Program Overview
Philosophy, BA
Philosophy involves reflection upon and understanding of all phases of human activity. Philosophy especially directs itself to the nature of knowledge and the most basic concepts of human understanding and value: morality, society, art and aesthetic experience, as well as science, politics, and religion.
Philosophy is thus closely involved with other disciplines because, as human activities and quests for knowledge, they and their findings provide the material for philosophical inquiry. The courses offered by the department are designed to help students develop their own capacities to reflect intelligently on questions of fundamental and lasting significance.
The Philosophy major is intended to meet the needs of four types of students:
- those who wish to use philosophy as the organizing core of a liberal education;
- those who desire to study philosophy in preparation for graduate work in some other field, such as law, government, or theology;
- those who plan to major jointly in philosophy and one of the social sciences, natural sciences, or humanities; and
- those who have a professional interest in philosophy and intend to do graduate work in the subject.
How to Get in
No application is required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare.
- Courses required to get in: None
- GPA requirements to get in: None
- Credits required to get in: None
- Other: None
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education.
- BreadthHumanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
- BreadthNatural Science: 4 to 6 credits
- BreadthSocial Studies: 3 credits
- Communication Part A & Part B
- Ethnic Studies
- Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B
College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Students pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below.
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
- Mathematics: Complete the University General Education Requirements for Quantitative Reasoning A (QR-A) and Quantitative Reasoning B (QR-B) coursework.
- Language: Complete the fourth unit of a language other than English; or complete the third unit of a language and the second unit of an additional language other than English.
- L&S Breadth: 12 credits of Humanities, 12 credits of Social Science, and 12 credits of Natural Science.
- Liberal Arts and Science Coursework: Complete at least 108 credits.
- Depth of Intermediate/Advanced work: Complete at least 60 credits at the intermediate or advanced level.
- Major: Declare and complete at least one major.
- Total Credits: Complete at least 120 credits.
- UW-Madison Experience: 30 credits in residence, overall; and 30 credits in residence after the 86th credit.
- Quality of Work: 2.000 in all coursework at UWMadison, 2.000 in Intermediate/Advanced level coursework at UWMadison
Requirements for the Major
27 credits and 8 courses in PHILOS
- Required Courses:
- PHILOS 211: Elementary Logic
- PHILOS 430: History of Ancient Philosophy
- PHILOS 432: History of Modern Philosophy
- 5 advanced PHILOS courses of at least 3 credits
- Distribution: At least 1 course from each category ('Metaphysics and Epistemology' and 'Value Theory')
Category 'Metaphysics and Epistemology'
Complete one course:
- PHILOS/RELIG ST 501: Philosophy of Religion
- PHILOS 503: Theory of Knowledge
- PHILOS 504: Special Topics in the Theory of Knowledge
- PHILOS 516: Language and Meaning
- PHILOS 520: Philosophy of the Natural Sciences
- PHILOS 530: Freedom Fate and Choice
- PHILOS 551: Philosophy of Mind
- PHILOS 560: Metaphysics
- PHILOS 562: Special Topics in Metaphysics
- PHILOS 567: Topics in Contemporary Philosophy
Category 'Value Theory'
Complete one course:
- PHILOS 241: Introductory Ethics
- PHILOS 454: Classical Philosophers
- PHILOS 541: Modern Ethical Theories
- PHILOS 549: Great Moral Philosophers
- PHILOS 555: Political Philosophy
Residence and Quality of Work
- 2.000 GPA in all PHILOS courses and courses that count for the major
- 2.000 GPA on 15 upper-level credits in the major, taken in residence
- 15 credits in PHILOS, taken on campus
Honors in the Major
Students may declare Honors in the Philosophy Major in consultation with the Philosophy undergraduate advisor.
Honors in the Philosophy Major: Requirements
To earn Honors in the Major in Philosophy, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major and the following additional requirements:
- Minimum 3.300 University GPA
- Minimum a 3.500 GPA for all PHILOS and major courses
- One course from either the Metaphysics and Epistemology or Value Theory categories with a grade of B or better
- PHILOS 681 and PHILOS 682 with a grade of AB or better
Learning Outcomes
- Ability to think critically about arguments.
- Ability to interpret complex texts accurately and analyze them logically.
- Ability to communicate precisely and concisely in both writing and speech.
- Familiarity with the history of Western philosophy and the major debates within that tradition.
- Ability to be engaged citizens who think carefully and well about their responsibilities to others.
- Ability to exchange reasons about controversial matters respectfully and with the aim of uncovering the truth.
- Interpretative charity and intellectual honesty, which includes appropriate attribution to others of their ideas, and recognition and frankness about the limitations of one's own ideas.
Four-Year Plan
This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major.
- First Year:
- Fall: Communications A, PHILOS 101, PHILOS 210, Physical Science Breadth, Foreign Language
- Spring: Ethnic Studies, Foreign Language, I/A MATH, STAT or COMP SCI, PHILOS 241, PHILOS 211
- Second Year:
- Fall: PHILOS 430, Literature Breadth, Social Science Breadth, INTER-LS 210, Biological Science Breadth
- Spring: Communication B, PHILOS 432, I/A MATH, STAT, or COMP SCI, Social Science Breadth
- Third Year:
- Fall: Metaphysics and Epistemology category course, Natural Science Breadth, Literature Breadth, Electives
- Spring: Value Theory category course, PHILOS 400+ Electives, Electives
- Fourth Year:
- Fall: PHILOS Electives, Electives
- Spring: PHILOS 500+ Electives, Electives
Advising and Careers
The Department of Philosophy encourages students to begin working on their career exploration and preparation soon after arriving on campus. Philosophy students develop important and widely marketable skills, like the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems.
Resources and Scholarships
The Department of Philosophy has received generous support to fund two scholarships each academic year.
- The Charles Manthey Winter Philosophy Scholarship is given to a student majoring in Philosophy who will graduate within the next four terms of the award and who has at least a 3.500 grade point average over the past two terms, and who can demonstrate financial need.
- The Colonel Jerome Ellis Goodrich, USMC (retired), Scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate student majoring in Philosophy with academic merit and financial need, and who is a U.S. citizen. The Department also has an annual paper prize called the Temkin Undergraduate Essay Prize in Value Theory, which recognizes an outstanding essay in value theory.