Philosophy B.A. Degree
The philosophy major introduces the student to the tradition of philosophical reasoning about the nature of the world, the limits of human knowledge, and the proper course of human conduct. The curriculum is designed to introduce students to the full range of philosophical thinking, from ontology and metaphysics to ethics and epistemology. Rather than stress a particular content or approach to philosophy, the goal of the program is to graduate majors who have developed the habit of thinking and writing about complex philosophical issues in a critical and rigorous manner.
The philosophy program emphasizes the reading of primary texts in the philosophical tradition. In sharp contrast to the deductive presentation favored by many textbooks that conceal the origin of the knowledge they present, the use of primary texts permits the student to follow the path of discovery traveled by the founders of the philosophical tradition. This approach encourages a confidence in the ability to reason by showing students that they are equally capable of using reason to resolve difficult problems. This unique training is an ideal course of study for students who desire a solid liberal arts education.
A philosophy major is an excellent preparation for graduate or professional school and provides an outstanding foundation for careers in journalism, politics, civil service, advertising, law, medicine, public policy, education, business, marketing and public relations.
Philosophy also is an ideal double major for those seeking to combine a solid training in the liberal arts with a more practically oriented vocational degree.
All philosophy courses listed count toward a major in philosophy. A major consists of at least 30 credit hours of philosophy courses and a maximum of 42 credit hours. The major consists of four required courses and six electives.
In addition, all philosophy majors must satisfy the University speech and writing requirements. The former can be satisfied by taking a speech intensive course, such as Introduction to General Speech Communication (COMM 201SI) or Introduction to Persuasive Speaking (COMM 202SI). The latter can be satisfied by taking a writing intensive course, such as Research Writing in the Disciplines (ENGL 214WI).
The Philosophy major is offered as a Bachelor of Arts degree only.
Major Requirements
University Core
| Core | University Core Requirements | 37 |
Philosophy majors must complete the following courses:
And six additional Philosophy elective courses, at least four of which are 300-level or above, chosen from the following:
And:
| XX xxx | Any speech-intensive (SI) course | 3 |
| XXX xxx | Any Writing Intensive (WI) course | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
General Electives
| General Electives | Requirement | 47 |
Total Credit Hours: 120
Minor Requirements
A minor in Philosophy consists of at least 15 credit hours of philosophy courses, of which a minimum of nine credit hours must be in courses numbered 300 or above.