Degree Requirements

Below details the requirements for the various philosophy degrees and concentrations. See the course catalog for more details. If you have any questions, please contact Chair of the Department Todd Buras or Undergraduate Program Director Anne-Marie Schultz.

Requirements for

1. Major (30 hrs)
   1. Philosophy Core: (12 semester hours)
      1. History: PHI 3310 and 3312
      2. Logic: PHI 1306 or 1307 or 4345
      3. Ethics: PHI 3301
   2. Philosophy Concentration: Complete One Sequence
      1. Sequence I: (18 hours)
         1. Six semester hours of 4000 level Philosophy courses (other than 4345).
         2. Twelve semester hours of any level electives.
      2. Sequence II: Pre-Law Concentration (18 hours)
         1. Nine semester hours from the following courses in legal, moral, and political philosophy: PHI 3318, 4318, 4360, 4361, 4385
         2. Nine hours of any level electives. Additional courses in logic recommended; see section C below for further recommendations.
      3. Sequence III: Philosophy and Medicine (18 hours)
         1. Nine semester hours from the following courses in philosophy of medicine:
         2. PHI 1309, 4363, 4300, 4325, 4310.
         3. Nine hours of any level electives (might need approval).
      4. Sequence IV: Departmental Honors
         1. Nine semester hours of 4000 level Philosophy courses
         2. Nine hours of any level electives.
         3. Requirements in Other Areas: see Honors Program Handbook.
   3. In any sequence, a maximum of three semester hours from the following list of courses in other fields may be taken to fulfill elective requirements. Courses not on the list are considered by petition.
      1. ANT 4305
      2. ECO 4338, 4343
      3. HIS 4338, 4339, 4395, 4396
      4. PSC 3339*, 3363, 3373, 4383*
      5. PSY 4327, 4329, 4339†, 4395
      6. REL 4346, 4390, 4393, 4395†
      7. SOC 4309, 4335*, 4353†, 4391

Courses marked by * are recommended for students with a pre-law concentration; courses marked by † are recommended for pre-health concentration.

1. Secondary Major (27 hrs)
   1. Two courses in the History of Philosophy: PHI 3310 and 3312.
   2. One course in Logic: PHI 1306 or 1307 or 4345.
   3. Six semester hours of “4000” level PHI courses (excluding PHI 4345).
   4. Electives: 12 additional semester hours in PHI [NB: A total of 15 of the hours counted toward the major must be upper level (i.e., “3000-4000”).]
2. Minor (18 hrs)
   1. At least one course from PHI 1306, 1307, 4345.
   2. Nine semester hours of “3000” or “4000” level courses.

Must receive a grade of “C-” or better in all philosophy courses used for any degree.

BIC courses World Cultures I – IV counts as 6 hrs toward any degree.

The philosophy program provides a solid foundation in the history of philosophy. In addition, the program involves in-depth study of specific subject areas, including logic, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, and philosophy of religion. This dual emphasis cultivates students’ capacity for critical analysis, stimulates independent thinking, and promotes sound reasoning based on knowledge, moral discrimination, and religious insight.