Department of Philosophy

Major Requirements - Pre Fall 2021

The following requirements apply to all philosophy majors declared prior to the Fall 2021 semester. For the requirements that apply to majors declared in Fall 2021 or later see here.

All philosophy majors must take the eight courses (24 credit hours) that constitute the "core curriculum":

  • PHILO 301 History of Philosophy
  • PHILO 303 Writing Philosophy
  • PHILO 305 Reasons, Decisions, and Society
  • PHILO 320 Symbolic Logic I
  • PHILO 330 Moral Philosophy
  • PHILO 335 Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy
  • PHILO 340 Reasons and Reliable Knowledge
  • PHILO 345 World, Things, and Properties

All philosophy majors must also fulfill other requirements; the other requirements a student must fulfill depend on the student's "track." In addition to the standard philosophy major track, we also have

The department also offers a philosophy minor.

The "Standard" Philosophy Major (B.A. or B.S.)

The standard philosophy major is 36 credit hours. The requirements for the standard major are:

  1. The core curriculum (24 credit hours), and
  2. four philosophy electives (12 credit hours), three of which are at or above the 500-level.

Single Major Pre-Law Option (B.A. or B.S.)

The single major pre-law option is 36 credit hours. The requirements for this major are:

  1. The core curriculum (24 credit hours),
  2. PHILO 535 (Philosophy of Law) (3 credit hours),
  3. PHILO 525 (Social and Political Philosophy) or PHILO 585 (Ethics) (3 credits), and
  4. two philosophy electives (6 credit hours), one of which is at or above the 500-level.

Double Major Pre-Law Option (B.A. or B.S.)

The double major pre-law option is 30 credit hours, in addition to a second major. The philosophy requirements for this major are:

  1. The core curriculum (24 credit hours),
  2. PHILO 535 (Philosophy of Law) (3 credit hours), and
  3. one philosophy elective (3 credit hours).

Single Major Pre-Business Option (B.A. or B.S.)

The single major pre-business option is 36 credit hours. The requirements for this major are:

  1. The core curriculum (24 credit hours),
  2. PHILO 390 (Business Ethics) (3 credit hours),
  3. PHILO 525 (Social and Political Philosophy), PHILO 585 (Ethics), PHILO 650 (Rationality and Action), or PHILO 665 (Philosophy of Economics) (3 credit hours), and
  4. two philosophy electives (6 credit hours).

Double Major Pre-Business Option (B.A. or B.S.)

The double major pre-business option is 30 credit hours, in addition to a second major in the College of Business Administration. The philosophy requirements for this major are:

  1. The core curriculum (24 credit hours),
  2. PHILO 390 (Business Ethics) (3 credit hours), and
  3. one philosophy elective (3 credit hours).

Pre-Ministry Option (B.A. or B.S.)

The pre-ministry track is 30 credit hours, in addition to two approved courses outside of the philosophy department. (Those two additional courses must require the study of religion, and must be approved by the philosophy department.) The philosophy requirements for this major are:

  1. The core curriculum (24 credit hours), and
  2. Two of the following: PHILO 510 (Symbolic Logic II), PHILO 615 (Philosophy of Religion), PHILO 635 (Metaphysics), PHILO 640 (Epistemology), PHILO 655 (Philosophy of Mind), or one of these courses and a philosophy elective at or above the 500 level (6 credit hours).

Single Major Pre-Medical Option (B.A. or B.S.)

The single major pre-medical option is 36 credit hours. Students who plan to apply to medical school are advised to add a minor in Biology, Chemistry, Bio-Chemistry, or Physics. The requirements for this major are:

  1. The core curriculum (24 credit hours),
  2. PHILO 365 (Medical Ethics) (3 credit hours), and
  3. three philosophy electives, at least one of which is at or above the 500 level (9 credit hours).

Double Major Pre-Medical Option (B.A. or B.S.)

The double major pre-medical option is 30 credit hours, in addition to a second major in the College of Arts and Sciences. The philosophy requirements for this major are:

  1. The core curriculum (24 credit hours),
  2. PHILO 365 (Medical Ethics) (3 credit hours), and
  3. one philosophy elective (3 credit hours).

Interdisciplinary Option (B.A. or B.S.)

The interdisciplinary option is 30 credit hours, in addition to a major in another discipline. The philosophy requirements for this major are:

  1. The core curriculum (24 credit hours),
  2. two philosophy electives, one of which is PHILO 680 (Independent Study) or a course that receives prior department approval (6 credit hours).