The Major
| All of | Two of | One of | Other Constraints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phil 109 | Phil 101 | Phil 334 | A 400-level PHIL course (3 hours) |
| Phil 209 | Phil 102 | Phil 337 | |
| Phil 332 | Phil 104 | Phil 338 | Two additional courses (6 hours) |
| Phil 336 | Phil 212 | Phil 340 | |
| Phil 221/321 | Phil 350 | 18 hours must be at the 300/400 level | |
| Phil 253/353 | |||
| Phil 272/372 | |||
| Phil 304 | |||
| 12 Hours | 6 Hours | 3 Hours | Total hours: 30 |
Note: Please see the college catalog for the college's requirements for majors.
The Minor
There are no special requirements for the philosophy minor except that students must provide a brief written rationale of the courses taken. (Please see the catalog for the college's criteria for minors.) The following tracks provide ready-made sequences of study (which comply with the college's requirements,) and also serve as examples of how you might put together your own chosen sequence. You are free to follow these pre-made tracks, or to make you own selections in whatever way best suits your interests and complements your major.
Intellectual History Survey
A track in intellectual history can easily be constructed from the department's historical offerings, which cover the history of Western thought from ancient Greece to the present. A sequence of this kind should begin with the survey course (Phil 110) and culminate in a senior seminar (Phil 400) devoted to an in-depth study of a particular thinker or set of questions. In between, you can take any of the courses in particular periods of history. The seminar may be used to satisfy the SIE requirement. This kind of track will be of special interest to history majors.
Example Sequence:
- Phil 110: Perennial Questions
- Phil 332: Ancient Philosophy
- Phil 336: Early Modern Philosophy
- Phil 337: The Enlightenment
- Phil 340: 20th-Century Philosophy
- Phil 400: Philosophy Seminar
Meaning, Value and Culture
The MVC track focuses on the perennial search for meaning in life. These courses challenge students to reflect on what it means to live an examined life, and to consider the role that culture plays in determining your values. You read and discuss a variety of theories about human nature, ponder questions about the origin and ultimate purpose of human existence, and grapple with modern philosophical problems concerning the nature of selfhood, freedom and choice.
Example Sequence:
- Phil 104: The Examined Life
- Phil 211: Images of "Man"
- Phil 215: Philosophy of Religion
- Phil 350: Existential Philosophy
- Phil 371: Beyond the Western Tradition
- Phil 392: Alternative Futures
Ethics, Society, Law
The department of philosophy offers many courses beneficial to anyone thinking of law, public policy or politics, or anyone interested in practical ethics.
Critical thinking skills, essential to the study of law and public policy, are offered in Phil 109 and 209. The department also offers an introductory course on the individual in society, and a course in the different ethical theories (Phil 212) which people often appeal to when debating. There's also a course in the political and ethical ideas that underlie public policy debates, (Phil 253/353) such as the inevitable conflict between individual autonomy and political authority. We even have a course on the future of human society! (Phil 292/392)
Finally, there are a number of courses in topical issues, beginning with the survey course (102), followed by three specific courses: environmental philosophy (Phil 304), medical ethics (Phil 212/312), and the impact of technology (Phil 402).
So, if you are interested in ethical issues, your sequence could look like this: ETHICS
- Phil 102: Contemporary Moral Issues
- Phil 109 Critical Reasoning
- Phil 212: Types of Ethical Theory
- Phil 304: Environmental Ethics
- Phil 321: Ethics & Health Care
- Phil 402: Thinking About Technology
If your major is sociology, or you're interested in public policy, you could put together a sequence like this: SOCIETY
- Phil 101: Individual & Society
- Phil 109 Critical Reasoning
- Phil 253/353: Social & Political Philosophy
- Phil 292/392: Alternative Futures
- ... and two of the topical courses in ethics.
Or if you are thinking of law, these would make a good set: LAW
- Phil 109: Critical Reasoning
- Phil 209: Methods of Logic
- Phil 212: Types of Ethical Theory
- Phil 353: Social & Political Philosophy
- Phil 392: Alternative Futures
- ... plus one of the (3/400-level) topical courses.