Program Overview

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Philosophy Major: Political and Legal Philosophy Option (B.A.)

The political and legal philosophy option in the philosophy major gives students interested in politics, law, and justice the opportunity to focus their philosophy major courses around their interests in a systematic and rigorous way. Philosophy has long been a major for high-achieving students interested in law, and our graduates are admitted regularly to top law schools.

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

Course List Code	Title	Credits
Core Requirements
PHIL 412	Beginning Logic	4
PHIL 500	Workshop	4
PHIL 530	Ethics	4
PHIL 570	Ancient Philosophy	4
PHIL 580	Modern Philosophy from Descartes to Kant	4
Electives
	Select three (3) additional philosophy courses of the student's choice.	12
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
Total Credits		40

Political and Legal Philosophy Option Requirements

This option requires four philosophy courses (for a total of 16 credits) from those listed below. Students may "double count" these courses toward the general requirements of the philosophy major.

Course List

Course List Code	Title	Credits
Requirements
	Select four courses from the following:	16
PHIL 405	Critical Thinking
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 430	Ethics and Society
PHIL 431	Business Ethics
PHIL 436	Social and Political Philosophy
PHIL 450	Environmental Ethics
PHIL 510	Philosophy and Feminism
PHIL 531	Topics in Professional and Business Ethics
PHIL 620	20th Century European Philosophy
PHIL 630	Neuroscience and Philosophy
PHIL 660	Law, Medicine, and Ethics
PHIL 701	(by permission)
PHIL 780	Special Topics (by permission)

Discovery Requirements

For students majoring in philosophy: philosophy majors may "double count" any two courses toward the major and also to satisfy Discovery requirements.

Sample Degree Plan

This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year

• Fall:
  • PHIL 500 | Workshop | 4
  • BA Language Course | 4
  • Discovery Course | 4
  • Discovery Course | 4
  • Advising Seminar | 1
  • Total Credits: 17
• Spring:
  • PHIL 530 | Ethics | 4
  • PHIL Elective Course | 4
  • BA Language Course | 4
  • Discovery Course | 4
  • Total Credits: 16

Second Year

• Fall:
  • PHIL 412 | Beginning Logic | 4
  • PHIL Elective Course | 4
  • Discovery Course | 4
  • Course selected in consultation with advisor | 4
  • Total Credits: 16
• Spring:
  • PHIL 580 | Modern Philosophy from Descartes to Kant | 4
  • PHIL Elective Course | 4
  • Discovery Course | 4
  • Course selected in consultation with advisor | 4
  • Total Credits: 16

Third Year

• Fall:
  • PHIL 570 | Ancient Philosophy | 4
  • PHIL 700-level Course | 4
  • Discovery Course | 4
  • Course selected in consultation with advisor | 4
  • Total Credits: 16
• Spring:
  • PHIL 700-level Course | 4
  • Discovery Course | 4
  • Course selected in consultation with advisor | 4
  • Course selected in consultation with advisor | 4
  • Total Credits: 16

Fourth Year

• Fall:
  • PHIL 700-level Course | 4
  • Course selected in consultation with advisor | 4
  • Course selected in consultation with advisor | 4
  • Course selected in consultation with advisor | 4
  • Total Credits: 16
• Spring:
  • PHIL 700-level Course | 4
  • Course selected in consultation with advisor | 4
  • Course selected in consultation with advisor | 4
  • Course selected in consultation with advisor | 4
  • Total Credits: 16
• Total Credits: 129

Program Learning Outcomes

• 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.