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Bachelor of Arts, Majors and Minors

Philosophy

General Description

Philosophy is the critical and systematic study of the fundamental assumptions at play in the entire range of human activity. It concerns itself with explorations into the nature of reality, human knowledge, moral and scientific reasoning, art and society. The study of Philosophy fosters the ability to think critically and innovatively, to communicate in a logical manner, to interpret and evaluate core concepts and theories in a number of disciplines and to articulate well-reasoned arguments. These competencies are vital to public discourse in a flourishing democracy and are particularly useful in such professions as law, medicine, business and public administration. Recent studies have demonstrated that students who have completed a program in Philosophy score significantly higher than all other Humanities and Social Sciences students on standardized tests for admission to graduate and professional study.

The program's first year courses are designed to introduce students to Philosophy and to assist them in the development of analytical skills. Second year courses broaded the application of these skills to historical and contemporary issues. Upper division courses allow for some narrowing of focus, either in the direction of Applied Ethics and Political Philosophy or in the direction of traditional problems of Epistemology and Metaphysics. Students may include specified courses from Political Science, Policy Studies or Liberal Studies in their program of study.

Requirements for a Major

Students must fulfill all the Institutional B.A. degree requirements, including Degree English Requirements and courses listed below:

Years 1 and 2: Minimum of 18 credits, which must include PHIL 100, 111, 112, two courses in the History of Philosophy, one of which must be in Modern Philosophy (PHIL 200, 201, 240, 241 or 340) and either PHIL 251 or 252. Students considering graduate work in Philosophy are strongly encouraged to take PHIL 251 rather than PHIL 252.

Years 3 and 4: Minimum of 30 upper-level credits (normally ten courses) which must include either PHIL 361 or PHIL 362, PHIL 363 and PHIL 443. A maximum of two courses from the following list may be taken in partial fulfillment of the program's upper-level requirements: LBST 310, 320, 410, PPSE 415, POLI 340, 440. For the purposes of the Philosophy Major or Minor, the following courses are deemed equivalent: PHIL 430 and POLI 440; PHIL 431 and POLI 340.

Recommended Electives:
LBST 111, 112


Requirements for a Minor

Students must fulfill all the Institutional B.A. degree requirements, including Degree English Requirements and courses listed below:

Years 1 and 2: Minimum of 12 credits of Philosophy courses, which must include PHIL 100, 111, 112 and one second-year, 3-credit Philosophy course.

Years 3 and 4: Minimum of 18 credits of Philosophy courses numbered 300 and above. Liberal studies LBST 310, 320 and 410, and Policy Studies PPSE 415 and 416 may be taken for upper-level credit towards a Minor in Philosophy. Students who elect to use courses from these areas as upper-level Philosophy credits should note the following restrictions:

(a)    Each of LBST 310, 320 and 410 counts as three credits towards the required 18 credits of upper-level Philosophy. Students may take a maximum of two of these courses as partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Minor in Philosophy.

(b)    PPSE 415 counts as three credits towards the required 18 credits of upper-level Philosophy.

(c)    Students may elect to use either the above-mentioned courses in Liberal Studies or the above-mentioned course in Policy Studies as credits towards a Minor in Philosophy. Students may not use courses from both Liberal Studies and Policy Studies towards a Minor in Philosophy.

While students completing a Minor in Philosophy may choose to do so in a number of ways after completing the required first and second-year courses, the department encourages students to consider pursuing one of two available program options.

Students interested in an applied Minor in Philosophy should consider the following program of courses:

Years 1 and 2: PHIL 100, 111, 112; and one of PHIL 230, 231, 232, 233 or 234.

Years 3 and 4: PHIL 330, 331, 333, 431; PPSE 415

Students interested in pursuing a general Minor in Philosophy should consider the following program of courses:

Years 1 and 2: PHIL 100, 111, 112; and one of PHIL 200, 211, 212, 231, 240, 251 or 252.

Years 3 and 4: LBST 310, 320; PHIL 431; PHIL 361, 362, 448 or PHIL 361, 448, 449.

Updated October 30, 2009