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  • School of Humanities and Fine Arts

    The Philosophy Program

    The Philosophy Department helps its majors and minors achieve the following goals:

    • Develop a sophisticated understanding of philosophical thought in its historical context, exploring important philosophical systems charitably and accurately;
    • Foster habits of logical thinking and critical analysis to analyze arguments, evaluate positions, and use reason in everyday life; 
    • Understand basic and advanced ethical theories and apply their principles to concrete problems in individual and social life; 
    • Synthesize related philosophical ideas from different sources, and engage them with students’ own experience; and
    • Skillfully articulate conceptual elements of philosophical thought in written and oral form, and develop high-level skills of independent scholarship.

    Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy

    Requirements for the Major: (33 credits)     33 credits in Philosophy, structured in the following way* (These are in addition to the Core requirement of 1st Philosophy PL 101):

    • Required courses:
      PL 100 Ancient and Medieval Philosophy - 3 credits
      PL 120 Logic - 3 credits 
      PL 200 Modern Philosophy - 3 credits
      PL 205 Contemporary Philosophy - 3 credits
      PL 215 Ethics - 3 credits
      PL 450 Senior Thesis - 3 credits
       
    • In addition to the 18 credits in these six courses, 15 credits of work in five further courses, chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor from the course offerings of the Philosophy Department. Typically, this would include:
      PL 220 Theories of Knowledge - 3 credits
      PL 230 Metaphysics  - 3 credits
       
    • Students would also generally choose at least two courses from the following:
      PL 210 Philosophical Anthropology - 3 credits
      PL 280 Thomistic Philosophy - 3 credits
      PL 235 Philosophy of God - 3 credits
      PL 245 Philosophy of Science - 3 credits
       
    • Students wishing to extend their study of ethics are encouraged to enroll in:
      PL 216 Ethical Problems - 3 credits
      PL 217 Environmental Ethics - 3 credits
      PL 218 Bioethics - 3 credits
       

    *Those applying for graduate studies in philosophy are also required to complete Symbolic Logic, PL 250. All other majors are strongly encouraged to complete this course.