Program Overview

Philosophy Major: Ethics and Social Responsibility Option (B.A.)

The Philosophy Major with an option in Ethics and Social Responsibility provides students with a comprehensive understanding of moral responsibility in personal and social contexts. This option is designed for students who wish to emphasize concern with moral responsibility in the political and corporate arenas.

Description

While completing the philosophy major, students may select the option in ethics and social responsibility. This option provides official recognition for those who choose to emphasize concern with moral responsibility in personal and social contexts, including the political and corporate arenas. Students will choose courses in environmental ethics, law, evolution, social and political philosophy, and feminism.

Degree Requirements

• Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
• Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
• Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral
• Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
• Foreign Language Requirement: Yes

Major Requirements

Students must fulfill the requirements of the philosophy major plus the requirements of the option. Majors must take a minimum of ten (10) philosophy courses, for a total of 40 credits. A single course can satisfy multiple requirements for the major. The required minimum overall GPA in major coursework is 2.00 and the minimum grade for all courses counting toward the major is a "C-."

Course List

The following courses are required for the major:

• PHIL 412: Beginning Logic (4 credits)
• PHIL 500: Workshop (4 credits)
• PHIL 530: Ethics (4 credits)
• PHIL 570: Ancient Philosophy (4 credits)
• PHIL 580: Modern Philosophy from Descartes to Kant (4 credits)
• Electives: Select three (3) additional philosophy courses of the student's choice (12 credits)
• Discovery Capstone Requirement: Select two (2) 700-level philosophy courses (excluding PHIL 795, PHIL 798, and PHIL 799) of the student's choice, at least one of these should be taken in the senior year (8 credits)

Ethics and Social Responsibility Option Requirements

This option requires four (4) courses (for a total of 16 credits) from those listed below, with one PHIL 530 Ethics already strictly required for the major. Students may "double count" these courses toward the general requirements of the philosophy major.

Course List for Ethics and Social Responsibility Option

• PHIL 405: Critical Thinking
• PHIL 410: Happiness, Well-Being, and a Good Life
• PHIL 419: Race, Gender and Social Justice
• PHIL 420: Introduction to Philosophy of Law and Justice
• PHIL 424: The Future of Humanity: Science, Technology, and Society
• PHIL 424H: Honors/The Future of Humanity: Science, Technology, and Society
• PHIL 430: Ethics and Society
• PHIL 430W: Ethics and Society
• PHIL 431: Business Ethics
• PHIL 436: Social and Political Philosophy
• PHIL 436H: Honors/Social and Political Philosophy
• PHIL 436W: Social and Political Philosophy
• PHIL 440B: Honors/Who's Human Now?
• PHIL 450: Environmental Ethics
• PHIL 510: Philosophy and Feminism
• PHIL 520: Introduction to Eastern Philosophy
• PHIL 525: Existentialism
• PHIL 530: Ethics
• PHIL 531: Topics in Professional and Business Ethics
• PHIL 660: Law, Medicine, and Ethics
• PHIL 780: Special Topics

Sample Degree Plan

A sample degree plan is provided to serve as a general guide for students. However, students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

Program Learning Outcomes

The program learning outcomes for the Philosophy Major with an option in Ethics and Social Responsibility include:

• Students understand major philosophers and philosophical ideas accurately.
• Students apply their understanding of ideas in novel contexts.
• Students write effectively.
• Students speak effectively.
• Students argue with depth, precision, balance, and insight.
• Students understand the formal structure of arguments and understand rules of inference.
• Students read analytically, critically, and empathetically.
• Students critically assess their own preconceptions, commitments, and ideas.