Academic Programs Catalog

College of Arts and Letters

Department of Philosophy

Undergraduate Programs
Philosophy

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. Students who complete the optional concentration in Philosophy and the Law meet this requirement by completing Philosophy 454. 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
    (2) One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
    PHL 130 Reasoning and Argumentation 3
    PHL 330 Formal Deductive Reasoning 4
    PHL 331 Formal Practical Reasoning 4
    PHL 432 Logic and its Metatheory 4
    (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 4
    PHL 345 Business Ethics 4
    PHL 350 Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy 3
    PHL 356 Philosophical Aspects of Feminism 4
    (4) One of the following courses (3 or 4 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 454 or 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.
Concentration in Philosophy and the Law
The department offers an optional concentration in Philosophy and the Law that provides an alternative pathway through the major for students with career interests in legal and governmental fields. The concentration is available to, but not required of, any student enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts degree program in Philosophy. The concentration will be noted on the student’s transcript upon completion of requirements for the degree.
Philosophy and the Law
To earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy with a concentration in philosophy and the law, students must complete the University requirements and requirements of the College of Arts and Letters for the Bachelor of Arts degree as outlined in items 1. and 2. above. Students will complete a minimum of 36 credits from the following requirements in lieu of item 3. above:
1. The following course (3 credits):
PHL 130 Reasoning and Argumentation 3
2. One of the following courses (4 credits):
PHL 330 Formal Deductive Reasoning 4
PHL 331 Formal Practical Reasoning 4
PHL 432 Logic and its Metatheory 4
3. Both of the following courses (6 credits):
PHL 340 Ethics 3
PHL 350 Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy 3
4. One of the following courses (3 credits): 3
PHL 210 Ancient Greek Philosophy 3
PHL 211 Modern Philosophy 3
PHL 212 Latin American Philosophy 3
PHL 213 African Philosophy 3
PHL 214 Indigenous Philosophy
5. The following course (3 credits):
PHL 354 Philosophy of Law 3
6. Two of the following courses (6 to 8 credits):
PHL 342 Environmental Ethics 3
PHL 344 Ethical Issues in Health Care 4
PHL 345 Business Ethics 4
PHL 353 Core Themes in Peace and Justice Studies 3
PHL 355 Philosophy of Technology (W) 4
PHL 356 Philosophical Aspects of Feminism 4
PHL 357 Philosophy of Karl Marx 3
PHL 440 Central Issues in Ethics 4
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 4
7. The following capstone course (3 credits):
PHL 454 Topics in Philosophy of Law 3
8. At least three 400-level PHL courses not used to fulfill any other requirement 8 to 12