Philosophy
Philosophy is concerned with the underlying assumptions and broad implications of human knowledge and values. The curriculum in philosophy contains a wide range of courses that explore these topics by studying philosophical problems through the writings of important philosophers of the past and present. Emphasis is placed on understanding different solutions to these problems and on analyzing and criticizing them.
The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy has traditionally served as a basis for further study in philosophy, law, religion, or related fields. It may also be used as background training for government, business, or any field that depends upon a strong liberal arts education. The department has traditionally encouraged taking a double major and has restricted the number of required courses in philosophy so that this may be possible.
Students may also elect to major in philosophy through either the philosophy option or the philosophy and religion option. The department also encourages students to engage in independent study through the departmental honors option. This option has the following requirements:
- Students must have a minimum 3.5 grade-point average in their major and a 3.0 GPA overall.
- Students must present an acceptable, bound senior thesis, and an oral defense of the thesis.
Students may attain 3-6 undergraduate independent study credits while working for the thesis. Qualified students may enroll in the honors option through their departmental advisers.
Curricula in Philosophy
PHILOSOPHY OPTION
| Freshman Year | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| WRIT 101W--College Writing I | 3 | ||
| Philosophy Electives | 6 | ||
| University Core and Electives | 21 | ||
| 30 | |||
| Sophomore Year | Credits | ||
| PHIL 231--Introduction to Logic | 3 | ||
| One Year Modern Lang | 8 | ||
| Select one of the following: | |||
| PHIL 311--Aesthetics & The Arts | 3 | ||
| PHIL 313--Philosophy and Film | 3 | ||
| University Core and Electives | 16 | ||
| 30 | |||
| Junior Year | Credits | ||
| PHIL 305--Hist of Phil: Anc & Mediv | 3 | ||
| PHIL 306--History of Phil: Modern | 3 | ||
| Select one of the following: | |||
| PHIL 334--Moral Theory | 3 | ||
| PHIL 338--Bio-Medical Ethics | 3 | ||
| University Core and Electives | 21 | ||
| 30 | |||
| Senior Year | Credits | ||
| Select one of the following: | |||
| PHIL 342--Approaches to Epistemology | 3 | ||
| PHIL 352--Metaphysics | 3 | ||
| PHIL 400--Seminar | 3 | ||
| PHIL 400--Seminar | 3 | ||
| University Core and Electives | 21 | ||
| 30 |
A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation; 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above.
PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION OPTION
| Freshman Year | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| WRIT 101W--College Writing I | 3 | ||
| University Core and Electives | 27 | ||
| 30 | |||
| Sophomore Year | Credits | ||
| PHIL 231--Introduction to Logic | 3 | ||
| One Year Modern Lang | 8 | ||
| Select one of the following: | |||
| RELS 206--The Origins of God | 3 | ||
| RELS 207--Images of Jesus | 3 | ||
| RELS 217--Religion and Science | 3 | ||
| Select one of the following: | |||
| RELS 202--Asian Religion-Hindusim & Buddhism | 3 | ||
| RELS 203--Asian Religions:From Taoism to Zen | 3 | ||
| University Core and Electives | 13 | ||
| 30 | |||
| Junior Year | Credits | ||
| PHIL 305--Hist of Phil: Anc & Mediv | 3 | ||
| PHIL 306--History of Phil: Modern | 3 | ||
| Select one of the following: | |||
| PHIL 334--Moral Theory | 3 | ||
| PHIL 338--Bio-Medical Ethics | 3 | ||
| Select one of the following: | |||
| RELS 320--Phil of Religion | 3 | ||
| RELS 325--Literature and Religion | 3 | ||
| RELS 326--Mystics, Founders, Reformers | 3 | ||
| Univ Core and Electives | 18 | ||
| 30 | |||
| Senior Year | Credits | ||
| Select one of the following: | |||
| PHIL 342--Epistemology | 3 | ||
| PHIL 352--Metaphysics | 3 | ||
| Select one of the following: | |||
| RELS 402--Natural,Unnatural,Supernatural | 4 | ||
| RELS 405--Text and Image | 3 | ||
| RELS 410--Psyche and the Sacred | 3 | ||
| PHIL 400--Seminar | 3 | ||
| PHIL 400--Seminar | 3 | ||
| University Core and Electives | 18 | ||
| 30-31 |
A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation: 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above.
PHILOSOPHY MINOR (NON-TEACHING)
The minimum number of credits required for a non-teaching minor is twenty-one, with nine of those being upper-division credits.
| Credits | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL 231--Introduction to Logic | 3 | ||
| PHIL 305--Hist of Phil: Anc & Mediv | 3 | ||
| PHIL 306--History of Phil: Modern | 3 | ||
| Select one of the following: | |||
| PHIL 334--Moral Theory | 3 | ||
| PHIL 338--Bio-Medical Ethics | 3 | ||
| PHIL 342--Approaches to Epistemology | 3 | ||
| PHIL 352--Metaphysics | 3 | ||
| Philosophy Electives; at least three credits must be upper division | 9 | ||
| 21 |
