The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy is a liberal arts degree. Students in this program are exposed to eastern, western and contemporary philosophers and study myth, ritual and issues of ethics and morality. They learn to think critically and objectively, to write clearly and effectively, and to develop creative solutions to unique situations. Students graduating from this program apply their skills and abilities in professions requiring a high level of analytical thought such as those in "think tanks" and legal professions.
Degree Program Objectives In addition to the institutional and general education level learning objectives, the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates. With reference to each of the respective areas of philosophy, graduates in this degree program will be able to:
Discuss the historical development and evolution of philosophy from its origins through contemporary times.
Explain the various schools of philosophical and moral thought, the history behind their development, and the rationale for their acceptance and practice.
Recognize and apply logic: what makes a deductive argument valid or an inductive argument strong; an action moral or immoral; a statement believed to be true.
Stake out a philosophical position in a written composition and critically analyze a philosophical question.
Analyze and evaluate philosophical arguments from historical and contemporary sources.
Apply philosophical inquiry to contemporary events.
Degree Program Requirements
Required Course - 3 semester hours
RQ295 / COLL100 - Foundations of Online Learning - Required as the first course in all undergraduate programs.
General Education Requirements (34 semester hours)
English Composition - 6 semester hours
EN101 / ENGL101 - Proficiency in Writing [Required]
EN102 / ENGL102 - Effectiveness in Writing
EN202 / ENGL200 - Composition and Literature
Social Sciences - 6 semester hours
SS101 / ECON101 - Microeconomics
SS102 / ECON102 - Macroeconomics
SS111 / GEOG101 - Introduction to Geography
SS133 / SOCI111 - Introduction to Sociology
SS134 / PSYC101 - Introduction to Psychology
SS190 / ANTH100 - Introduction to Anthropology
SS210 / CHFD220 - Human Sexuality
SO220 / SOCI220 - American Popular Culture
Science - 4 semester hours including the required 1 hour lab
SC100 / SCIN100 - Introduction to Biology
SC198 / SCIN101 - Introduction to Biology Lab
SC101 / SCIN102 - Introduction to Chemistry
SC199 / SCIN103 - Introduction to Chemistry Lab
SC102 / SCIN104 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology
SC122 / SCIN105 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab
SC103 / SCIN106 - Introduction to Physics
SC123 / SCIN107 - Introduction to Physics Lab
SC104 / SCIN108 - Introduction to Astronomy
SC124 / SCIN109 - Introduction to Astronomy Lab
SC106 / SCIN110 - Introduction to Oceanography
SC126 / SCIN111 - Introduction to Oceanography Lab
SC107 / SCIN112 - Introduction to Meteorology
SC127 / SCIN113 - Introduction to Meteorology Lab
SC108 / SCIN114 - Introduction to Physical Geology
SC128 / SCIN115 - Introduction to Physical Geology Lab
SC105 / SCIN116 - Introduction to Forestry
SC125 / SCIN117 - Introduction to Forestry Lab
SC110 / SCIN118 - Introduction to Human Ecology
SC120 / SCIN119 - Introduction to Human Ecology Lab
Mathematics - 3 semester hours
MA112 / MATH110 - College Algebra
MA113 / MATH111 - College Trigonometry
MA125 / MATH125 - Math for Liberal Arts Majors
MA225 / MATH225 - Calculus
History - 6 semester hours
HS101 / HIST101 - American History to 1877
HS102 / HIST102 - American History since 1877
HS111 / HIST111 - World Civilization before 1650
HS112 / HIST112 - World Civilization since 1650
HS121 / HIST121 - Western Civilization before The Thirty Years War
HS122 / HIST122 - Western Civilization since The Thirty Years War
HS215 / HIST223 - History of the American Indian
HS217 / HIST221 - African-American History before 1877
HS218 / HIST222 - African-American History since 1877
Humanities - 3 semester hours
HM101/ SPAN100 - Spanish I
HM102 / SPAN101 - Spanish II [Prerequisite: HM101]
HM103 / FREN100 - French I
HM104 / FREN101 - French II [Prerequisite: HM103]
HM105 / ARAB100 - Arabic I
HM106 / ARAB101 - Arabic II [Prerequisite: HM105]
HM107 / RUSS100 - Russian I
HM108 / RUSS101 - Russian II [Prerequisite: HM107]
HM109 / CHIN100 - Chinese I (Mandarin)
HM110 / CHIN101 - Chinese II (Mandarin) [Prerequisite: HM109]
HM111 / GERM100 - German I
HM112 / GERM101 - German II [Prerequisite: HM111]
HM200 / MUSI200 - Music Appreciation
HM230 / RELS201 - Introduction to World Religions
HM240 / ARTH200 - Art Appreciation
HM277 / PHIL200 - Introduction to Ethics
PH101 / PHIL101 - Introduction to Philosophy
GM200 / COMM200 - Public Speaking
Literature - 3 semester hours
All literature courses require successful completion of EN101 - Proficiency in Writing or EN102 - Effectiveness in Writing
HM201 / LITR220 - American Literature before the Civil War
HM202 / LITR221 - American Literature from The Civil War to Present
HM221 / LITR210 - English Literature: Beowulf to 18th Century
HM222 / LITR211 - English Literature: 18th Century to Present
HM211 / LITR201 - World Literature through the Renaissance
HM212 / LITR202 - World Literature since the Renaissance
Political Science - 3 semester hours
SS121 / POLS210 - American Government I
SS131 / IRLS210 - International Relations I
Core Courses (27 semester hours)
RQ300 / COLL300 - Research, Analysis, and Writing
PH101 / PHIL101 - Introduction to Philosophy (Prerequisite for all Core Courses)
PH300 / PHIL300 - Logic
PH301 / PHIL301 - Ethical Theory and Concepts
PH308 / PHIL302 - Ancient Western Philosophy
PH309 / PHIL303 - Medieval Philosophy
PH400 / PHIL400 - Contemporary Issues in Philosophy
PH310 / PHIL415 - Enlightenment Philosophy
PH311 / PHIL416 - Modern and Post-Modern Philosophy
It is recommended, but not required, that the following be taken in sequence if scheduling allows:
PH308 / PHIL302 - Ancient Western Philosophy
PH309 / PHIL303 - Medieval Philosophy
PH310 / PHIL415 - Enlightenment Philosophy
PH311 / PHIL416 - Modern and Post-Modern Philosophy
Major Courses (15 semester hours)
A student enrolled in Philosophy must take five (5) courses from the following list.
CJ308 / CMRJ308 - Ethics in Criminal Justice
MC301 / MGMT314 - Management Ethics
MH352 / MILH304 - Readings in Military Philosophy
PH306 / HCM 361 - Moral Issues in Health Care
PH318 / PHIL310 - Studies in Chinese Thought
PH319 / PHIL311 - Studies in Japanese Thought
PH320 / PHIL320 - Environmental Ethics
PH404 / PHIL404 - Epistemology
PH410 / PHIL410 - God and World
RE411 / RELS411 - Religious Existentialism
Capstone Course (3 semester hours)
PH498 / PHIL498 - Senior Seminar in Philosophy Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all core and major courses prior to enrollment.
Electives (39 semester hours)
Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill core or major requirements. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.
