Philosophy - Standard Track, BA

Major Requirements

The standard philosophy major track requires at least 24 credits, while the intensive philosophy major track requires a minimum of 36 credits, as detailed below:

• An acceptable senior paper. The student must sign up either for PHIL 1940 - HONORS THESIS/MAJORS  (3 credits) or PHIL 1940 - HONORS THESIS/MAJORS  and PHIL 1941 - HONORS THESIS 2/MAJORS  (6 credits), with the prior permission of a faculty member who has agreed to supervise the student’s work. Neither PHIL 1940  nor PHIL 1941  counts toward the five 1000-level courses mentioned above.
• The following rules and requirements apply to all philosophy majors, regardless of the track chosen:
  • Only those philosophy courses completed with a grade of C or better will count for the major.
  • No restrictions are placed on the number of courses taken under the S/NC option (formerly the S/N option).
  • Arrangements for credit by examination in appropriate cases may be made through departmental advisors.
  • There are no departmental second language requirements; however, students who plan to pursue philosophy in graduate school are strongly encouraged to develop at least a good reading competence in one or more second languages of special relevance to philosophy (e.g., Greek, Latin, French, and German).
  • Joint majors are not double majors but multidisciplinary majors offered by two or more departments. Presently, the Department of Philosophy offers a joint major in politics and philosophy with the Department of Political Science (see Politics and Philosophy major information under non-departmental A&S Majors) as well as a joint major in mathematics and philosophy with the Department of Mathematics (see Mathematics-Philosophy).
  • Students who complete the philosophy major (standard or intensive track) or joint major will be graduated with honors in philosophy if they have earned a grade of A- or better in at least six 1000-level philosophy courses exclusive of PHIL 1902 - DIRECTED STUDY—UNDERGRADUATE , PHIL 1903 - DIRCTED RESEARCH—UNDERGRADUT , PHIL 1940 - HONORS THESIS/MAJORS , PHIL 1941 - HONORS THESIS 2/MAJORS , and PHIL 1942 - HONORS THESIS 3/MAJORS .

The standard major track requires the following courses:

• PHIL 0500 - INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC or
• Any 1500 level course (Logic group)

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• PHIL 0200 - HISTORY OF ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY or
• PHIL 1020 - PLATO or
• PHIL 1040 - ARISTOTLE

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• PHIL 0210 - HISTORY OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY or
• PHIL 1110 - RATIONALISM or
• PHIL 1140 - EMPIRICISM

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• PHIL 0300 - INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS or
• Any 300 or 1300-level course (the value theory group)

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• Any four 1000-level courses beyond those outlined above