Philosophy, B.A.
The Department of Philosophy and Religion offers a degree in philosophy. This degree prepares students for careers in law, business, teaching, communications, writing, religious studies, and public affairs. Continued study may lead to a master’s or doctoral degree in Philosophy or in related disciplines including science, education, public administration, law, and international relations.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| PHIL 102 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| PHIL 204 | Introduction to Logic | 3 |
| PHIL 234 | Ancient Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 239 | On Evil | 3 |
| Restricted Electives | ||
| History (take 1 course from the following): | ||
| PHIL 208 | Great Philosophers: Voices of Wisdom | 3 |
| PHIL 303 | Existentialism and Phenomenology | 3 |
| Theoretical (take 1 course from the following): | ||
| PHIL 205 | Metaphysics: Appearance and Reality | 3 |
| PHIL 206 | Epistemology: Theory of Knowledge | 3 |
| Practical (take 1 course from the following): | ||
| PHIL 244 | Political and Social Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 207 | Ethics | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select a minimum of 15 credits from the following courses, at least 9 credits of which must be selected from courses numbered 300 or higher: 2 | 15 | |
| PHIL 101 | Philosophy: Persons & Problems | 3 |
| PHIL 103 | Contemporary Moral Issues | 3 |
| PHIL 105 | Issues in Religion | 3 |
| PHIL 106 | Comparative Religion | 3 |
| PHIL 110 | Mythology | 3 |
| PHIL 109 | Bioethics (Medical Ethics) 1 | 3 |
| PHIL 113 | Environmental Ethics 1 | 3 |
| PHIL 125 | Ethics in Everyday Life 1 | 3 |
| PHIL 135 | World Religions Today 1 | 3 |
| PHIL 140 | The Examined Life 1 | 3 |
| PHIL 203 | Philosophy of Religion | 3 |
| PHIL 215 | On Love | 3 |
| PHIL 216 | Aesthetics: Creativity & Imagination | 3 |
| PHIL 217 | Eastern Philosophy and Religion | 3 |
| PHIL 226 | Religion in the City: When Faith Encounters Urban Life | 3 |
| PHIL 235 | Perspectives on Death | 3 |
| PHIL 236 | Self: I as Mind 1 | 3 |
| PHIL 240 | Philosophy and Film | 3 |
| PHIL 245 | The Philosophy of Social Justice in the United States 1 | 3 |
| PHIL 246 | Food, Philosophy, and Global Health 1 | 3 |
| PHIL 260 | Practice, Policy and Philosophy of Education 1 | 3 |
| PHIL 290 | Myth, Magic, and Mysticism | 3 |
| PHIL 302 | Philosophy of Technology | 3 |
| PHIL 317 | Philosophy and Literature | 3 |
| PHIL 320 | Philosophy of Psychology | 3 |
| PHIL 324 | Judaism, Christianity, and Islam | 3 |
| PHIL 397 | Re-Thinking Animals: A Paradigm Shift | 3 |
| PHIL 401 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| PHIL 405 | Advanced Seminar in Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 408 | Independent Study in Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 424 | Independent Study in Religion | 3 |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
| 1 | General Education Program elective courses do not count toward General Education Program requirements unless all major program requirements are otherwise fulfilled. |
| 2 | Take no more than 9 credits at the 100 level |
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
| ENGL 101 or ESL 101 |
English Composition I or English Composition I for English as a Second Language Students |
4-6 |
| MATH 114 or MATH 140 |
Contemporary Mathematics or Statistics I |
3 |
| PHIL 102 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| General Education Tier I | 3 | |
| INTD 101 | Orientation to College *first time freshmen only | 1 |
| Credits | 14-16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ENGL 102 or ESL 102 |
English Composition II or English Composition II for English as a Second Language Students |
4-6 |
| PHIL 207 or PHIL 244 |
Ethics or Political and Social Philosophy |
3 |
| General Education Tier I | 3 | |
| General Education Tier I | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor | 3 | |
| Credits | 16-18 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| PHIL 234 or PHIL 239 |
Ancient Philosophy or On Evil |
3 |
| General Education Tier I | 3 | |
| General Education Tier II | 3 | |
| General Education Tier II | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| PHIL 227 | Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| General Education Tier II | 3 | |
| General Education Tier II | 3 | |
| General Education Tier II | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| PHIL 239 or PHIL 234 |
On Evil or Ancient Philosophy |
3 |
| PHIL 204 or PHIL 206 |
Introduction to Logic or Epistemology: Theory of Knowledge |
3 |
| General Education Tier II | 3 | |
| Elective//Minor | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| PHIL 208 or PHIL 303 |
Great Philosophers: Voices of Wisdom or Existentialism and Phenomenology |
3 |
| General Education Tier III Capstone | 3 | |
| Philosophy Elective 200/300-Level | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| PHIL Elective | 3 | |
| PHIL Elective | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| PHIL Elective | 3 | |
| PHIL Elective | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor | 3 | |
| Elective/Minor | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120-124 | |
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Philosophy BA program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the major ideas, questions, methods and arguments in the core areas of philosophy in the context of philosophy's major historical periods.
- Engage in the close_critical but charitable-reading and interpretation of philosophical texts.
- Demonstrate strong critical thinking and problem solving skills by applying the tools of informal and formal logic to identify, construct, analyze, evaluate and respond to arguments.
- Discuss questions of value rationally, clearly, humbly, and with an open mind.