Philosophy

Program Requirements

PHILOSOPHY MAJOR: Bachelor of Arts

Total Philosophy Core Requirements—36 semester hours 

Total Credits for the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy—128 semester hours

General Education                                           45 semester hours

(see the catalogue for the list of required general education courses)

World Language                                              14 semester hours

Support Courses: HIST 101 and 102 and either 247 or 335; ENGL 307 and either 341 or 354; PSYC 100 and 425; RLST 410                               24 semester hours

Philosophy Core

Philosophy / Foundations                                          3  semester hours

Students need 3 credits from the following list:

Philosophy / History                                                   9 semester hours

Students are required to take 9 credits from the

Following 12 credits in the history of philosophy:

Philosophy /Topics                                                     9 semester hours

Students are required to take 9 credits from the

following 12 credits in central areas of philosophy:

Philosophy Electives                                                   15 semester hours

Students are required to take 15 credits from

the following list of elective courses. A maximum

of 6 credits can be from PHIL 286 or 486 (special topics),

and a maximum of 3 credits from 288 or 488 (independent study).

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Those courses listed under philosophical foundations provide an essential introduction and prolegomena to the discipline.  These courses introduce students to the methodological skills of philosophy as a subject which is defined more by method than subject.  In any of these three foundational courses, the student will confront philosophy as a way of thinking that can be applied to virtually any subject.  These courses are therefore designed as a staging ground for higher level study of philosophy. 

Those courses listed under support courses amplify and also generate understanding beyond the general education courses required.  These courses serve to place and position philosophy among the disciplines known as the humanities, by requiring significant course work in these related disciplines, to include the social sciences.  Because philosophy often compliments and also competes with these disciplines, a deeper understanding is required of their approach to subject matter by the student of philosophy. 

Justification for the BA courses

9 credits in Philosophy/History. One of the central aims of Philosophy is to show students that many of our most cherished ideas, such as, liberty, justice, equality and democracy, all have a rich conceptual history.  Requiring students to take a class in Ancient, Medieval, Modern and Contemporary Philosophy, ensures they are exposed to the full spectrum of ideas that make up the rich conceptual history of Western civilization. 

9 credits in Philosophy/Topics. Philosophy is made up of a variety of sub-disciplines, or areas of specialization, with each one focusing on distinct issues and problems.  Requiring students to take a class in Aesthetics, Philosophy of the Human Person (which focuses on Ontology), Logic, and the Senior Capstone course (which focuses on Ethics), ensures that students are exposed to a variety of detailed thematic approaches to philosophical issues.

15 credits in Philosophy/Electives.  In addition to the compulsory 21 credits that students need to acquire from the areas of foundations, history and topics, we believe it is important to leave students some room to pursue their own interests within the discipline of Philosophy. Although the remaining range of elective courses is not so extensive, there are a wide enough variety of classes to give the student some flexibility in choosing what specific philosophical issues appeal to them.