Majoring in Philosophy

How to Declare 

Students who wish to declare Philosophy as a major are invited to:

• Review the academic requirements for the major (below).
• Schedule an appointment or attend office hours with one of our academic advisors. Undergraduate Advisors
• Complete a Declaration of Philosophy Major Form and bring it with you when you meet with one of our academic advisors.

Requirements

Students majoring in Philosophy are required to complete a minimum of 10 courses offered by the Department, including at least seven upper-division courses (300 or above). They must also take courses in the following areas.

One course in Logic, e.g.

• 110 Introduction to Logic
• 310 Intermediate Logic

One course in Value Theory, e.g.

• 160 Introduction to Ethics
• 163 Business Ethics
• 164 Medical Ethics
• 170 Problems in Social Thought
• 343 Philosophy of Art
• 360 Intermediate Ethics
• 370 Social-Political Philosophy
• 371 Philosophical Perspectives on Gender

One course in History of Philosophy (A): Ancient and Medieval; e.g.

• 320 History of Ancient Philosophy
• 328 Plato and Aristotle
• 329 Medieval Philosophy

One course in History of Philosophy (B); 17th and 18th Century; e.g.

• 321 History of Modern Philosophy
• 330 Continental Rationalism
• 331 British Empiricism

Two courses in Metaphysics and Epistemology (broadly construed); e.g.

• 335 20th Century Analytic Philosophy
• 341 Metaphysics
• 342 Epistemology
• 346 Philosophy of Language
• 353 Philosophy of Science
• 355 Philosophy of Mind
• 383 Philosophy of Religion

Consult the undergraduate course webpage for specific courses, and what fields they satisfy, each semester.