Seminar (CORE 100)
Second Language 1
Composition or Rhetoric (ENGL 100/115)
Philosophy 100
Creative Perspectives Elective
CORE 101

Second Semester

Theological Foundations (THEO 111)
Second Language 2
Literature and Moral Imagination (ENGL 205)
Scientific Perspectives Elective
Oral Communications Flag*
CORE 102

Sophomore Year

First Semester

Philosophy 200
Mathematical Perspectives Elective
Historical
Natural Science Elective
Writing-Intensive Flag*

Second Semester

History of Philosophy
General Elective
Social Science Elective
Theological Perspectives Elective
Quantitative Reasoning Flag*

Junior Year

First Semester

History of Philosophy
Philosophy Elective
Philosophy Elective
ERS Elective*
General Elective

Second Semester

History of Philosophy
Philosophy 340 Metaphysics
Philosophy Elective
Diversity Curriculum Requirement (DCR) Flag*
Humanities Elective

Senior Year

First Semester

Philosophy Elective
Humanities Elective
General Elective/Thesis Review**
General Elective
General Elective

Second Semester

General Elective
General Elective
General Elective/Thesis Review**
General Elective
General Elective

Scheduling Notes:

*The five flags (E/RS, Oral Communication, Writing-Intensive, DCR, Quantitative Reasoning) can be double-counted with major requirements, where possible.
**Thesis Review is only for students choosing the Philosophy Honors Track. The student will enroll for a sequence of two tutorials, taught by the faculty member serving as their Thesis Director. Thesis Review I earns 1 credit; Thesis Review II earns 2 credits.