These requirements are only available to students who will graduate by spring 2021. These students have the option of grading according to the old requirements or the new requirements. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR

Four-and-one-half (4.5) units of philosophy, including the following courses:

  • PHIL 105 Introduction to Logic or PHIL 201 Symbolic Logic
  • PHIL 200 Ancient Philosophy
  • PHIL 210 Modern Philosophy

One-and-a-half (1.5) units of core-area courses, one course from each of the three core areas (ethics, epistemology, metaphysics) one of which must be chosen from the following advanced seminars):

  • PHIL 400 Ethics Seminar
  • PHIL 405 Epistemology Seminar
  • PHIL 410 Metaphysics Seminar

One-and-a-half (1.5) units of electives of the student's choice.

PHIL 100 is normally the first course majors take, but it is not mandatory. The following courses should normally be taken as early as possible:

  • PHIL 105 Introduction to Logic OR PHIL 201 Symbolic Logic
  • PHIL 110 Introduction to Ethics
  • PHIL 200 Ancient Philosophy
  • PHIL 210 Modern Philosophy

The following advanced seminars should normally begin no earlier than the second semester of the junior year:

  • PHIL 400 Ethics Seminar
  • PHIL 405 Epistemology Seminar
  • PHIL 410 Metaphysics Seminar

Students who expect to do graduate work in philosophy are strongly encouraged to take PHIL 201.

There are three core areas: ethics, epistemology and metaphysics. The courses that may be selected to satisfy the core-area requirements are listed below. Additional courses may be announced.

Ethics

  • PHIL 110 Introduction to Ethics
  • PHIL 208 Contemporary Political Philosophy
  • PHIL 270 Political Philosophy
  • PHIL 275 Moral Psychology
  • PHIL 348 Kant's Practical Philosophy
  • PHIL 400 Ethics Seminar

Epistemology

  • PHIL 220 Pragmatism
  • PHIL 245 Philosophy of Natural Science
  • PHIL 262 Philosophy of Perception
  • PHIL 264 Philosophy of Mathematics
  • PHIL 340 Sartre and Merleau-Ponty
  • PHIL 345 Kant
  • PHIL 405 Epistemology Seminar

Metaphysics

  • PHIL 190 The Anthropocene as a Philosophical Problem
  • PHIL 205 Medieval Philosophy
  • PHIL 215 Nineteenth-Century Philosophy
  • PHIL 240 Philosophy of Religion
  • PHIL 255 Philosophy of Language
  • PHIL 260 Philosophy of Mind and Brain
  • PHIL 310 Heidegger's Ontology
  • PHIL 410 Metaphysics Seminar

SENIOR Capstone (NON-HONORS OR HONORS)

The Senior Capstone consists of a comprehensive essay examination with questions drawn from ancient philosophy, modern philosophy and one of the core-area advanced seminars of the student's choice.

HONORS

Central to the Honors Program is a series of two related courses culminating in a thesis at the end of the senior year. The first, PHIL 497, enables the student to pursue the search for and development of a suitable topic. By the second semester of the senior year, the student should have the background necessary for writing an honors thesis in PHIL 498. Students interested in the Honors Program should submit a written request to the chair of the department before the second semester of their junior year.

In the second semester of their junior year, honors candidates submit a thesis proposal for approval. Upon departmental approval, honors candidates will register for two (.25) unit courses to be taken senior year, PHIL 497 (fall) and PHIL 498 (spring). Honors candidates write complete drafts of their theses in PHIL 497 and refine and defend their theses in PHIL 498.

Course Requirements for Honors

Five (5) units of philosophy, including the following courses:

  • PHIL 201 Symbolic Logic
  • PHIL 200 Ancient Philosophy
  • PHIL 210 Modern Philosophy

All three core-area course seminars, one-and-a-half (1.5) units:

  • PHIL 400 Ethics Seminar
  • PHIL 405 Epistemology Seminar
  • PHIL 410 Metaphysics Seminar

Two units (2) of electives of the student's choice, of which two must be a 200-level course or higher.
PHIL 497 and 498 Senior Honors

Honors Thesis and Oral Examination

Upon completion of the thesis, the honors candidate will stand for an oral examination on the thesis, conducted by an outside examiner and the candidate's thesis advisor, in the presence of the entire department. The candidate must meet the requirements of the College and of the Humanities Division for admission to and retention in the Honors Program.

Requirements for the minor

The minor in philosophy consists of two and one half (2.5) units of work in the department, including the following courses:

  • PHIL 100 Introduction to Philosophy
  • PHIL 105 Introduction to Logic or PHIL 201 Symbolic Logic
  • One course from the history sequence:
    • PHIL 200 Ancient Philosophy
    • PHIL 205 Faith and Reason: Medieval Philosophy
    • PHIL 210 Modern Philosophy
  • Any two electives