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Philosophy

Philosophy (B.A.)

The study of philosophy promotes rational and critical thinking and provides a sense of our intellectual traditions from the ancient, medieval, and modern periods.

The philosophy major aims to develop a critical and articulated understanding of basic beliefs and value judgments. Students of philosophy become acquainted with the intellectual foundation of much of Western culture and find opportunities to compare it to the tenets of other cultures. They also learn to analyze problems through a variety of methods.

Philosophy majors become qualified for careers in which a liberal arts degree is desirable. It is the recommended undergraduate major for students intending to pursue advanced studies in philosophy, religion, or theology, or in many areas of professional study, such as law. Internships in a variety of human service agencies or congressional offices add to the practical dimension of the study.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to

  • demonstrate an awareness of the broad and deep understanding of issues concerning fundamental problems of human existence;
  • synthesize and assess ethical and moral arguments;
  • articulate the role of reason in the understanding and in the creation of personal world views;
  • conduct appropriate research to develop considered responses to questions about philosophical problems using their knowledge of philosophical claims and theories; and
  • demonstrate epistemic virtues such as intellectual curiosity, courage to engage in independent inquiry, humility to hold beliefs provisionally, and a commitment to perfect one’s personal world view.

Degree Requirements — Philosophy

Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements

See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details. Philosophy majors will satisfy the three-course university Writing-Intensive (WI) requirement by taking the following: PH 415 Asian Philosophy, PH 425 Philosophy of Biology, and PH 440 Philosophy of Mind.

Major Requirements

To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements.

PH 200 Introduction to Philosophy

PH 300 Modern Logic

PH 400 Internship

PH 422 Senior Seminar

Eighteen (18) credits in philosophy electives

Sample Degree Plan — Philosophy

Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.

Year One — Fall

EN 101 Composition I (WR core course)*

Mathematics (MT) core course*

Introductory History (HI-1) core course § *

Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*

DSC 101 DISCOVER First-Year Seminar*

Year One — Spring

EN 102 Composition II (WR core course)*

PH 200 Introduction to Philosophy (PH-1 core course) § *

Natural Science (NS) core course*

TRS 100 Theological Inquiry (TRS-1 core course)*

One (1) elective

Year Two — Fall

One (1) philosophy course

PH 309 Ethical Theory (PH-E core course)*

Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*

Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course*

Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*

Year Two — Spring

PH 300 Modern Logic §

One (1) philosophy course §

Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course*

Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2)*

One (1) elective

Year Three — Fall

One (1) philosophy course, which should be at the 400-level (Writing Intensive) §

Three (3) electives

Year Three — Spring

Two (2) philosophy courses, one of which should be at the 400-level (Writing Intensive) §

Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*

Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course*

Two (2) electives

Year Four — Fall

One (1) 400-level philosophy course §

Four (4) electives

Year Four — Spring

PH 400 Internship § *

PH 422 Senior Seminar § *

Three (3) electives

§ Requirement for the major

* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions for further information.

Philosophy (Minor)

Minor Requirements

PH 200 Introduction to Philosophy

Twelve (12) additional credits in philosophy courses

Catalog Contents

General Information

Admission

Financial Information

Academic Support Services

Academic Information and Policies

University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core

Academic Opportunities

Undergraduate Programs

Course Descriptions

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English Courses

EN 090 Introduction to College Reading

EN 100 Introduction to College Writing

EN 101 Composition I

EN 102 Composition II

EN 150 Introduction to American Sign Language

EN 200 Elements of Literary Study

EN 201 World Literature: The Ancient World

EN 202 World Literature: The Middle Ages

EN 203 World Literature: Renaissance through Enlightenment

EN 204 World Literature: Romanticism through Post-Modernism

EN 205 American Literature I

EN 206 American Literature II

EN 207 Theater History

EN 211 Principles of Language

EN 212 Topics in Acting

EN 220 The Movie or the Book? Narrative Adaptation in the Cinema

EN 225 Literary Superheroes

EN 227 Short Fiction

EN 230 American Multicultural Literature

EN 240 Introduction to Visual and Cultural Studies

EN 250 Introduction to Shakespeare and Elizabethan Literature in London

EN 270 Approaches to Creative Writing

EN 280 Perspectives on Language Acquisition

EN 290 Literary Theory and Practice

EN 301 The Writing Process: Theory and Practice

EN 303 Literary Nonfiction

EN 305 Topics in Creative Writing

EN 308 Style and Revision

EN 321 Modern Drama

EN 322 19th-Century British Poets

EN 323 Modern Poetry

EN 330 Chaucer and the Courtly Love Tradition

EN 340 Major Women Writers

EN 350 The American Dream

EN 351 Literature of Childhood and Adolescence

EN 355 Shakespeare

EN 357 Topics in Literature Before 1800

EN 385 Approaches to Teaching Secondary English

EN 400 Internship

EN 421 Project

EN 424 Senior Seminar

EN 426 Studies in the Novel

EN 428 Studies in Contemporary Literature

EN 429 Topics in Performance

EN 433 Research

EN 490 Major Author(s)

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Philosophy Courses

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Theology and Religious Studies Courses

University Leadership

Notices to Students

Index