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2025 - 2026 Undergraduate Catalog
Philosophy (BA in Philosophy)
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 Return to: Majors & Minors
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Required Credit Hours: 30-39
(Those who wish to prepare for graduate study in philosophy or in a related discipline will normally take more than this required minimum.) Core Requirements:
The philosophy major’s core curriculum is six 3-credit classes, for a total of 18 credits. Satisfying these core requirements is a good way to start making progress toward the major, as every version of the major requires these core classes. In addition to the core curriculum, philosophy majors must choose one of the three versions of the major and complete its associated requirements: the standard major with no concentration, the Ethics & Law Concentration, or the Ethics for Data & Computing Concentration. No course can satisfy more than one requirement in the major, regardless of whether it is a core or concentration-specific requirement. History of Philosophy:
At least two courses, one selected from each group: Metaphysics & Epistemology:
At least one course selected from: Value Theory:
At least one course selected from the following: Core Writing Requirement:
At least one senior seminar. Since they are special topic courses, the same course number, e.g., PHIL 403, can be taken more than once, provided that the topic of the course is different. Eligible seminars are: Note:
Majors are strongly encouraged to complete the History of Philosophy, Value Theory, and Metaphysics & Epistemology requirements before the end of the junior year. Philosophy (no concentration):
The standard philosophy major is the most flexible version of the major, allowing you the most freedom to follow your interests. If you don’t know which, if any, concentration is best for you, then just major in philosophy without a concentration. In addition to the 18 credits in the core curriculum, the standard major requires an additional 12 credits, broken down as follows. Interdisciplinary Application:
At least one course selected from: Philosophy Electives (no concentration):
Any two PHIL courses of at least three credits, including honors research and independent studies, that are not being used to satisfy any other requirements on the major. Philosophy Additional Writing Requirement (no concentration):
A second senior seminar. Eligible seminars are: Philosophy Ethics & Law Concentration:
This concentration is great for those who intend to pursue careers in law, public policy, politics, or would otherwise benefit from more extensive study of ethics and law. In addition to the 18 credits in the core curriculum, the Ethics & Law Concentration requires an additional 12 credits, broken down as follows. Law Elective:
At least one course from the following: Ethics & Law Elective:
Any PHIL course of at least three credits, including honors research and independent study, that is not being used to satisfy some other requirement on the major. Ethics & Law Additional Writing Requirement:
A second senior seminar, such that at least one senior seminar has the “PHIL-Ethics & Law Seminar Req” course attribute; The following seminars always have this attribute: Note:
Note on adding Honors to the Ethics & Law Concentration: While the minimum number of credits for the concentration is 30, the minimum number for both honors and the concentration is 33. The first semester of honors research (PHIL 495) can satisfy the Philosophy Elective, as noted above. The second semester of honors research (PHIL 496), would be an elective course that goes beyond the minimum credits to complete the concentration. Ethics for Data & Computing Concentration:
A humanities degree for a STEM world. This concentration prepares students to write and reason in a world increasingly driven by computers and data, as well as understand the ethical implications of data, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies. It ensures that students know how to evaluate competing conceptions of value, integrate ethical theories with scientific theories, as well as reflect critically on the assumptions of science, artificial languages, and/or technology. In addition to the 18 credits in the core curriculum, this concentration requires a minimum of 18 additional credits, 12 additional credits in philosophy and at least 6 (including at least 3 as pre-reqs) credits in a related scientific field. Science and Ethics Elective:
At least one course from: Scientific Reflection Requirement:
At least one course from: Ethics for Data & Computing Additional Writing Requirement:
a second senior seminar or honors research, to be selected from the following: Science Sequence Requirement:
Students must take courses in computational or quantitative sciences that reinforce their ability to reason about and with data, computers, artificial languages, and technology. This progress is attained by completing at least one of the following courses and its associated prerequisites: Note on adding Honors to this concentration:
While the minimum number of credits for this concentration is 36 (30 credits in philosophy and 3 credits [with 3-4 pre-req credits] in a related science), the minimum number of credits for both honors and this concentration is 39. The first semester of honors research (PHIL 495) satisfies the Additional Comp/Data Ethics Writing Requirement, as noted above. The second semester of honors research (PHIL 496) is a general philosophy elective beyond the minimum credits required for the major. |
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