Undergraduate Degrees

The Major in Philosophy

The Major in Philosophy is intended to be flexible and to facilitate double majors in other fields (including majors with a strong professional focus). It provides students with a broad humanities education and sharpens their analytical skills. We encourage students to choose a thematic concentration in their electives. Sample curricula emphasizing Pre-Law, Metaphysics and Epistemology, Ethics and Social Philosophy, and Philosophy of Mind are suggested below. However, alternative emphases can be proposed and approved by the Director. The Major in Philosophy is a B.A. degree.

Curriculum

In addition to the general education requirements of the student's college, Philosophy majors and double majors must complete nine Philosophy courses in the Areas listed below. Only two of these nine courses may be at the 100-level, and (for H&SS students) only one of them may be counted also as satisfying the College's General Education requirements (DCR 1 through 4). Students are to choose one course out of each of the Areas 1-4, two courses out of Area 5, and may freely select three courses in Area 6. These nine courses can be easily taken during the junior and senior year.

Area 1: Values and Normative Theory (9 units)
One of the following:
80-x30 through 80-x34 Ethics/Ethical Theory
80-x35 through 80-x39 Social/Political Philosophy
80-x40 through 80-x49Applied/Professional Ethics

Area 2: Philosophy of Mind/Language/Metaphysics (9 units)
One of the following:
80-x70 through 80-x79 Philosophy of Mind/Metaphysics
80-x80 through 80-x89 Philosophy of Language

Area 3: Logic/Philosophy of Mathematics (9 units)
One course from (80-x10 through 80-x19) or 80-101(Mathematics in Context)

Area 4: Epistemology/Methodology (9 units)
One of the following:
80-x00 through 80-x09 Epistemology/Methodology
80-x20 through 80-x29 Philosophy of Science

Area 5: History of Philosophy (18 units)
Two of the following:
80-250 through 80-259 History of Philosophy

Area 6: Electives (27 units)
Three other philosophy courses, or appropriate courses from other departments, with the permission of the Director.

Sample Curricula

Here are four sample curricula, reflecting different emphases.

1. A sample Pre-Law program is:
Area 1: 80-236 Philosophy and Law
Area 2: 80-180 Nature of Language
Area 3: 80-212 Logic and Philosophical Analysis
Area 4: 80-150 Nature of Reason
Area 5: 80-250 Ancient Philosophy, 80-255 Pragmatism
Area 6: 80-246 The Criminal Justice System in America: Ideals and Realities, 80-335 Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, 80-346, Values, Fact, and Policy

2. For an emphasis on Metaphysics and Epistemology a student might take:
Area 1: 80-260 Philosophy of Art
Area 2: 80-275 Metaphysics
Area 3: 80-211 Arguments and Mathematical Inquiry
Area 4: 80-201 Introduction to Epistemology
Area 5: 80-250 Ancient Philosophy, 82-251 Modern Philosophy Area 6: 80-201 Epistemology, 80-254 Analytic Philosophy, 80-312 Philosophy of Mathematics

3. For an emphasis on Ethics and Social Philosophy a student might take:
Area 1: 80-230 Ethical Theory
Area 2: 80-265 Philosophy of Religion
Area 3: 80-110 Nature of Mathematical Reasoning
Area 4: 80-221 Philosophy of Social Science or 80-321 Causation and Social Policy
Area 5: 80-250 Ancient Philosophy
Area 6: 80-346 Values, Fact, and Policy, 80-335, Philosophy, Politics and Economics 80-342, Ethics and Oppression

4. For an emphasis on Philosophy of Mind a student might take:
Area 1: 80-130 Introduction to Ethics
Area 2: 80-270 Philosophy of Mind
Area 3: 80-211 Arguments and Mathematical Inquiry
Area 4: 80-200 Mechanical Minds
Area 5: 80-251 Modern Philosophy, 80-254 Analytic Philosophy
Area 6: 80-300 Minds, Machines, and Knowledge. 80-313 Philosophy of Mathematics, 80-316 Probability and Artificial Intelligence

Additional Major

Students who want an additional major in Philosophy must fulfill the same departmental requirements as primary majors in Philosophy.

The M.A. Program in Philosophy

The Department of Philosophy also offers a graduate M.A. degree in Philosophy, which culminates with the writing of a master's thesis. It is ordinarily a two-year program, but students in the Philosophy major are able to complete the additional requirements in one year.

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