The standard major in philosophy provides a general and comprehensive knowledge of the basic historical and systematic themes in philosophy. It will give a sound training both for those who anticipate going to graduate school or those who simply wish to acquire the broadly applicable skills of critical thinking and academic writing.
The majors in ethics, social, and political philosophy and in philosophy and public policy are intended for students who have a specific concern with questions of value as they apply to individuals, society, and public policy. These majors, in different ways, provide a broad outlook on these problems and attempted solutions to them, but should not in general be considered the best preparation for graduate work in philosophy. These majors, will, however, serve as a good liberal arts base for careers in government, the law, or social service.
Requirements
The Standard Major in Philosophy:
The standard major requires completion of 10 philosophy courses including:
- 1: Phil 100 (Intro to Philosophy) or Phil 108 (Moral and Social Problems)
- 2: Phil 120 (Introduction to Logic)
- 3: Phil 211 (Ancient Philosophy)
- 4: Phil 212 (Modern Philosophy)
6 additional courses in philosophy, including at least five courses numbered 300 or higher.
Restrictions on courses that count toward the major:
- No more than two 100-level courses may count toward the standard major.
- No more than one course in the major may be taken on a pass/fail basis.
- PHIL 478 and 479 (independent study) do not normally count toward the satisfaction of the 300-level or higher major requirement.