Program Overview

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Philosophy Major, B.A.

The principal goal of the study of philosophy is to enable students to think more clearly, deeply, and appreciatively about themselves and their world. Study of philosophy enhances analytical, critical, and interpretive capacities that are applicable to any subject matter in almost any context. It provides many opportunities for expressing oneself, for reflecting on questions that human beings have pondered for millennia, for exchanging reasoned beliefs and engaging in focused debate, and for learning how to come to terms with problems for which there are no easy answers. A good philosophical education also helps to prepare students for responsible and intelligent participation in political and community affairs.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the philosophy program, students should be able to:

• Deploy philosophical concepts and terminology correctly, in either a historical or contemporary setting
• Represent clearly and accurately the views or argument of a particular philosopher, in either a historical or contemporary setting
• Identify the premises and conclusion(s) of a philosophical argument and assess both its validity and soundness
• Apply a philosophical theory or argument to a new topic, and to draw and defend reasonable conclusions about that topic
• Develop an argument for a particular solution to a philosophical problem in either a historical or contemporary setting

Requirements

In addition to the program requirements, students must:

• earn a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000
• complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
• take at least half of their major core requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
• earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for major or specific courses.

Course List

Course List Code	Title	Hours
Core requirements		27
	A major in philosophy requires nine philosophy courses. No more than three of the nine may be numbered 199 and below. The nine courses must include at least one course in three of the following four distribution areas:
	History of philosophy
	Courses above 100 with a second digit of one or two (e.g., PHIL 110, PHIL 210, PHIL 220)
	Metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of language
	Courses above 100 with a second digit of three or four (e.g., PHIL 134, PHIL 230, PHIL 340)
	Logic and philosophy of science
	Courses above 100 with a second digit of five (e.g., PHIL 150, PHIL 155, PHIL 355)
	Value theory
	Courses above 100 with a second digit of six, seven, or eight (e.g., PHIL 160, PHIL 275, PHIL 381)
Total Hours		27

Department Programs

• Major
  • Philosophy Major, B.A.
• Minors
  • Philosophy Minor
  • Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) Minor
• Graduate Programs
  • M.A. in Philosophy
  • Ph.D. in Philosophy
• Courses
  • Philosophy (PHIL)

Opportunities

Special opportunities in philosophy include, but are not limited to, the Philosophy Outreach Program, the Lesher Opportunity Fund, Take a Philosopher to Lunch, Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl, and an active Speaker Series.

Department of Philosophy

The Department of Philosophy is located in Caldwell Hall, 240 East Cameron Ave., CB# 3125. The Chair of the department is Matthew Kotzen, and the Director of Undergraduate Studies is Markus Kohl.

Academic Enrichment Programs

The university offers various academic enrichment programs, including the Global Guarantee, Study Abroad, Undergraduate Research, Honors Carolina, and more.

Degree Requirements

For more information on degree requirements, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.

Graduate Education

The university offers various graduate programs, including master's and doctoral degrees in philosophy. For more information, please consult the graduate education section of the catalog.

Academic Resources

The university provides various academic resources, including libraries, research centers, and academic support services.

Resources

The university offers various resources, including career planning, health and wellness, and service and leadership opportunities.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For information on tuition and financial aid, please consult the tuition and financial aid section of the catalog.

Academic Calendar

The university's academic calendar is updated once yearly during the early spring and is published on June 1. For archiving and legal purposes, it serves as a static record of the upcoming academic year.

Office of the University Registrar

The Office of the University Registrar is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599.

Copyright

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Catalog is copyrighted.

Print Options

The catalog can be printed or downloaded in PDF format.