Majors & Minors

Philosophy Major | Philosophy Minor

General Distribution Requirement

All courses in the philosophy department count toward the general distribution requirement in humanities except PHIL 111 (which does not count toward any of the distribution requirements) and PHIL 313 (which counts toward the distribution requirement in mathematics and natural science).

General Education Requirements

Courses that meet the general education requirements in writing, quantitative thinking, internationalism and U.S. identities and differences will be posted on the Registrar's web page in advance of registration for each semester. 

Additional information regarding the general distribution requirement and the general education requirements can be found in the graduation requirements section of this catalog.

Honors Program

The philosophy department participates in the honors program. Eligibility requirements, application procedures and specific project expectations for the department are available from either the department office or the Academic Programs and Advising Office.

Topics Courses

PHIL 194, PHIL 294, PHIL 394, PHIL 494 

Courses, not regularly offered, which are designed to meet student interest in something not in the list of catalog courses. Recent offerings include: Ethical Theory; Philosophy of Literature and Race; and Peace, Violence, and Protest. To be announced at registration. (4 credits)

Independent Study

The department offers independent study options in the form of tutorials, independent projects, internships, preceptorships and Honors independent projects. For more information contact the department and review the Curriculum section of the catalog.

Philosophy Major

Major Requirements

A major in philosophy consists of at least nine departmental courses, which must include courses from each of these categories. At least one elective is required; if a course is used to satisfy more than one requirement, an additional elective is required. The courses listed satisfy the requirements by default. Other classes may be used to satisfy these requirements with departmental approval.

1. Logical Reasoning (1 course)

• PHIL 110 - Critical Thinking
• PHIL 111 - Introduction to Symbolic Logic
• MATH 279 - Discrete Mathematics (may also satisfy the requirement but does not count toward the nine departmental courses.)

2. Ethics (1 course)

• PHIL 121 - Introduction to Ethics
• PHIL 220 - Bioethics
• PHIL 221 - Environmental Ethics
• PHIL 225 - Digital Ethics
• PHIL 226 - Animal Ethics

3. History of Philosophy (2 courses)

• PHIL 200 - Ancient and Medieval Philosophies
• PHIL 201 - Modern Philosophy
• PHIL 202 - American Philosophy
• PHIL 211 - Asian Philosophies
• PHIL 216 - Reading Marx
• PHIL 300 - 20th Century Continental Philosophy

4. 300-level Requirement (3 courses)
   
5. Electives (at least 1 course)
   
6. Senior Seminar (1 course)

• PHIL 489 - Senior Seminar

7. Capstone Requirement

• The Senior Capstone requirement is normally satisfied by a senior paper written for the Senior Seminar (PHIL 489), and presented at the senior Philosophy Day.​

Philosophy Minor

Minor Requirements

A minor in philosophy consists of five courses in Philosophy approved by an advisor in the Philosophy Department.