Program Overview

Introduction to the Philosophy Major

The Philosophy Major at UC San Diego is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of philosophical concepts, theories, and methods. This major is ideal for students who wish to pursue graduate studies, attend professional schools, or embark on careers in the private or public sector.

Part I: General Requirements

• The B.A. in Philosophy requires a total of 15 courses, with at least 12 being upper-division courses.
• All courses applied toward the major must be taken for a letter grade.
• All courses applied toward the major must be passed with a grade of C- or better.
• A GPA of 2.0 must be maintained for all courses applied toward the major.
• Courses numbered 191-199 (Honors and Directed Studies Courses) do not apply toward the requisite 15 courses.
• Courses repeated for credit can be applied toward the major by petition only.

Part II: Core Requirements

The major in Philosophy must satisfy the 6 core requirements, which consist of 8 courses. These requirements include:

• Lower-Division Logic: Introduction to Logic (Phil 10)
• Upper-Division Logic: Symbolic Logic I (Phil 120)
• History of Philosophy Sequence:
  • History of Philosophy: Ancient (Phil 110)
  • History of Philosophy: Early Modern (Phil 111)
  • History of Philosophy: Late Modern (Phil 112)
• Moral and Political Philosophy: Choose one from the following courses:
  • Ethical Theory (Phil 160)
  • Topics in the History of Ethics (Phil 161)
  • Classics in Political Philosophy (Phil 166)
  • Contemporary Political Philosophy (Phil 167)
• Metaphysics & Epistemology: Choose one from the following courses:
  • Metaphysics (Phil 130)
  • Topics in Metaphysics (Phil 131)
  • Epistemology (Phil 132)
  • Philosophy of Language (Phil 134)
  • Philosophy of Mind (Phil 136)
• Philosophy of Science: Choose one from the following courses:
  • Philosophy of Science (Phil 145)
  • Philosophy of Physics (Phil 146)
  • Philosophy of Biology (Phil 147)
  • Philosophy of Psychology (Phil 149)
  • Philosophy of Cognitive Science (Phil 150)
  • Philosophy of Neuroscience (Phil 151)
  • Philosophy of Social Science (Phil 152)

Part III: Electives

In addition to the core requirements, seven philosophy electives are required, with up to two being lower-division courses. Students may choose to take a sampling of philosophy courses or focus on a particular area of emphasis.

Part IV: Worksheet

A worksheet is provided to help students track their courses toward fulfillment of the major.

Note

Of the 15 courses required for the major, at least 12 must be upper-division courses.

Optional Areas of Emphasis

Some students may wish to take a focus for their electives, and the department offers several areas of emphasis. These areas include:

• Bioethics Minor
• Philosophy of Cognitive Science Minor
• Environmental Ethics Minor
• Areas of Emphasis
• Honors Program
• Transfer Students
• SPLASH Summer Transfer Program
• Transfer Courses
• Programs Abroad
• Philosophy Club
• Careers in Philosophy
• Admissions

Conclusion

The Philosophy Major at UC San Diego provides students with a comprehensive education in philosophical concepts, theories, and methods. With its rigorous core requirements and flexible elective options, this major is ideal for students who wish to pursue a wide range of careers and academic paths.