Program Overview

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Philosophy (BA)

The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy is a versatile and intellectually rewarding major that teaches students how to think critically, reason logically, and communicate effectively. These skills are essential for success in any profession and are highly valued by employers and graduate schools.

Program at a Glance

• The program combines intellectual depth with practical outcomes, preparing students for success in graduate school and a wide range of careers.
• It centers on the principles of knowledge, responsibility, and society, providing students with opportunities to investigate connections between intellectual pursuits, moral and public virtue, and the application of these investigations to practical and professional pursuits.

Program Description

Philosophy is the study of life's most fundamental questions: What is real? How do we know what we know? What is the good life? At the University of Central Florida, these questions and others are explored through metaphysics, epistemology, logic, ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of technology. Students also engage with timely issues such as environmental ethics, ethics in science and technology, and cognitive science.

Career and Graduate School Success

Philosophy majors at the University of Central Florida develop skills that open doors to diverse careers. Graduates have gone on to work in:

• Law and legal consulting
• Medicine and healthcare professions
• Business and non-profit leadership
• Education and research
• Technology and ethics consulting

Skills That Last a Lifetime

As a philosophy major, students gain:

• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for leadership roles
• Ethical decision-making abilities vital in technology, healthcare, and policy
• Advanced writing and communication skills sought after in every profession

Degree Requirements

Core Requirements: Basic Level

• Complete all of the following:
  • PHI 2010 - Introduction to Philosophy (3)
  • Complete at least 2 of the following:
    • HUM 2020 - Encountering the Humanities (3)
    • HUM 2210 - Studies in Culture: Ancient to 17th Century (3)
    • HUM 2230 - Studies in Culture: 17th Century to Present (3)
    • REL 2300 - World Religions (3)

Core Requirements: Advanced Level

• Complete all of the following:
  • PHI 3083 - Research Methods in Philosophy (3)
  • PHI 4938 - Senior Research Seminar (3)
• Reasoning:
  • Complete at least 2 of the following:
    • PHI 2011 - Philosophical Reasoning (3)
    • PHI 2101 - Formal Logic I (3)
    • PHI 2108 - Critical Thinking (3)
    • PHI 2647 - Logic and Ethics (3)
    • PHI 3131 - Formal Logic II (3)
• History of Philosophy:
  • Complete at least 2 of the following:
    • PHH 3100 - Ancient Philosophy (3)
    • PHH 3200 - Medieval Philosophy (3)
    • PHH 3460 - Modern Western Philosophy (3)
  • Complete at least 1 of the following:
    • PHH 3600 - Contemporary Philosophy (3)
    • PHH 3510 - Marx and Nietzsche (3)
    • PHH 3700 - American Philosophy (3)
    • PHI 3790 - African Philosophy (3)
• Values and Society:
  • Complete at least 2 of the following:
    • PHI 3670 - Ethical Theory (3)
    • PHI 3626 - Advanced Ethics in Science and Technology (3)
    • PHM 3401 - Philosophy of Law (3)
    • PHI 3800 - Aesthetics (3)
    • PHM 3123 - Feminist Theories (3)
    • PHI 2603 - Ethical Issues in the 21st Century (3)
    • PHI 3625 - Virtual Ethics (3)
    • PHI 4633 - Ethics and Biological Science (3)
    • PHM 3100 - Freedom and Justice (3)
    • PHI 3640 - Environmental Ethics (3)
    • PHM 4031 - Environmental Philosophy (3)
    • PHH 3701 - Native American Philosophy (3)
    • PHM 3020 - Philosophy of Love (3)
    • PHI 4673 - Biomedical Ethics (3)
    • HUM 4823 - Queer Theory in the Humanities (3)
• Being and Knowing:
  • Complete at least 2 of the following:
    • PHI 4500 - Metaphysics (3)
    • PHI 4341 - Ways of Knowing (3)
    • PHI 4300 - Theories of Knowledge (3)
    • PHI 3700 - Philosophy of Religion (3)
    • PHI 4400 - Philosophy of Science (3)
    • PHI 3320 - Philosophy of Mind (3)
    • PHI 3451 - Philosophy of Psychology (3)
    • PHI 4420 - Philosophy of Social Science (3)
    • PHI 3323 - Minds and Machines: Philosophy of Cognitive Science (3)
    • PHP 4782 - Phenomenology (3)
    • PHI 4221 - Philosophy of Language (3)
• Topics in Philosophy:
  • Complete at least 1 of the following:
    • PHI 4931 - Philosophy in the News (3)
    • PHI 4321 - Philosophies of Embodiment: Mind/Body/Self (3)
    • PHI 3033 - Philosophy, Religion, and the Environment (3)
    • PHP 3783 - Modernity as a Philosophical Problem (3)
    • PHI 3750 - The Problem of Evil (3)
    • PHI 3720 - Faith and Reason (3)
    • REL 3111 - Religion and Philosophy Through Film (3)
    • PHP 3786 - Existentialism (3)
    • HUM 4330 - Performance Theory (3)
    • PHI 4935 - Topics in Philosophy of Mind (3)
    • PHP 4933 - Key Concepts in Philosophy (3)
    • PHP 4931 - Key Figures in Philosophy (3)

Restricted Electives

• Complete 2 of the following:
  • Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses:
  • Any upper-level course not already used above.
  • A related upper-level course with the consent of the Philosophy Program Director.

Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required

• 120 credit hours are required for the degree.

Additional Requirements

• Foreign Language Requirements: Met by graduation requirement.
• Departmental Exit Requirements: Earn a "C" (2.0) or better in each required course.
• University Minimum Exit Requirements: A 2.0 UCF GPA, 42 semester hours of upper division credit completed, and 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.

Honors in the Major

• Students considering graduate school in philosophy are strongly encouraged to take Honors in the Major.
• Requirements include:
  • Same requirements as for regular majors, but must include PHI 2101 - Formal Logic I.
  • Upper Division Restricted Electives (6 Credit Hours): Same as requirement for regular majors.
  • Honors Thesis:
    • PHI 4903H - Honors Directed Reading I (3)
    • PHI 4970H - Undergraduate Honors Thesis (3)
  • Additional Requirements of Honors in the Major:
    • Application and admission through the Philosophy Honors Coordinator and the Burnett Honors College.
    • Fulfill University requirements for Honors in the Major.
    • Maintain UCF GPA of at least 3.2 and a Philosophy GPA of at least 3.5.
    • Successful completion and oral defense of Honors thesis.
    • Earn a "B" (3.0) or better in both PHI 4903H and PHI 4970H.

Related Programs

• Humanities and Cultural Studies (B.A.)
• Religion and Cultural Studies (B.A.)

Related Certificates

• None

Related Minors

• Cognitive Sciences Minor
• Environmental Studies Minor
• Humanities and Cultural Studies Minor
• Religion and Cultural Studies Minor
• Women's and Gender Studies Minor

Plan of Study

A sample plan of study is provided, outlining the courses to be taken each semester for four years. This plan includes:

• Freshman Year: Introduction to Philosophy, Composition, General Education Program courses, and foreign language.
• Sophomore Year: Reasoning, History of Philosophy, and electives.
• Junior Year: Research Methods in Philosophy, Values and Society, Being and Knowing, and electives.
• Senior Year: Senior Research Seminar, Philosophy Restricted Electives, and electives.