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Philosophy BA

Overview

Philosophy is about hard questions: Are we free? Is there a God? What is knowledge? What should I do with my life? In addressing these questions, philosophy develops your skills in thinking, analysis, writing, argumentation, and critical reading. Studying philosophy makes you more open-minded: you’ll encounter the ideas of people that have lived lives very different from yours, and you’ll be impressed by them. Philosophy is enormously interesting and rewarding. If anyone ever asks you “why study philosophy” you’ll answer “why haven’t you started yet?”

Degree Requirements

The undergraduate major in philosophy requires 30 hours of philosophy coursework. A minimum of 18 hours in Philosophy must be taken from the UMSL Department of Philosophy. Courses above the 3000-level taken elsewhere do not count toward the major. Philosophy majors must complete all required courses with a grade of “C-” or higher and maintain a 2.0 GPA for all their Philosophy coursework.

General Education Requirements

Majors must meet the university and college general education requirements. Candidates for the B.A. degree may take any foreign language to meet the foreign language requirement. Students who double major with a B.A. in Philosophy and a B.S. degree in Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, or Physics may waive the foreign language requirement.

Course Requirements

• History of Philosophy:
  • Select one of the following:
    • PHIL 1110: Western Philosophy I: Antiquity to the Renaissance
    • PHIL 3301: Ancient Philosophy
    • PHIL 3302: Medieval Philosophy
  • And one of the following:
    • PHIL 1111: Western Philosophy II: Descartes to the Present
    • PHIL 3303: Early Modern Philosophy
    • PHIL 3304: 19th and 20th Century Philosophy
• Logic:
  • Select one of the following:
    • PHIL 1160: Critical Thinking (MOTR PHIL 101)
    • PHIL 3360: Formal Logic
• Normative Philosophy:
  • Select one of the following:
    • PHIL 1030: Present Moral Problems
    • PHIL 1130: Approaches to Ethics (MOTR PHIL 102)
    • PHIL 4430: Social and Political Philosophy
    • PHIL 4435: Classical Ethical Theory
    • PHIL 4438: Recent Ethical Theory
• Junior Level Requirement:
  • Select one of the following:
    • Any 3000 level Philosophy course not used to satisfy a requirement above, excluding PHIL 3320
• Metaphysics and Epistemology Requirement:
  • Select one of the following:
    • PHIL 3340: Knowledge and Reality
    • PHIL 4440: Theories of Knowledge
    • PHIL 4445: Metaphysics
• Senior Capstone Requirement:
  • Select any 4000 level Philosophy course, excluding PHIL 4458 and PHIL 4465, that has not been used to satisfy a requirement above
• Elective Hours: 9
• Total Hours: 30

Departmental Honors

Majors with a 3.2 or higher grade point average in all courses may, with the department’s consent, earn departmental honors by:

1. Taking PHIL 3360, Introduction to Formal Logic;
2. Completing at least 3 hours of PHIL 4450, Special Readings in Philosophy;
3. Submitting an acceptable thesis before the end of the senior year.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate an ability to apply the distinctive methods of philosophy by analyzing arguments on topics in either practical or theoretical philosophy or both.
• Demonstrate competence with the logical reasoning tools traditionally used in philosophy.
• Apply philosophical concepts, research, and critical thinking skills in writing an original paper to develop a philosophical view.

Sample Four Year Plan

First Year

• Fall:
  • INTDSC 1003: 1 hour
  • PHIL 1110: 3 hours
  • ENGL 1100: 3 hours
  • CORE - Mathematics Proficiency: 3 hours
  • Foreign Language 1001: 5 hours Total: 15 hours
• Spring:
  • PHIL 1111: 3 hours
  • Foreign Language 1002: 5 hours
  • CORE – Communication Proficiency: 3 hours
  • EXPLORE – Mathematics and Life/Natural Sciences: 3 hours
  • EXPLORE – Social Sciences: 3 hours Total: 17 hours

Second Year

• Fall:
  • PHIL 1030: 3 hours
  • Foreign Language 2101: 3 hours
  • CORE – Information Literacy: 3 hours
  • CORE – US History and Government: 3 hours
  • EXPLORE – Mathematics & Natural/Like Sciences: 3 hours Total: 15 hours
• Spring:
  • PHIL 1160 (PHIL 3360): 3 hours
  • EXPLORE – Social Sciences: 3 hours
  • EXPLORE – Math and Like/Natural Sciences: 3 hours
  • Global Perspectives Requirement: 3 hours
  • Elective or minor: 3 hours Total: 15 hours

Third Year

• Fall:
  • ENGL 3100: 3 hours
  • PHIL 3378 or 3380: 3 hours
  • PHIL XXXX Philosophy Elective: 3 hours
  • EXPLORE – Social Sciences: 3 hours
  • Elective or minor: 3 hours Total: 15 hours
• Spring:
  • PHIL 4440 or 4445: 3 hours
  • PHIL XXXX Philosophy Elective: 3 hours
  • EXPLORE - Social Sciences: 3 hours
  • Elective or minor: 3 hours Total: 15 hours

Fourth Year

• Fall:
  • PHIL XXXX Philosophy Elective: 3 hours
  • Elective or minor: 3 hours
  • Elective or minor: 3 hours
  • Elective or minor: 3 hours
  • Elective or minor: 3 hours Total: 15 hours
• Spring:
  • PHIL XXXX: Philosophy Capstone: 3 hours
  • Elective or minor: 3 hours
  • Elective or minor: 3 hours
  • Elective or minor: 3 hours
  • Elective or minor: 1 hour Total: 13 hours Total Hours: 120