Departments & Programs

Philosophy

Major in Philosophy

Purpose

The major in philosophy leads to the B.A. degree and is flexible enough to meet the needs and interests of those who are not planning to become professional philosophers, as well as the needs and interests of those who do have such plans.

Required Courses

Students must complete a minimum of 27 credit hours in philosophy. No more than 3 credit hours of course work in the category of introductory courses (that is, any 100-level course or P240 or P270) may be included in the 27 credit hour minimum. Students are required to take:

  1. P250 Introductory Symbolic Logic.
  2. One course at or above the 200 level in history of philosophy.
  3. One course at or above the 300 level in ethics and value theory.
  4. One course at or above the 300 level in epistemology and metaphysics.
  5. One 400-level course from among the following:
    • P401 Special Topics in the History of Philosophy
    • P470 Special Topics in Philosophy
    • P498 Senior Seminar
    • P499 Honors Thesis

Students must complete the degree requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Recommendations

An exemplary plan of course work for majors who are considering graduate study in philosophy might be as follows: one course in logic (P250, which should be completed at the earliest opportunity); four courses in the history of philosophy (e.g., P201, P211, P301 or P304, and P401); two courses in epistemology and metaphysics (e.g., P310 and P312); and two courses in ethics and sociopolitical philosophy (e.g., P340 or P342). Varied interests in particular areas of philosophy will suggest other equally worthwhile plans of course work.

Transfer of Credits toward Major

Students planning to transfer philosophy credits toward a major in philosophy should consult with the director of undergraduate studies. Of the 27 credit hours required for the major in philosophy, at least 13 must be completed in residence on the Bloomington campus. These 13 credit hours will usually be 300- and 400-level courses taken from at least three of the following areas: logic, ethics and social-political philosophy, history of philosophy, and epistemology and metaphysics.