Major in Philosophy

The Major in Philosophy at Cal State Long Beach provides an intellectually rigorous program of study in a supportive environment. It consists of a minimum of 36 units, which makes it an excellent choice for a double-major. Most philosophy courses are GE-certified, which means that students can double-count their major courses for GE. There is also ample flexibility to shape the major to their particular interests and needs.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Lower-Division:

The following three courses are required for the major:

  • PHIL203: History of Early Western Philosophy
  • PHIL204: History of Modern Western Philosophy
  • PHIL270: Symbolic Logic

Upper-Division:

Two courses from the following list are required to satisfy the distribution area of Historical Traditions and Figures:

  • PHIL306: Philosophies of China and Japan
  • PHIL307: Philosophies of India
  • PHIL413: Continental Rationalism
  • PHIL414: British Empiricism
  • PHIL415: Marx
  • PHIL416: Pragmatism
  • PHIL417: Phenomenology
  • PHIL418: Existentialism
  • PHIL419: Analytic Philosophy
  • PHIL420: Foucault
  • PHIL421: Plato
  • PHIL422: Aristotle
  • PHIL423: Kant
  • PHIL424: Hegel
  • PHIL425: Wittgenstein
  • PHIL490: Special Topics: Early Philosophy
  • PHIL491: Special Topics: The Modern Tradition
  • PHIL492: Special Topics: Twentieth Century Philosophy

Two courses from the following list are required to satisfy the distribution area of Logic, Metaphysics, and Epistemology:

  • PHIL330: Philosophy of Religion
  • PHIL342: Metaphysics
  • PHIL348: Personal Identity
  • PHIL370: Rationality and Decisions
  • PHIL381: Philosophy of Science
  • PHIL382: Theory of Knowledge
  • PHIL448: Freedom and Agency
  • PHIL475: Truth and Fact
  • PHIL482: Introduction to Cognitive Science
  • PHIL483: Philosophical Psychology
  • PHIL484: Philosophy of Language
  • PHIL493: Special Topics: Metaphysical Studies
  • PHIL494: Special Topics: Epistemological Studies
  • PHIL495: Special Topics: Logic and Semantics

Two courses from the following list are required to satisfy the distribution area of Values and Evaluation:

  • PHIL351: Political Philosophy
  • PHIL352: Philosophy of Law
  • PHIL360: Environmental Ethics
  • PHIL361: Philosophy of Art
  • PHIL363: Ethical Theory
  • PHIL400: Business Ethics
  • PHIL402: Engineering Ethics
  • PHIL403: Medical Ethics
  • PHIL404: Ethics and Artificial Intelligence
  • PHIL405: Philosophy and Literature
  • PHIL451: Liberty and Justice: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in American Law
  • PHIL455: Philosophical Perspectives on Sex and Love
  • PHIL496: Special Topics: Value and Evaluation

Upper-Division Electives:

Six units of upper-division coursework are electives. These can be selected from any upper-division Philosophy course. Students can count up to six units of Honors coursework toward the Major. Up to six units of Directed Study coursework may also be counted.

Any of the above upper-division courses

  • PHIL489: Philosophy Internship
  • PHIL497H: Undergraduate Honors Seminar
  • PHIL498H: Undergraduate Honors Thesis
  • PHIL499: Directed Studies

Additional Elective:

One Philosophy course from either lower- or upper-division.

Advising

Students looking for more information about pursuing the Major in Philosophy should contact the incoming Department Chair,

Dr. Cory Wright
Department of Philosophy
Mcintosh Humanities Building Room 917
cory.wright@csulb.edu

For more generic questions, students can also use the ATLAS advising center. Students who would prefer advising by faculty should contact the CLA Dean’s Office to request that the Department of Philosophy be given advising support.