Brief Description of Undergraduate Programs

The Major in Philosophy

The requirements for a Major in Philosophy are as follows:

A total of at least 36 hours (twelve courses) in philosophy, not counting Internship courses (PHIL 386). Grades in all courses counted toward the major must be "C" or better.

The twelve philosophy courses must be distributed as follows:

• at least six courses numbered 300 or above, of which at least two must be numbered 400 or above.
• at least one course in logic at any level.
• at least two courses numbered 200 or above in the history of pre-twentieth-century philosophy.
• at least two courses numbered 200 or above in value theory (including aesthetics and political philosophy as well as ethics).
• at least two courses numbered 200 or above in metaphysics or epistemology (including philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of religion, as well as metaphysics and theory of knowledge).

For a complete listing of the Department's courses and assignments of courses to the above categories, see the the links in the Resources for Undergraduates page.

Majors must also take fifteen hours (five courses) in a supporting area outside philosophy. A complete listing of the Department's courses and assignments of courses to the above categories may be found by following links from our Undergraduate webpage. Students are reminded that, if there is a topic that doesn't figure in our list of courses, they are welcome to ask a faculty member to teach an individual study course on that topic (working either with a single student, or with a small group).

Minor in Philosophy

The requirements for a Minor in Philosophy are as follows:

A total of at least 18 hours (six courses, at least three of which must be at least 300 level or above) in philosophy, not counting Internship courses (PHIL 386). Grades in all courses counted toward the major must achieve grades of "C" or better. Candidates for the Minor must satisfy the following distribution:

• at least one courses numbered 200 or above in the history of pre-twentieth-century philosophy.
• at least one courses numbered 200 or above in value theory (including aesthetics and political philosophy as well as ethics).
• at least one courses numbered 200 or above in metaphysics or epistemology (including philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of religion, as well as metaphysics and theory of knowledge).

For a complete listing of the Department's courses and assignments of courses to the above categories, see the links in the Resources for Undergraduates page.