Requirements for a Major or Minor in Philosophy
Programs offered • Major in Philosophy (32 credits) • Minor in Philosophy (20 credits) Faculty Susan M. O’Shaughnessy, chair George B. Connell Richard A. Gilmore Gregg A. Muilenburg Matthew J. Van Cleave Faculty in philosophy join students in a mutual search for wisdom. Students participate fully in the ongoing conversations that define philosophy as a discipline. Successful graduates of the department will develop critical inquiry skills. Students of philosophy: • become aware of significant philosophical schools and important issues of each period through the study of primary texts of the major periods of Western philosophy, including the style and substance of philosophical practice • understand the ways in which history and societal norms condition thinking • see how environment, economics, politics, nationality and gender have shaped, and continue to shape, philosophical thought • gain some familiarity with non-Western philosophical traditions • be skilled in philosophical analysis and discourse • be familiar with problem-oriented methods of inquiry • know the canons of deductive and inductive logic and be ready to appeal to them in recognizing, reconstructing and evaluating arguments • be able to use symbolic logic, its notation and its analytical tools to understand debates in the philosophy of logic • develop skills that nurture genuine dialogue, including a precise command of spoken and written language, effective listening and social discussion skills, and proficiency as researchers • be attentive to religious dimensions and implications of the philosophy they study Students should undertake a study of at least one area of value theory (ethics, aesthetics or political philosophy) to help them grow in their understanding of values-related implications of philosophical arguments, including the interactions between religion and philosophy. The philosophy department sponsors an honors program for exceptional students. For details, consult the department chair. Major in Philosophy The requirements for a major in philosophy are 32 credits: • PHIL 210 – Ancient Philosophy, 4 credits • PHIL 220 – Modern Philosophy, 4 credits • PHIL 230 – Patterns of Reasoning, 4 credits • PHIL 407 – Senior Seminar, 4 credits • l6 additional credits, at least 8 of which must be from the 300 level Minor in Philosophy The requirements for a minor in philosophy are 20 credits in philosophy.
Course Catalog
