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Introduction to the Philosophy Program
The study of philosophy is a systematic reflection on fundamental questions about ourselves and our world. It provides critical skills, historical understanding, and vision necessary to meet existential and ethical challenges, and live richer, more self-aware lives. The Philosophy Department at Boston College offers a broad spectrum of courses with a special focus on the history of philosophy and fundamental contemporary problems in practical philosophy.
Major Requirements
All Philosophy Majors must complete a total of 30 credits in Philosophy, as follows:
- Two Core courses in Philosophy (6 credits)
- Eight Philosophy electives (24 credits)
- 1 course in the History of Philosophy
- 1 course in Knowledge and Reality
- 1 course in Ethics and Value
- 5 free electives Students may take up to two cognate courses in other departments for elective credit toward the Philosophy major. The courses must be philosophical in content and/or substantially contribute to the enhancement of the student's chosen area of study. Cognate courses must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Major Tracks
The Philosophy Department offers the following major tracks:
- Science, Ethics, and Humanity Track: Designed for students preparing for careers in science and medicine
- Law, Public Policy, and Economics Track: Designed for students preparing for careers in law, politics, economics, or business/finance
- Philosophy, Religion, and the Arts Track: Designed for students preparing for careers in theology, ministry, or the arts Tracks are satisfied by completing two electives from within the track area, in consultation with the major advisor.
Philosophy Minor
All Philosophy Minors must complete a total of 18 credits in Philosophy, as follows:
- Two Core courses in Philosophy (6 credits)
- Four Philosophy electives (12 credits) No particular course or course distribution is required of minors. Each student will design his or her own minor in consultation with a faculty advisor.
Core Requirement in Philosophy
As part of the Core Curriculum at Boston College, all students take a two-semester Philosophy Core sequence. There are several ways to complete the Philosophy Core requirement:
- PHIL10701071 Philosophy of the Person I and II
- PHIL10901091 Perspectives on Western Culture I and II
- PHIL10881089 Person and Social Responsibility I and II (PULSE)
- PHIL 21502151 Philosophical Perspectives on Science It is strongly recommended that students complete the Philosophy Core requirement by the end of sophomore year.
The Honors Program in Philosophy
The Philosophy Department offers highly qualified majors the opportunity to participate in a departmental honors program. Application to the honors program is by invitation only, based on GPA and/or nomination by a member of the faculty. Invitations to apply will be extended by the Director of Undergraduate studies in the fall of the junior year. Accepted students will pursue a year-long research project in the senior year, under the direction of a faculty mentor, culminating in a thesis of approximately 5075 pages.
Perspectives Program
The Perspectives Program at Boston College is a four-year interdisciplinary program centered upon the great books of the Western intellectual tradition. It integrates the humanities and natural sciences in order to help students work out for themselves a set of coherent answers to fundamental questions. Students in the Perspectives Program complete the Philosophy major by completing the following sequence of four Perspectives courses:
- Perspectives I: PHIL10901091 (THEO10901091) Perspectives on Western Culture I and II
- Perspectives II: UNAS11041105/UNAS11061107 Modernism and the Arts I and II
- Perspectives III: UNAS11091110/UNAS11111112 Horizons of the New Social Sciences I and II
- Perspectives IV: UNAS11191120/UNAS11211122 New Scientific Visions I and II Each Perspectives course is a year-long, 12-credit course. Each is designed to fulfill the Core requirements of the relevant departments.
The Perspectives Concentration in Philosophy
By taking more than one Perspectives course, students can pursue a Perspectives Concentration towards either a major or a minor in Philosophy. Students who complete any three Perspectives courses will, in addition to fulfilling various Core requirements, fulfill the requirements for a minor in Philosophy. Students who complete all four Perspectives courses, plus two philosophy elective courses, fulfill the requirements for a major in Philosophy. Admission to the Perspectives concentration in philosophy comes at the end of the sophomore year. A minimum GPA of 3.50 will be required for admission.
The PULSE Program for Service Learning
The PULSE Program for Service Learning educates more than 500 undergraduates each year through the integration of community-based social service and social advocacy fieldwork with the study of theology and philosophy. The PULSE Program offers its signature Core course, "Person and Social Responsibility," in addition to a few elective courses.
Fifth Year B.A./M.A. Program
Undergraduate Philosophy majors may opt to enter a five-year B.A./M.A. program. Application to the program will normally take place during the junior year. Students admitted to the B.A./M.A. program will follow the curriculum for Philosophy majors, except that two courses taken during the senior year must be eligible for graduate credit. These two courses will count toward both the M.A. and the B.A. The remainder of the M.A. may be completed by taking eight additional graduate courses, submitting an M.A. qualifying paper in the fifth year, and satisfying the M.A. language requirement. Expectations are that such applicants will have achieved an overall GPA of at least 3.33 and a major GPA of 3.5 or above.