Academic Programs Catalog

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Philosophy major is met by completing Philosophy 492, or, with prior approval, Philosophy 499. Those courses are referenced in item 3. a. (5) below.
2. The requirements of the College of Arts and Letters for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	The following Philosophy courses (36 to 40 credits):
   	(1)	Two of the following courses (6 credits):
   		PHL	210	Ancient Greek Philosophy			3
   		PHL	211	Modern Philosophy			3
   		PHL	212	Latin American Philosophy			3
   		PHL	213	Africana Philosophy			3
   		PHL	214	Indigenous Philosophy			3
   		PHL	215	Buddhist Philosophy			3
   	(2)	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   		PHL	130	Reasoning and Argumentation			3
   		PHL	330	Formal Deductive Reasoning			3
   		PHL	331	Formal Practical Reasoning			3
   		PHL	432	Logic and its Metatheory			3
   	(3)	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   		PHL	340	Ethics			3
   		PHL	342	Environmental Ethics			3
   		PHL	344	Ethical Issues in Healthcare			3
   		PHL	345	Business Ethics			3
   		PHL	350	Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy			3
   		PHL	356	Philosophical Aspects of Feminism			3
   	(4)	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   		PHL	360	Philosophy of Language			3
   		PHL	361	Knowledge and Reality			3
   		PHL	380	Nature of Science			3
   	(5)	The following capstone course (3 credits):
   		PHL	492	Capstone for Majors (W)			3
   		With the prior written approval of the Department, Philosophy 499 may be substituted for Philosophy 492.
   	(6)	A minimum of three 400-level courses, excluding Philosophy 492 or 499.
   	(7)	Philosophy electives: Additional credits in Philosophy courses as needed to meet the requirement of at least 36, but not more than 40, credits in courses in the major.

The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy and Law establishes a means for students preparing for law or related fields to enhance their reasoning ability as well as tackle pressing ethical, political, social, economic, and cultural issues faced in their careers.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy and Law

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy and Law.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Philosophy and Law major is met by completing PHL 452, or with prior approval, PHL 499. Those courses are referenced in item 3. below. 
2. The requirements of the College of Arts and Letters for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
3. The following requirements for the major (33 credits):

   a.	All of the following courses (12 credits):
   	PHL	130	Reasoning and Argumentation						3
   	PHL	340	Ethics						3
   	PHL	350	Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy						3
   	PHL	354	Philosophy of Law						3
   b.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	PHL	330	Formal Deductive Reasoning						3
   	PHL	331	Formal Practical Reasoning						3
   	PHL	432	Logic and its Metatheory						3
   c.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	PHL	210	Ancient Greek Philosophy						3
   	PHL	211	Early Modern European Philosophy						3
   	PHL	212	Latin American Philosophy						3
   	PHL	213	Africana Philosophy						3
   	PHL	214	Indigenous Philosophy						3
   	PHL	215	Buddhist Philosophy						3
   d.	Two of the following courses (6 credits):
   	PHL	342	Environmental Ethics						3
   	PHL	344	Ethical Issues in Health Care						3
   	PHL	345	Business Ethics						3
   	PHL	353	Core Themes in Peace and Justice Studies						3
   	PHL	355	Philosophy of Technology (W)						3
   	PHL	356	Philosophical Aspects of Feminism						3
   	PHL	357	Philosophy of Karl Marx						3
   	PHL	440	Central Issues in Ethics						3
   	PHL	442	Ethics and Animals						3
   	PHL	451	Philosophy and the Black Experience						3
   	PHL	452	Ethics and Development						3
   	PHL	453	Ethical Issues in Global Public Health						3
   	PHL	456	Topics in Feminist Philosophy						3
   e.	The following capstone course (3 credits):
   	PHL	454	Topics in Philosophy of Law (W)						3
   	With approval of the department, PHL 499 (senior thesis) may be substituted for PHL 454.
   f.	A minimum of two PHL courses at the 400-level excluding PHL 454 or PHL 499.
   g.	Additional PHL courses to reach a total of 33 credits.

The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy and the Sciences is designed to provide students with primary interest in science and technology the opportunity to examine their foundations and methods as well as ethical issues regarding research and applications. Ideal as a second or additional major, this program allows students to situate their main interests in science within the broader context that the sciences and technology have in our society.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy and the Sciences

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy and the Sciences.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Philosophy and the Sciences major is met by completing PHL 492, or with prior approval, PHL 499. Those courses are referenced in item 3. below.
2. The requirements of the College of Arts and Letters for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
3. The following requirements for the major (30 credits):

   a.	The following course (3 credits):
   	PHL	380	Nature of Science						3
   b.	At least three of the following courses (9 credits):
   	PHL	342	Environmental Ethics						3
   	PHL	344	Ethical Issues in Health Care						3
   	PHL	355	Philosophy of Technology (W)						3
   	PHL	442	Ethics and Animals						3
   	PHL	453	Ethical Issues in Global Public Health						3
   	PHL	462	Philosophy of Mind -						3
   	PHL	463	Introduction to Cognitive Science						3
   	PHL	480	Philosophy of Science						3
   	PHL	482	Topics in Ethics in Science						3
   	PHL	484	Philosophy of Biological Science						3
   	PHL	486	Biotechnology in Agriculture: Applications and Ethical Issues						3
   c.	The following capstone course (3 credits):
   	PHL	492	Capstone for Majors (W)						3
   	With approval of the department, PHL 499 (senior thesis) may be substituted for PHL 492.
   d.	A minimum of two PHL courses at the 400-level excluding PHL 492 or PHL 499. The courses used for this requirement may also satisfy requirement b.
   e.	Science Disciplinary Requirement: Complete 6 to 9 credits from one particular science discipline in the agricultural, engineering, environmental, medical, natural, or social sciences from any of the following colleges: College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Engineering, Lyman Briggs College, College of Natural Science, College of Nursing, College of Social Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, or other colleges subject to approval of the department. ISS, ISB and ISP, MTH 101, MTH 102, MTH 103, STT 200, and STT 201 cannot be counted for this requirement. Courses in the College of Social Science or other colleges may be used for this requirement only if offered by a department that offers a Bachelor of Science degree. Courses in Lyman Briggs College that can be used for the major or minor in Science and Society cannot be counted for this requirement.
   f.	Additional PHL courses to reach a total of 30 credits.

The Minor in Philosophy, which is administered by the Department of Philosophy, will broaden students’ understanding of philosophical issues, assist them in learning to think critically, and to apply this knowledge and understanding to their chosen field of study.

This minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy or Philosophy and Law, or Philosophy and the Sciences. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. Courses that are used to satisfy the requirements of this minor may not be used to satisfy the requirements of the Philosophy and Law minor or the Philosophy and the Sciences minor.

Students who plan to complete the requirements of the minor should consult the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Philosophy.

Requirements for the Minor in Philosophy

The Minor in Philosophy and Law, which is administered by the Department of Philosophy, combines general training in philosophical ideas, debates, and methods with more focused work on the analytical, critical, and normative issues that arise with laws, legal institutions, and professional work.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy or Philosophy and Law, or Philosophy and the Sciences. With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. Courses that are used to satisfy the requirements of this minor may not be used to satisfy the requirements of the Philosophy minor or the Philosophy and the Sciences minor.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the minor should consult an undergraduate advisor in Philosophy.

Requirements for the Minor in Philosophy and Law

Complete a minimum of 18 credits from the following:

The Minor in Philosophy and the Sciences, which is administered by the Department of Philosophy, will provide students with majors in science and technology the opportunity to examine their foundations and methods as well as ethical issues regarding research and applications.

This minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy or Philosophy and Law or Philosophy and the Sciences. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. Courses that are used to satisfy the requirements of this minor may not be used to satisfy the requirements of the Minor in Philosophy or the Minor in Philosophy and Law.

Students who plan to complete the requirements of the minor should consult the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Philosophy.

Requirements for the Minor in Philosophy and the Sciences

Students must complete 18 credits from the following: