Three broad categories organize our curriculum: history, value, and mind and reality. Historical courses focus primarily on classical philosophical texts, tracing the path of a particular philosopher's work, a conversation within a historical period, or a series of related conversations. Courses in the value area engage critically with ethical, political, aesthetic, cultural, or religious practices and norms. Mind and reality courses consider philosophical questions about language, mind, reasoning, knowledge, and the nature of reality. Though each course is associated with one thematic area for organizational purposes, these three kinds of inquiry overlap significantly in practice.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory | ||
History: PHIL 201-210 | ||
Values: PHIL 211-229 | ||
Mind & Reality: PHIL 230-249 | ||
| Intermediate | ||
History: PHIL 250-265 | ||
Values: PHIL 266-285 | ||
Mind & Reality: PHIL 286-299 | ||
| Advanced | ||
History: PHIL 301-330 | ||
Values: PHIL 331-360 | ||
Mind & Reality: PHIL 361-399 |
Our introductory courses (200-249) are intended for both prospective majors and non-majors. (General-Education-only courses, with course numbers below 200, do not count toward the major.)
Intermediate courses (250-300) are generally not appropriate for first-year students, and some have explicit prerequisites. Intermediate-level classes tend to introduce students to a particular area of philosophy or to the discipline's historical development at a higher level and in more depth than introductory classes.
Advanced courses (301-399) are typically organized as seminars for majors and other students with significant related preparation. In many cases, students participate with a professor in exploring an area of particular relevance to that professor's research program. Advanced classes may focus on a particular figure in the history of philosophy or on a topic of contemporary importance.
All students planning to major will submit a major request form.
Prospective majors should pay particular attention to the prerequisites for intermediate and advanced courses when planning their schedules. Among other courses, PHIL201, PHIL202, PHIL205, PHIL212 and PHIL231 are required or recommended for a variety of subsequent courses.
Because philosophy ranges over subjects in other disciplines, such as economics, government, mathematics, physics, psychology, and religion, students considering philosophy as a major field are strongly advised to choose a balanced combination of solid liberal arts courses conforming to Wesleyan expectations for generalization.
Students who intend to apply for the social justice track will work with an advisor to submit a concentration proposal by the end of drop/add during their fifth semester.