The Major in Philosophy

"Progress in technology is a ladder in which each new instance of technology is a new rung; and the great height toward which we climb is a limitless, perfectly free, and perfectly content human" says Philosophy major Patrick Ryan, who researched and wrote about technological progress.

Requirements

Majors must take a total of ten philosophy courses with a C- or above. The following courses constitute a core required of all majors:

♦ Phil 412 Beginning Logic
♦ Phil 500 Philosophy Workshop
♦ Phil 530 Moral Philosophy
♦ Phil 570 Ancient Philosophy
♦ Phil 580 Modern Philosophy Descartes to Kant
♦ One additional course in the history of philosophy (Phil 571, 525, 610, 616, 618, 620, or an approved seminar)

Majors must also take two seminars (i.e. courses at the 700 level).

Please note that a single course can satisfy multiple requirements for the major. Phil 495, 795, and 796 normally do not count toward fulfilling major requirement credits; exceptions may be granted by special permission.

Major department courses taken to satisfy major requirements cannot be used to satisfy Discovery category requirements, with the exception of PHIL 412, which may be used to satisfy both. For students who entered the University under the General Education Program, courses used to satisfy major requirements may also be used to satisfy general education requirements.

Special-Interest Program

Students may add to the above major a special-interest program of value in planning for postgraduate education or entry into such areas as law, medicine, business, education, theology, or social work. Special advisers are prepared to provide informal counsel to philosophy majors interested in these areas.

Graduate Preparatory Emphasis

This emphasis is strongly recommended for students who plan to do graduate work in philosophy. Beyond the ten program courses, such students should select, with their advisers’ approval, two additional philosophy courses above the 400 level, for a total of twelve courses. One of these should be PHIL 550.