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Degree Requirements 2023-2024

Philosophy Major

Eight courses including, including at least four upper division courses:

  • One of PHI 230 or PHI 385
    • PHI 230 – Logic
    • PHI 385 – Formal Logic and Computation Theory
  • PHI 241 – History of Philosophy I: Ancient Greek Philosophy
  • PHI 242 – History of Philosophy II: Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy
  • PHI 343 – History of Philosophy III: Early Modern and 19th-Century Philosophy
  • PHI 344 – History of Philosophy IV: 20th-21st Century Philosophy
  • A 400-level Philosophy course (other than PHI 499)
  • Two elective courses in Philosophy

Note: The Philosophy department at present does not offer a keystone PHI 499 course of its own. We recommend that majors take the keystone course offered in the Religion Department, or (in the case of double majors) in the department of the other major. 

Philosophy Minor

Five courses:

  • Two of PHI 241, PHI 242, PHI 343, or PHI 344
    • PHI 241 – History of Philosophy I: Ancient Greek Philosophy
    • PHI 242 – History of Philosophy II: Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy
    • PHI 343 – History of Philosophy III: Early Modern and 19th-Century Philosophy
    • PHI 344 – History of Philosophy IV: 20th-21st Century Philosophy
  • Three additional PHI electives

Graduation Skills for Religion and Theology and Public Leadership Majors

The Critical Thinking (CT) graduation skill is embedded throughout the offered courses and is met by completing the major. The graduation skills in Quantitative Reasoning (QR), Speaking (S) and Writing (W) are met by completing the following courses:

Quantitative Reasoning: DST 164, MAT 145, MAT 146, MAT 163, or PHI 230; or by the QR requirement for a second major

Speaking: Consult with advisor for an approved course outside the major

Writing: RLN 400 and one of the following: RLN 342, 370, or 441

Transfer students must consult a Religion Department advisor about potential adjustments to their course requirements to fulfill each of these skills.

Graduation Skills for Philosophy major

Graduation skills in Critical Thinking (CT), Speaking (S), and Writing (W) are embedded throughout the offered courses and are met by completing the major. The Quantitative Reasoning (QR) graduation skill can be met by taking PHI 230.

Transfer students must consult an advisor about potential adjustments to their course requirements to fulfill each of these skills.

Prerequisites

Completion of either RLN 100 or RLN 300 is required before all other RLN courses.

Transfer Courses

All transfer courses for majors and minors, including ACTC courses, must be approved in writing by the chair. Only courses successfully completed within the last 10 years will be considered. In general, courses that meet the transfer guidelines may only be applied to elective credit for the major.

Advising

All majors must have an advisor in the Religion and Philosophy Department.

Departmental Honors

GPA of 3.50 in the major and 3.00 overall, research project approved by the department, and colloquium with the department. Application must be received by the department by December 30 of the student’s senior year.


For a complete list of courses and descriptions, see the Course Description Search.