Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

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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

RQ295 / COL 100 Foundations of Online Learning (fomerly Academic and Career Planning) (3 semester hours) - Required as the first course in all undergraduate programs.

General Education Requirements (34 semester hours)
English Composition - 6 semester hours
EN101 / ENG 101 - Proficiency in Writing (Required)
EN102 / ENG 102 - Effectiveness in Writing or
EN202 / ENG 200 - English Composition and Literature

Social Sciences - 6 semester hours
SS101 / ECO 101 - Microeconomics
SS102 / ECO 102 - Macroeconomics
SS111 / GEO 101 - Introduction to Geography
SS133 / SOC 111 - Introduction to Sociology
SS134 / PSY 101 - Introduction to Psychology 
SS190 / ANT 100 - Introduction to Anthropology
SS210 / CFD 220 - Human Sexuality  
SO220 / SOC 220 - American Popular Culture

Science - 4 semester hours including required 1 hour labs
SC100 / SCI 100 - Introduction to Biology
SC198 / SCI 100 L - Introduction to Biology Lab
SC101 / SCI 110 - Introduction to Chemistry
SC199 / SCI 110 L - Introduction to Chemistry Lab   
SC102 / SCI 102 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology 
SC122 / SCI 102 L - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab
SC103 / SCI 103 - Introduction to Physics 
SC123 / SCI 103 L - Introduction to Physics Lab
SC104 / SCI 104 - Introduction to Astronomy
SC124 / SCI 104 L - Introduction to Astronomy Lab
SC106 / SCI 106 - Introduction to Oceanography 
SC126 / SCI 106 L - Introduction to Oceanography Lab
SC107 / SCI 107 - Introduction to Meteorology
SC127 / SCI 107 L - Introduction to Meteorology Lab

Mathematics - 3 semester hours
MA110 / MA112 / MAT 110 - Introduction to College Algebra and Trigonometry / College Algebra, or
MA111 / MA113 / MAT 111 College Algebra and Trigonometry / College Trigonometry, or
MA125 / MAT 125 - Math for Liberal Arts Majors, or
MA225 / MAT 225 - Calculus

History - 6 semester hours
HS101 / HIS101 - American History to 1877
HS102 / HIS 102 - American History since 1877
HS111 / HIS 111 - World Civilization I
HS112 / HIS 112 - World Civilization II
HS121 / HIS 121 - Western Civilization Before The Thirty Years War
HS122 / HIS 122 - Western Civilization Since Thirty Years War
HS215 / HIS 223 - History of the American Indian
HS217 / HIS 221 - African-American History before 1877
HS218 / HIS 222 - African-American History since 1877

Humanities - 3 semester hours
HM101 / SPA 100 - Spanish I 
HM102 / SPA 101 - Spanish II (Prerequisite: HM101) - or other foreign language
HM200 / MUS 200 - Music Appreciation
HM230 / REL 201 - Introduction to World Religions  
HM240 / ART 200 - Art Appreciation  
HM277 / PHI 200 - Introduction to Ethics
PH101 / PHI 101 - Introduction to Philosophy

Literature - 3 semester hours
HM201 / LIT 220 - American Literature before the Civil War
HM202 / LIT 221 - American Literature from Civil War to Present
HM221 / LIT 210 - English Literature: Beowulf to 18th Century
HM222 / LIT 211 - English Literature: 18th Century to Present
HM211 / LIT 201 - World Lit through the Renaissance
HM212 / LIT 202 - World Lit since the Renaissance

Political Science - 3 semester hours
SS121 / POL 210 - American Government I
SS131 / INR 210 - International Relations
 

Core Courses (27 semester hours) 
RQ300 / COL 300 - Research, Analysis, and Writing
PH101 / PHI 101 - Introduction to Philosophy (Prerequisite for all Core Courses)
PH300 / PHI 300 - Logic
PH301 / PHI 301 - Ethical Theory and Concepts
PH302 / PH308 / PHI 302 - Foundations of Western Thought I / Ancient Western Philosophy
PH303 / PH309 / PHI 303 - Foundations of Western Thought II / Medieval Philosophy
PH400 / PHI 400 - Contemporary Issues in Philosophy
PH304 / PH310 / PHI 415 - Foundations of Western Thought III / Enlightenment Philosophy
PH311 / PHI 416 -  Modern and Post-Modern Philosophy 
 
It is recommended, but not required, that the following be taken in sequence if scheduling allows:
PH302  / PH308 / PHI 302 - Foundations of Western Thought I / Ancient Western Philosophy /
PH303 / PH309 / PHI 303- Foundations of Western Thought II / Medieval Philosophy
PH304 / PH310 / PHI 415 - Foundations of Western Thought III / Enlightenment Philosophy
PH311 / PHI 416 -  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 / CRJ 308 - Ethics in Criminal Justice
MC301 / MGT 314 - Management Ethics
MH352 / MLH 304 - Readings in Military Philosophy
PH306 / HCM 361 - Moral Issues in Health Care
PH318 / PHI 310 - Studies in Chinese Thought
PH319 / PHI 311 - Studies in Japanese Thought
PH320 / PHI 320 - Environmental Ethics
PH404 / PHI 404 - Epistemology
PH410 / PHI 410 - God and World
RE411 / REL 411 - Religious Existentialism 

Capstone Course (3 semester hours)
PH498 / PHI 498 - 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.

Total = 121 semester hours


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