Program Requirements
Requirements for the Philosophy Major
A major in Philosophy consists of 33 credits chosen from the department offerings. The total requirement is deliberately kept small to encourage the student to combine courses in Philosophy with solid concentrations in such other areas as his or her interests and career goals suggest.
| Requirements | ||
| Choose one: | PHIL 100C SQ Basic Logic –OR– | (3) |
| PHIL 240C P4 Symbolic Logic | ||
| PHIL 211C | P2 Ancient Philosophy | (3) |
| PHIL 312C | P2 Medieval Philosophy | (3) |
| Choose two: | PHIL 313C P2 Modern Philosophy | (6) |
| PHIL 314C P2 Contemporary Philosophy | ||
| PHIL 316C P2 Nineteenth-Century Philosophy | ||
| PHIL 350C P2 Renaissance Seminar | ||
| Philosophy Electives | (18) | |
| Total | (33) | |
For students majoring in Philosophy, all courses designated as Philosophy courses (PHIL) that may apply to the major are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major.
Program Goals and Student Learning Outcomes
Goal #1 Analyze, interpret and understand philosophical texts and discourse.
- Identify and describe the main aim(s) and assumptions of a text or thinker
- Separate understanding a text from evaluating a text
- Summarize and explicate the main support from the conclusion(s) of an argument
- Identify key terms for analysis
Goal #2 Demonstrate fluency with the major traditions, figures, concepts and methods of philosophy.
- Explain methodology of philosophy compared to other disciplines
- Distinguish a priori and empirical claims
- Understand key concepts in areas of philosophy
- Connect areas of philosophy
- Demonstrate fluency with major historical traditions in philosophy
Goal #3 Be aware of other major ethical traditions and be able to apply them to their personal and professional lives.
- Explore frameworks of meaning and value within philosophical traditions
- Explore connections between personal and societal values and practices
- Identify similarities and differences among philosophical systems
Goal #4 Develop, organize and express ideas in a precise, clear, effective and systematic manner.
- Research, plan and structure a philosophical paper
- Use formal and informal logic to make and analyze arguments
- Formulate arguments for and against a position
- Reach and convey well-reasoned conclusions