Nov 27, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Philosophy, B.A.

Philosophy encourages critical and systematic inquiry into fundamental questions of right and wrong, truth and falsehood, the meaning of life, and the nature of reality, knowledge, and society. More than any other discipline, Philosophy explores the core issues of the Western intellectual tradition. With its emphasis on analytic precision and dialogical engagement, Philosophy is well positioned to help students develop their problem-solving, creative and critical thinking, communication, and other skills highly valued in the real world.

120 hours (minimum)

Any student earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must complete a minimum of 39 hours at the 300+ level. These hours are generally completed by the Major Requirements. However, keep this hour requirement in mind as you choose your course work for the requirements in the major. See the complete description of College requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree .

UK Core Requirements

See the UK Core section of this Catalog for the complete UK Core requirements . The courses listed below are (a) recommended by the college, or (b) required courses that also fulfill UK Core areas. Students should work closely with their advisor to complete the UK Core requirements.

I. Intellectual Inquiry in Arts and Creativity

Suggested - one of the following:

PHI 193 - CIRCUS AND PHILOSOPHY Credit(s): 3
PHI 315 - PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE FICTION Credit(s): 3
PHI 393 - PHILOSOPHY OF FILM Credit(s): 3

II. Intellectual Inquiry in the Humanities

Suggested - one of the following:

PHI 100 - INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: KNOWLEDGE AND REALITY Credit(s): 3
PHI 135 - THE ETHICS OF A HUMAN LIFE Credit(s): 3
PHI 260 - HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY I: FROM GREEK BEGINNINGS TO THE MIDDLE AGES Credit(s): 3
PHI 270 - HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY II: FROM THE RENAISSANCE TO THE PRESENT ERA Credit(s): 3
PHI 310 - PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN NATURE Credit(s): 3
PHI 317 - EXISTENTIALIST THOUGHT AND LITERATURE Credit(s): 3
PHI 380 - DEATH, DYING AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE Credit(s): 3

VII. Quantitative Foundations

Suggested:

PHI 120 - THE ART OF THINKING: AN INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC Credit(s): 3

VIII. Statistical Inferential Reasoning

Choose one course from approved list
Credit(s) 3

IX. Community, Culture and Citizenship in the USA

Suggested - one of the following:

PHI 130 - INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY: MORALITY AND SOCIETY Credit(s): 3
PHI 205 - FOOD ETHICS Credit(s): 3
PHI 335 - THE INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY Credit(s): 3
PHI 340 - INTRODUCTION TO FEMINISM AND PHILOSOPHY Credit(s): 3
PHI 361 - BIOLOGY AND SOCIETY: SUBTITLE REQUIRED Credit(s): 3

X. Global Dynamics

Suggested:

PHI 343 - ASIAN PHILOSOPHY Credit(s): 3

UK Core hours: 30

Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR)

PHI 350 - METAPHYSICS AND EPISTEMOLOGY Credit(s): 3

Subtotal: Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement hours (GCCR): 3

College Requirements

^French or German is highly recommended to complete the College foreign language requirements. Ancient Greek is recommended if the student plans to concentrate on ancient philosophy. Latin is recommended if the student plans to concentrate on medieval philosophy.

I. Foreign Language: 0-14 ^

(placement exam recommended)

II. Disciplinary Requirements

a. Natural Science: 6

b. Social Science: 6

c. Humanities

(completed by Major Requirements)

III. Laboratory or Field Work: 1

IV. Race and Ethnicity Requirement: 0-3

V. Electives: 6

College Requirement hours: 19-36

Premajor Requirements

PHI 260 - HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY I: FROM GREEK BEGINNINGS TO THE MIDDLE AGES Credit(s): 3
PHI 270 - HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY II: FROM THE RENAISSANCE TO THE PRESENT ERA Credit(s): 3

Premajor hours: 6

Major Requirements

Major Core Requirements

PHI 320 - SYMBOLIC LOGIC I Credit(s): 3
PHI 330 - ETHICS Credit(s): 3
OR
PHI 335 - THE INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY Credit(s): 3
PHI 350 - METAPHYSICS AND EPISTEMOLOGY Credit(s): 3

Major Core hours: 9

Other Course Work Required for the Major

From the Major Department:

Choose 15 hours of PHI 500+ level courses with at least one course from each group below Credit(s): 15

Group A:

PHI 503 - TOPICS IN ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY Credit(s): 3
PHI 504 - ISLAMIC AND JEWISH PHILOSOPHY AND THE CLASSICAL TRADITION Credit(s): 3
PHI 506 - TOPICS IN MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY Credit(s): 3
PHI 509 - TOPICS IN THE HISTORY OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY Credit(s): 3
PHI 513 - NINETEENTH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY Credit(s): 3
PHI 514 - AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY Credit(s): 3
PHI 515 - CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY: THE ANALYTIC TURN Credit(s): 3
PHI 516 - CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY: PHENOMENOLOGICAL DIRECTIONS Credit(s): 3
PHI 517 - EXISTENTIALISM Credit(s): 3
PHI 570 - PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY Credit(s): 3

Group B:

PHI 519 - CRITICAL SOCIAL THOUGHT Credit(s): 3
PHI 530 - ETHICAL THEORY Credit(s): 3
PHI 531 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN ETHICS (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 3
PHI 535 - SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY Credit(s): 3
PHI 537 - PHILOSOPHY OF LAW Credit(s): 3
PHI 540 - FEMINIST PHILOSOPHY Credit(s): 3
PHI 545 - PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION Credit(s): 3
PHI 592 - AESTHETICS Credit(s): 3

Group C:

PHI 520 - SYMBOLIC LOGIC II Credit(s): 3
PHI 550 - PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEMS IN KNOWLEDGE AND REALITY Credit(s): 3
PHI 560 - PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD Credit(s): 3
PHI 561 - PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEMS IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 3
PHI 565 - PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE Credit(s): 3
PHI 575 - PHILOSOPHY OF MIND Credit(s): 3

Choose 3 hours from any of the group courses listed above or the following:

PHI 300 - SPECIAL TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY: (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 1 - 3 (Variable)
PHI 305 - HEALTH CARE ETHICS Credit(s): 3
PHI 310 - PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN NATURE Credit(s): 3
PHI 317 - EXISTENTIALIST THOUGHT AND LITERATURE Credit(s): 3
PHI 330 - ETHICS Credit(s): 3
PHI 332 - PROFESSIONAL ETHICS Credit(s): 3
PHI 334 - BUSINESS ETHICS Credit(s): 3
PHI 335 - THE INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY Credit(s): 3
PHI 336 - ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS Credit(s): 3
PHI 337 - INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL PHILOSOPHY Credit(s): 3
PHI 340 - INTRODUCTION TO FEMINISM AND PHILOSOPHY Credit(s): 3
PHI 343 - ASIAN PHILOSOPHY Credit(s): 3
PHI 361 - BIOLOGY AND SOCIETY: SUBTITLE REQUIRED Credit(s): 3
PHI 380 - DEATH, DYING AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE Credit(s): 3
PHI 395 - INDEPENDENT WORK Credit(s): 3
PHI 500 - TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY (SUBTITLE REQUIRED) Credit(s): 1 - 3 (Variable)

From Outside the Major Department

Choose 18 hours at the 200+ level; up to 4 hours may come from Philosophy courses Credit(s): 18

Other Major hours: 36

Electives

Choose electives to lead to the minimum total of 120 hours required for graduation

Philosophy, B.A.

UK Core Requirements

I. Intellectual Inquiry in Arts and Creativity

II. Intellectual Inquiry in the Humanities

III. Intellectual Inquiry in the Social Sciences

IV. Intellectual Inquiry in the Natural, Physical, and Mathematical Sciences

V. Composition and Communication I

VI. Composition and Communication II

VII. Quantitative Foundations

VIII. Statistical Inferential Reasoning

IX. Community, Culture and Citizenship in the USA

X. Global Dynamics

UK Core hours: 30

Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR)

Subtotal: Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement hours (GCCR): 3

College Requirements

I. Foreign Language: 0-14 ^

II. Disciplinary Requirements

a. Natural Science: 6

b. Social Science: 6

c. Humanities

III. Laboratory or Field Work: 1

IV. Race and Ethnicity Requirement: 0-3

V. Electives: 6

College Requirement hours: 19-36

Premajor Requirements

Premajor hours: 6

Major Requirements

Major Core Requirements

Major Core hours: 9

Other Course Work Required for the Major

From the Major Department:

Group A:

Group B:

Group C:

Choose 3 hours from any of the group courses listed above or the following:

From Outside the Major Department

Other Major hours: 36

Electives

Subtotal: Electives: 9

Total Minimum Hours Required for Degree: 120