Philosophy Major

Requires 30 credit hours. See the Undergraduate Catalog or the Philosophy Major Study Plan for more details or contact us via email at [email protected]

Requirements for Major and Minor Programs

In an era when many majors are inflated because of the influence of careerism, specialization, and external accrediting agencies, the credit hour requirements for the philosophy major are a modest 30. This is because we take seriously the value of electives in the student's college program, the value of exploring and discovering one's real interests. The number of required hours in philosophy is also modest because we wish to encourage students to discover the importance of relating philosophy to other fields through double majors, minors, and clusters of elective courses indicating developed proficiencies.

All of the above emphasizes the importance of the advising relationship. In order to facilitate this relationship, the philosophy major requires a study plan through which the student's work can be consciously developed and articulated. A first draft of the study plan must be completed with the advisor by the beginning of the junior year, revised each successive semester, and completed in the capstone course.

Students majoring in philosophy must complete a minimum of 30 hours in the department, including PHI 103, 495 and 4 of the 5 history of philosophy courses (311, 312, 313, 314, 315) and one course in non-Western philosophy. Students majoring in philosophy are required to complete the B.A. degree program. 

Students seeking a minor in philosophy are invited to devise an appropriate program suitable to their interests. It must include a minimum of 18 credit hours of philosophy, at least 6 hours of which must be upper-division, with 3 hours being at the 400 level.

Courses numbered 311, 312, 313, 314, 315 and 380 may be repeated for credit when, as is usual, their content varies. Each philosophy course is designed to benefit students who, whatever their fields of concentration, are reasonably prepared and interested in its topic.
 

Philosophy Minor

There are over 100 students currently minoring in Philosophy.

A philosophy minor requires only 18 credits of philosophy (6 courses), with at least 6 credits (2 courses) being upper-level courses; 3 of these credits (1 course) must be a 400 level course. Students may choose which Philosophy( PHIxxx) courses to take within this framework.

A student minoring in Philosophy can meet with a Philosophy advisor if they so choose but are not required to do so. (If a student would like to meet with an advisor, they may seek out one of their current Philosophy professors or email the department requesting to meet with an advisor. The email address is [email protected]

A Practical Ethics Minor is now available to students in several emphasis areas. Choosing one of these minors will add a complementary credential to students in any GV major program by providing them with a thorough grounding in philosophical thinking about ethics and value.  Students can choose courses tailored to their specific area of study. To learn more follow this link: Practical Ethics Minor