Bachelor of Arts, Major in Philosophy
Program Specific Requirements
The Philosophy Major requires 30 semester hours of course work in Philosophy.
Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts, Major in Philosophy | ||
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Component Area I (Communication) | 6 | |
| Component Area II (Mathematics) 1 | 3 | |
| Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) | 8 | |
| Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) 2 | 3 | |
| Component Area V (Creative Arts) | 3 | |
| Component Area VI (U.S. History) | 6 | |
| Component Area VII (Political Science/Government) | 6 | |
| Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) 3 | 3 | |
| Component Area IX (Component Area Option) | 4 | |
| Degree Specific Requirements | ||
| Foreign Language 4 | 14 | |
| Fine Arts (PHIL 3366 recommended) 5 | 3 | |
| Major: Foundation | ||
| PHIL 1301 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| or PHIL 2306 | Contemporary Moral Issues | |
| PHIL 2303 | Critical Thinking 3 | 3 |
| or PHIL 2352 | Introduction to Contemporary Logic | |
| PHIL 3364 | Ancient & Medieval Philosophy | 3 |
| or PHIL 3365 | Modern Philosophy | |
| or PHIL 3373 | American Philosophy | |
| Major: Required | ||
| PHIL Coursework 6 | 21 | |
| Electives: General | ||
| General Electives (PSYC 1301, World History, and World Literature recommended) 7 | 13 | |
| Minor: Required 8 | ||
| Minor (six hours must be advanced) | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
MATH 1332 is recommended.
- 2
Philosophy majors can satisfy this requirement by completing either PHIL 1301 or PHIL 2306, which will also count toward the required PHIL coursework.
- 3
PHIL 2303 satisfies both the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) and 3 hours toward the major.
- 4
Four Foreign Language courses in one language required.
- 5
Philosophy majors can satisfy this requirement by completing PHIL 3366, which will also count toward the required PHIL coursework.
- 6
These 21 hours are in addition to the 9 hours of required PHIL courses listed in the Major Core. Students may satisfy this requirement by completing any PHIL 3000-4000 level courses with grades of C or better.
- 7
All students are required to complete a minimum of 120 hours of course work to earn their B.A. in Philosophy. Students who count any combination of PHIL 1301,PHIL 2303, PHIL 2306, or PHIL 3366 toward both the required PHIL courses/hours and other degree requirements (see footnotes 2, 3, and 4) must complete additional elective hours to reach the required 120 hours of total coursework. Students are encouraged to use this increased flexibility to take additional courses that complement their plan of study,
- 8
The following minor cannot be paired with this degree program: Minor in Philosophy.
Notes
Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework.
Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.
Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.
Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.
It is suggested that students visit with their advisors in choosing a minor.
In addition to advanced PHIL hours, students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42-advanced-hour requirement.
As of Fall 2009, only grades of C or above in Philosophy Program courses (those with the prefix PHIL) will count toward the major in Philosophy.
Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Component Area II1 | 3 | Component Area VIII6 | 3 |
| Component Area IV2 | 3 | ENGL 13023 | 3 |
| ENGL 13013 | 3 | HSTY 13024 | 3 |
| HSTY 13014 | 3 | PHIL 2303 or 23526 | 3 |
| POLS 23055 | 3 | POLS 23065 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Component Area III | 4 | Component Area III | 4 |
| Component Area V | 3 | Component Area IX | 1 |
| PHIL 1301 or 2306 | 3 | Minor8 | 3 |
| WOLC 14117 | 4 | PHIL 3364, 3365, or 3373 | 3 |
| WOLC 14127 | 4 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Fine Arts (PHIL 3366 recommended)9 | 3 | Minor8 | 6 |
| General Electives 10,11 | 3 | PHIL Coursework12 | 6 |
| Minor8 | 3 | WOLC 23127 | 3 |
| PHIL Coursework12 | 3 | ||
| WOLC 23117 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| General Electives10,11 | 9 | Component Area IX | 3 |
| Minor: Advanced 8 | 3 | General Electives10,11 | 1 |
| PHIL Coursework12 | 3 | Minor: Advanced8 | 3 |
| PHIL Coursework 12 | 9 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Total Hours: 120 | |||
- 1
MATH 1332 is recommended
- 2
Philosophy majors can satisfy this requirement by completing either PHIL 1301 or PHIL 2306, which will also count toward the required PHIL coursework.
- 3
Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communications).
- 4
Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI (U.S. History).
- 5
Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VII (Political Science/Government).
- 6
PHIL 2303 satisfies both the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) and 3 hours toward the major.
- 7
Four courses required in one language.
- 8
The following minor cannot be paired with this degree program: Minor in Philosophy.
- 9
Philosophy majors can satisfy this requirement by completing PHIL 3366 which will also count toward the required PHIL coursework.
- 10
All students are required to complete a minimum of 120 hours of course work to earn their B.A. in Philosophy. Students who count any combination of PHIL 1301, PHIL 2303, PHIL 2306, or PHIL 3366 toward both the required PHIL courses/hours and other degree requirements (see footnotes 2, 6, and 7) must complete additional elective hours to reach the required 120 hours of total coursework. Students are encouraged to use this increased flexibility to take additional courses that complement their plan of study,
- 11
PSYC 1301, World History, and World Literature recommended.
- 12
These 21 hours are in addition to the 9 hours of required PHIL courses listed in the Major Core. Students may satisfy this requirement by completing any PHIL 3000-4000 level courses with grades of C or better.
Notes
Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework.
Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.
Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.
Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.
It is suggested that students visit with their advisors in choosing a minor.
In addition to advanced PHIL hours, students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42-advanced-hour requirement.
As of Fall 2009, only grades of C or above in Philosophy Program courses (those with the prefix PHIL) will count toward the major in Philosophy.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers. Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.
Students with a degree in Philosophy would graduate with the following skills:
- Complex information synthesis that strengthens discernment and understanding of conceptual and practical relations.
- Strong critical thinking abilities, including but not limited to: analytical reasoning, textual analysis, and the ability to envision more than one perspective on a given issue.
- Clear and coherent written and oral communication.
- Strong competency in the history of ideas that links human innovation to critical inflection points in historical development.
- The ability to think outside of the box, to imagine/envision new possibilities.
