Philosophy

Philosophy is the most conceptually fundamental of the liberal arts. It is that academic discipline that is most concerned with ideas. The student majoring in philosophy is trained to understand abstract ideas and their relations to one another and the world, to learn what in fact have been among the most influential ideas in human history from ancient Greece to the present, and to enter into the dialectical process of rational disputation concerning those ideas.

Requirements for Honors in Philosophy and Religion

Honors in the Department of Philosophy and Religion are offered for the purpose of encouraging, challenging, and honoring majors and minors who undertake advanced academic work.

Majors and minors in the department may apply for honors by submitting an honors thesis. Written application to the honors program must be made to the department chair early in the student's senior year. A minimum of a 3.50 GPA in the major or minor is required.

An adviser and a second reader are appointed by the chair in consultation with the student and members of the faculty. The adviser supervises the writing of the thesis, which should be at most 30 pages long and must be completed by March 31. The departmental faculty decides whether the thesis has earned honors designation. Then, if the student wishes, the adviser arranges for an oral presentation of the accepted thesis to the departmental faculty, guests, and other philosophy and religion majors and minors.

Requirements for the Major in Philosophy - B.A.

36 credits in philosophy including

314-20300	Introduction to Logic or
314-32100	Symbolic Logic
	At least four courses taken at level 3 or 4	36

Because of the importance of logical analysis in philosophy, majors should try to complete the logic requirement by the end of the sophomore year.

Electives

	Philosophy majors are urged, but not required, to double-major or minor in another field from which facts of philosophical interest can be learned and to which the concepts and skills of philosophy can be applied.	84
	Total, B.A. in philosophy	120

Requirements for the Minor in Philosophy

The minor in philosophy offers students a way to concentrate their efforts in an area of study that is important to them but subordinate to their primary educational focus. Students who declare a minor in philosophy will be assigned an adviser from the department to help them select courses that meet their needs and interests.

Philosophy distributed over a minimum of six courses including

314-20300	Introduction to Logic or
314-32100	Symbolic Logic
	At least two courses taken at the level 3 or 4	18

Because of the importance of logical analysis in philosophy, minors should try to complete the logic requirement by the end of sophomore year.