Bachelor of Art in Philosophy (code 2-6807)

Advisor: Prof. Marcy Lascano

The undergraduate Philosophy program challenges students to think rigorously about some of the most profound questions people consider: "What is most important in a human life?"; "What can I know?"; "Does God exist?"; "Do human beings have free will?"; "What are the guidelines for morality?"; "What is 'the soul', or 'the mind'?".

No aspect of our lives is immune from philosophical scrutiny. These and other questions are raised in courses in special areas of philosophical concern such as logic, theory of knowledge, ethics, metaphysics, philosophy of religion, philosophy of science, and aesthetics. They are also raised in their historical context in courses which focus on great philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Kant, the great "Rationalists" and the great "Empiricists".

In addition, the Philosophy curriculum encourages students to examine our contemporary situation (with such courses as Existentialism, Phenomenology, Philosophy of Language, and Political Philosophy), and to extend their thinking with the philosophies of other cultures (such as those of China, Japan, and India).

New Major and Minor Requirements went into effect in fall 2000. Students enrolled prior to fall 2000 may elect to complete the major or minor under the previous requirements or may choose the new requirements. Students enrolling for the first time in fall 2000 or later must complete the new requirements.

Click here to download our Spring 2008 Course Descriptions.

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Major Requirements

The Major in Philosophy consists of a minimum of 36 units of which at least 24 must be upper division courses.

Lower-division:
Required:
PHIL 203 History of Early Philosophy
PHIL 204 History of Modern Philosophy
One of:
PHIL 270 Symbolic Logic
Either PHIL 100/100W (Introduction to Philosophy) or PHIL 160/160W (Introduction to Ethics) may be counted toward the major but are not required.

Upper-division:
At least two upper-division courses in each of the three following groups:
History of Philosophy:
PHIL 306 Philosophies of China and Japan
PHIL 307 Philosophies of India
PHIL 413 Continental Rationalism
PHIL 414 British Empiricism
PHIL 416 Pragmatism
PHIL 417 Phenomenology
PHIL 418 Existentialism
PHIL 419 Analytic Philosophy
PHIL 421 Plato
PHIL 422 Aristotle
PHIL 423 Kant
PHIL 424 Hegel
PHIL 425 Wittgenstein
PHIL 490 Special Topics: Early Philosophy
PHIL 491 Special Topics: The Modern Tradition
PHIL 492 Special topics: Twentieth Century Philosophy
Logic, Metaphysics and Epistemology
PHIL 330 Philosophy of Religion
PHIL 342 Metaphysics
PHIL 381 Philosophy of Science
PHIL 382 Theory of Knowledge
PHIL 470 Symbolic Logic II
PHIL 482 Cognitive Science [New Course: 2002-2003]
PHIL 484 Philosophy of Language
PHIL 483 Philosophical Psychology
PHIL 493 Special topics: Metaphysical Studies
PHIL 494 Special topics: Epistemological Studies
PHIL 495 Special Topics: Logic and Semantics
Values and Evaluation:
PHIL 302I Molecular Biology and Bioethics
PHIL 305/405I Philosophy in Literature
PHIL 351 Political Philosophy
PHIL 352 Philosophy of Law
PHIL 354 Feminism and Philosophy
PHIL 360 Ethics and Ecology
PHIL 361 Philosophy of Art and Beauty
PHIL 362I Ethics and Computer Technology
PHIL 363 Ethical Theory
PHIL 401 Philosophy and Education [New Course: 2002-2003]
PHIL 405 Medical Ethics [New Course: 2002-2003]
PHIL 451I Liberty & Justice: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in


Preparation for graduate study in philosophy: Students planning to pursue graduate studies in philosophy should include at least the following in their course of study: 270, 296, 342, 363, 382, 413, 414, 421, 422, 484

Honors in Philosophy Courses: Up to 6 units of 497 and/or 498 may be counted toward the major.

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Minor Requirements

Minor in Philosophy (code 0-6807)
The minor in philosophy provides a structured yet flexible program for the student majoring in a different discipline, but who is interested in philosophy either as an adjunct to the degree major or as a foundation for the student's future intellectual life.
The Minor in Philosophy consists of a minimum of 18 units of which at least 9 must be upper division courses.

Lower-division:
Required:
PHIL 203 History of Early Philosophy
PHIL 204 History of Modern Philosophy
One of:
PHIL 270 Symbolic Logic OR
PHIL 296 Logic and Philosophical Methods

Upper-division:
At least one upper-division course in each of the three following groups:
History of Philosophy [see above list for majors]
Logic, Metaphysics and Epistemology [see above list for majors]
Values and Evaluation [see above list for majors]

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Previous Requirements

Major in Philosophy (through spring 2000)
A minimum of 36 units in philosophy divided as follows:

Lower Division:
A minimum of 12 units in philosophy, including PHIL 100, 160/160L, or 296; 270, 203 and 204.

Upper Division:
A minimum of 24 units in philosophy, including PHIL 342, 363, 382; and at least 6 units chosen from 413, 414, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425; and at least 3 units chosen from 416, 417, 418, 419.
The required 6 units remaining are to be selected from philosophy courses with the advice and consent of the student's departmental advisor.

Minor in Philosophy (through spring 2000)

A minimum of 21 units in philosophy, of which at least 15 are upper division and include:

(1) at least three units chosen from PHIL 342, 363, 382;
(2) at least three units chosen from PHIL 413, 414, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425;
(3) at least three units selected from the list given in 2, but in addition to the units required in 2, or selected from PHIL 416, 417, 418, 419.

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