Philosophy, B.A.

General Education Requirements - 43 Credit Hours

 Philosophy majors must meet the General Education requirements as set out in General Education Program .

School of Arts and Sciences: Additional Natural Science Requirements - 5 Credit Hours

Five additional hours of natural science: 1 lab to accompany the course taken for general education [BIO 1043 , BIO 1023 , ESC 1043 , OCY 1043 , PHY 1043  or PHY 1063 ], and one additional natural science course and accompanying lab. The two natural sciences must be in different areas (both cannot be in biological sciences). In sum, you are required to take a minimum of 8 hours of natural science courses: two natural science courses (in two different areas) along with the labs associated with each.

Philosophy Major Requirements

You must pass all of your philosophy courses, general education courses, language courses, and any labs with a grade of C- or higher.

Foreign Language Requirement

Philosophy majors are required to fulfill the Philosophy Department language requirement. Philosophy majors are required to pass (with a grade of “C-” or higher) two semesters of language in a single language at PBA in French, German, Greek, Hebrew or Spanish. The Philosophy Department recommends that the language requirement be satisfied prior to the senior year. If foreign language courses are taken to fulfill the Global Studies requirement, then those courses also count toward Philosophy Department language requirements.

Global Studies and Social Science Requirements

One course must be selected from each of the following lists of Global Studies courses and Social Science courses.

The Philosophy department suggests that philosophy majors and minors take PHL 1053 - Asian Philosophy  to satisfy the Global Studies requirement. (If taken to satisfy the Global Studies requirement, then it will not count toward PHL degree requirements). Asian Philosophy is offered every fall.

The Philosophy department suggests that philosophy majors and minors take PHL 1603 Foundations of Social Science to satisfy the Social Science requirement. (If taken to satisfy the Social Science requirement, then it may not count toward PHL degree requirements). Foundations of Social Science is offered every spring.

Philosophy Majors Must Take the Following Three Courses - 9 Credit Hours

• PHL 1003 - Introduction to Philosophy 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 3133 - Formal Logic Systems 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 4703 - Senior Seminar 3 Credit Hour(s)

Philosophy Majors Must Take Any Two of the Following - 6 Credit Hours

• PHL 3203 - Modern Philosophy 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 3193 - Ancient Philosophy 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 3183 - Existentialism 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 3173 - 20th Century Philosophy 3 Credit Hour(s)

Philosophy Majors

Must choose any 15 credit hours from the following list, not repeating any course from the above requirements

• PHL 1053 - Asian Philosophy 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 1103 - Foundations of Social Science 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 3083 - Epistemology 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 3103 - Selected Topics in Philosophy 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 3193 - Ancient Philosophy 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 3183 - Existentialism 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 3163 - Metaphysics 3 Credit Hour(s)
• BIB 3143 - Philosophy of Religion 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 3153 - The Culture Critics 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 3173 - 20th Century Philosophy 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 3203 - Modern Philosophy 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 4003 - Aesthetics 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 4143 - Ethics 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 4753 - Philosophy of Mind 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PHL 4813 - Independent Project 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PLS 3313 - Political Thought 3 Credit Hour(s)
• PLS 4313 - Modern Political Thought 3 Credit Hour(s)

*Additional Required - 34-37 Credit Hours

This meets the 120-credit-hour requirement and the 42-upper-level requirement.

Sample Degree Plan

Philosophy 2012-2013