Pictured | Matthew Walz | Philosophy | South Bend, Indiana (hometown)

About the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

The philosophy major gives students the opportunity to take small, focused classes that delve deeply into philosophical questions, and that show how thinking through these questions can help illuminate pressing social and individual issues in today’s world. The structure of the major is flexible, allowing students to easily fit their philosophy courses together with work in other areas; it is thus often taken as a second major to complement the study of everything from history to physics to psychology to business. Philosophy students develop especially strong skills in analytical reading and writing, and a general ability to think clearly and communicate effectively that transfers readily to other areas of study and work. The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy not only provides resources for engaging meaningfully in the world but also tools that are useful in nearly every career.

Academic Advising

College policy on advising requires that students meet with their academic advisors at least once each year, and in some departments, prior to each semester’s enrollment. Advising holds are reset following advising appointments. Students with a declared major are advised in their academic units. To determine who your advisor is and how to contact them, see One.IU.

Degree Requirements (120 cr.)

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Students receiving the Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy must complete 120 total credit hours including:

• IU South Bend Campuswide General Education Curriculum (33-39 cr.)
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Bachelor of Arts Additional Requirements (14-23 cr.)
• Major Requirements (27 cr.)
• Required Minor taken in any campus school or interdisciplinary program (15-18 cr.)

• A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
• Major and minor requirements must be completed with a grade of C– or higher.
• The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in philosophy requires at least 27 credit hours in courses offered by the department. One of these courses may be a 100-level course. All others must be at the 200-level or above. Students are required to select courses at the 200-level or above to satisfy the following distribution requirements:

Major Requirements

History of Philosophy (6 cr.)

• PHIL-P 201 Ancient Greek Philosophy
• PHIL-P 214 Modern Philosophy

Logic and the History and Philosophy of Science (3 cr.)

• HPSC-X 200 Scientific Reasoning
• HPSC-X 201 Nature of Scientific Inquiry
• HPSC-X 220 Issues in Science: Humanistic
• HPSC-X 303 Introduction to Philosophy of Science
• HPSC-X 336 Religion and Science
• PHIL-P 250 Introductory Symbolic Logic

Ethics, Social, and Political Philosophy (3 cr.)

• PHIL-P 325 Social Philosophy
• PHIL-P 340 Classics in Ethics
• PHIL-P 341 Ethical Classics 2
• PHIL-P 342 Problems of Ethics
• PHIL-P 343 Classics in Social and Political Philosophy
• PHIL-P 344 Classics in Social and Political Philosophy 2
• PHIL-P 345 Problems in Social and Political Philosophy
• PHIL-P 393 Biomedical Ethics

Metaphysics and Epistemology (3 cr.)

• PHIL-P 310 Topics in Metaphysics
• PHIL-P 312 Topics in Theory of Knowledge
• PHIL-P 313 Theories of Knowledge
• PHIL-P 360 Introduction to Philosophy of Mind
• PHIL-P 366 Philosophy of Action
• PHIL-T 390 Literary and Intellectual Tradition
  VT: God, Space, and Time

Philosophy Electives (12 cr.)

Other PHIL courses should be chosen in consultation with a departmental advisor. PHIL-T 190 Literary and Intellectual Traditions, PHIL-T 390 Literary and Intellectual Traditions, and HPSC-T 390 Literary and Intellectual Traditions courses may or may not count toward the major depending on the topic. Students are expected to cooperate with departmental faculty in assessing the program for the major.