Schools

School of Arts and Letters

Philosophy (Bachelor of Arts)

Mission/Vision Statement

When Socrates exclaimed to his incredulous accusers, “I know you won’t believe me, but I truly believe the highest human excellence is to question oneself and others,” he captured the spirit of all philosophical effort. Although philosophy has undergone profound changes since his time, it still seeks to come to terms with the questions and issues provoked by every phase of life, and it produces arguments and accounts bearing on every subject worthy of disciplined reflection. Majoring in philosophy offers a student the opportunity to gain skills in critical thinking, writing, and reading not afforded by many other disciplines. These are vital skills if one is to succeed in a rapidly changing work world. For those students who intend to pursue an advanced professional degree (for example, in medicine or law), the philosophy major provides the analytic training and intellectual studies that make for a well-rounded, qualified, and attractive candidate. Further, the B.A. with a major in philosophy (or a double major including philosophy) is an excellent degree for those who intend to study for an advanced degree, even if the advanced degree will not be in philosophy. Finally, those whose main goal in pursuing an undergraduate degree is to gain a deeper understanding of the world in which we live would do well to consider a major in philosophy. For more information, see our web site at ius.edu/philosophy/.

 

Degree Requirements

See “General Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees at IU Southeast” and “General Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree.”

General Education Component

Note: This is not a re-statement of the University’s General Education Requirement but a list of specific General Education courses which are also requirements or pre-requisites for course work in the school/major.

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

PHIL-P

100

Introduction to Philosophy

3

C-

PHIL-P

140

Introduction to Ethics

3

C-

PHIL-P

170

Introduction to Asian Philosophy

3

C-

Traditional Track

Major Specific Requirements 

The traditional track of the philosophy major requires a minimum of 31 credit hours in philosophy. Two courses at the 100-level may be included in the 31 credit hours. (The BA degree requires students to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours in courses at the 200-400 level.)

The following requirements must be satisfied:

Logic Requirement: Students must take either PHIL-P 150 Elementary Logic or PHIL-P 250 Introductory Symbolic Logic.

Upper-Level Course Requirements: Philosophy majors must complete the IU Southeast research writing or argumentative writing requirement before taking a third upper-level course in philosophy.

History of Philosophy Requirement: Philosophy majors must take at least two courses chosen from: PHIL- P 302 Medieval Philosophy, PHIL-P 304 Nineteenth-Century Philosophy, PHIL-P 314 Modern Philosophy, or PHIL-P 410 Ancient Greek Philosophy.

Diversity Requirement: Students must take either PHIL-P 170 introduction to Asian Philosophy, PHIL-P 334 Buddhist Philosophy, PHIL-P 374 Early Chinese Philosophy, or PHIL-P 394 Feminist Philosophy.

Social and Political Philosophy and Ethics Requirement: Philosophy majors must take one course in social and political philosophy or ethics at the 200 level or above (e.g., PHIL-P 237 Environmental Philosophy, PHIL-P 240 Business and Morality, PHIL-P 340 Classics in Ethics, PHIL-P 342 Problems of Ethics, PHIL-P 343 Classics in Social and Political Philosophy, or PHIL-P 345 Problems in Social and Political Philosophy).

Metaphysics and Epistemology Requirement: Students must take PHIL-P 310 Topics in Metaphysics, PHIL-P 313 Theories of Knowledge, PHIL-P 320 Philosophy and Language, PHIL-P 360 Philosophy of Mind, or PHIL-X 303 Introduction to Philosophy of Science.

Philosophy Seminar Requirement:  Philosophy majors must take at least one philosophy seminar (PHIL-P 333). The philosophy seminar is offered every spring semester and may be repeated for credit.

Senior Proseminar Requirement: Philosophy majors must take at least one credit (up to four) in PHIL-P 495 Senior Proseminar in Philosophy during their senior year.

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

Student must take one of the following:

 

 

PHIL-P

150

Elementary Logic

3

 

PHIL-P

250

Introductory Symbolic Logic

3

C-

 

 

Student must take two of the following:

 

 

PHIL-P

302

Medieval Philosophy

3

C-

PHIL-P

304

Nineteenth-Century Philosophy

3

C-

PHIL-P

314

Modern Philosophy

3

C-

PHIL-P

410

Ancient Greek Philosophy

3

C-

Students must take one of the following:

 

 

PHIL-P

170

Introduction to Asian Philosophy

3

C-

PHIL-P

334

Buddhist Philosophy

3

C-

PHIL-P

374

Early Chinese Philosophy

3

C-

PHIL-P

394

Feminist Philosophy

3

C-

 

 

Students must take one of the following:

 

 

PHIL-P

237

Environmental Ethics

3

C-

PHIL-P

240

Business and Morality

3

C-

PHIL-P

340

Classics in Ethics

3

C-

PHIL-P

342

Problems of Ethics

3

C-

PHIL-P

343

Classics in Social and Political Philosophy

3

C-

PHIL-P

345

Problems in Social and Political Philosophy

3

C-

Or other course as approved by philosophy advisor

 

 

 

 

Students must take one of the following:

 

 

PHIL-P

310

Topics in Metaphysics

3

C-

PHIL-P

313

Theories of Knowledge

3

C-

PHIL-P

320

Philosophy and Language

3

C-

PHIL-P

360

Philosophy of Mind

3

C-

PHIL-X

303

Introduction to Philosophy of Science

3

C-

 

 

Students must take all of the following:

 

 

PHIL-P 333 Philosophy Seminar 3 C-
PHIL-P 495 Senior Pro-Seminar in Philosophy 1-4 C-

Philosophy Electives

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

PHIL-P

145

Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy

3

C-

PHIL-P

200

Problems of Philosophy

3

C-

PHIL-P

251

Intermediate Symbolic Logic

3

C-

PHIL-P

320

Philosophy and Language

3

C-

PHIL-P

330

Marxist Philosophy

3

C-

PHIL-P

338

Technology and Human Values

3

C-

PHIL-P

346

Classics in Philosophy of Art

3

C-

PHIL-P

371

Philosophy of Religion

3

C-

PHIL-P

401

History of Philosophy: Special Topics

3

C-

PHIL-P

490

Readings in Philosophy

1-3

C-

PHIL-X

303

Introduction to Philosophy of Science

3

C-

Capstone

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

PHIL-P

495

Senior Proseminar

1-4

C-

Religious Studies Track

The religious studies concentration of the philosophy major requires a minimum of 31 credit hours in philosophy and religious studies.  The following requirements must be satisfied:

Lower-level philosophy requirements:  PHIL-P 140 Introduction to Ethics and PHIL-P 150 Elementary Logic.

Upper-level philosophy requirements:  REL-P 371 Philosophy of Religion, REL-P 333 Philosophy Seminar, and PHIL-P 495  Senior Pro-seminar in Philosophy.

Two courses in the History of Philosophy selected from: PHIL-P 302, Medieval Philosophy, PHIL-P 304 Nineteenth Century Philosophy, PHIL-P 314 Modern Philosophy, or PHIL-P 410 Ancient Greek Philosophy.

Lower-level religious studies requirements:  Students must take both REL-R 152 Jews, Christians, Muslims and REL-R 153 Religions of Asia.

Upper-level religious studies requirements:  Two courses at the 200 level or above.  (The BA degree requires students to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours in courses at the 300-400 level.)

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

Students must take all of the following:

 

 

PHIL-P

140

Introduction to Ethics

3

 C-

PHIL-P

150

Elementary Logic

 3 

 C-

PHIL-P

371

Philosophy of Religion

3

C-

PHIL-P

333

Philosophy Seminar

3

C-

PHIL-P

495

Senior Proseminar

3

C-

Students must take both of the following:

 

 

REL-R

152

Jews, Christians, Muslims

3

C-

REL-R

153

Religions of Asia

3

C-

Students must take two of the following:

 

 

PHIL-P

302

Medieval Philosophy

3

C-

PHIL-P

304

Nineteenth Century Philosophy

3

C-

PHIL-P

314

Modern Philosophy

3

C-

PHIL-P

410

Ancient Greek Philosophy

3

C-

Students must take two of the following:

 

 

REL-R

200

Studies in Religion

3

C-

REL-R

210

Introduction to Old Testament/Hebrew Bible

3

C-

REL-R

220

Introduction to New Testament

3

C-

REL-R

245

Introduction to Judaism

3

C-

REL-R

257

Introduction to Islam

3

C-

REL-R

280

Speaking of God

3

C-

REL-R

327

Christianity 50-450

3

C-

REL-R

331

Christianity 1500-2000

3

C-

REL-R

335

Religion in the United States, 1600-1850

3

C-

REL-R

336

Religion in the United States, 1850-Present

3

C-

REL-R

345

Religious Issues in Contemporary Judaism

3

C-

REL-R

362

Religion in Literature

3

C-

REL-R

364

Topics in Gender and Western Religion

3

C-

REL-R

371

Religion, Ethics, and the Environment

3

C-

Religious Studies Electives

Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

REL-R

160

Religion and American Culture

3

C-

REL-R

170

Religion, Ethics, and Public Life

3

C-

REL-R

180

Introduction to Christianity

3

C-

Academic Bulletins

Request Information

Not a student yet? Complete the Request for Information form and someone from the Admissions office will contact you with more information.

Request More Information Today!