Bachelor of Arts, Major in Philosophy
Program Specific Requirements
The Philosophy Major requires 30 semester hours of course work in Philosophy. All majors are required to take:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| PHIL 2303 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| or PHIL 2352 | Introduction to Contemporary Logic | |
| PHIL 3364 | Ancient & Medieval Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 3365 | Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| 21 hours of PHIL electives | 21 | |
| Approved Minor (6 of which must be advanced) | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 48 | |
It is suggested that students visit with their advisors in choosing a minor.
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.
Note: In addition to advanced PHIL hours, students should use elective and/or minor hours to satisfy the 42-advanced-hour requirement.
| 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) | 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 | |
| Component Area IX (Component Area Option) | 4 | |
| Degree Specific Requirements | ||
| Foreign Language first two courses | 8 | |
| Foreign Language second two courses | 6 | |
| Three additional hours of Fine Arts credit (PHIL 3366 recommended) | 3 | |
| PHIL 1301 | Introduction to Philosophy 2 | 3 |
| PHIL 2306 | Contemporary Moral Issues 3 | 3 |
| Major Core | ||
| PHIL 2303 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| or PHIL 2352 | Introduction to Contemporary Logic | |
| PHIL 3364 | Ancient & Medieval Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 3365 | Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| Major | ||
| Philosophy electives | 12 | |
| Minor (required) | 18 | |
| Electives (PSYC 1301, World History, and World Literature recommended) | 25 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
| 1 | MATH 1332 is recommended |
| 2 | PHIL 1301 satisfies both the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) and 3 hours toward the major. |
| 3 | PHIL 2306 satisfies both the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) and 3 hours toward the major. |
| 4 | PHIL 2303 satisfies both the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) and 3 hours toward the major. |
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Component Area II1 | 3 | ENGL 13022 | 3 |
| ENGL 13012 | 3 | HIST 13023 | 3 |
| HIST 13013 | 3 | PHIL 23036 | 3 |
| PHIL 13014 | 3 | PHIL 23067 | 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 3364 | 3 | Minor | 3 |
| WOLC 14118 | 4 | PHIL 3365 | 3 |
| WOLC 14128 | 4 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Minor | 3 | Minor | 6 |
| PHIL Elective | 3 | PHIL Elective | 3 |
| PHIL 3366 | 3 | WOLC 23118 | 3 |
| WOLC 23128 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Electives | 9 | Electives | 10 |
| Minor: Advanced course | 3 | Minor: Advanced course | 3 |
| PHIL Elective | 3 | PHIL Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Total Hours: 120 | |||
| 1 | MATH 1332 is recommended |
| 2 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communications). |
| 3 | Satisfies Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI (U.S. History). |
| 4 | PHIL 1301 satisfies both the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) and 3 hours toward the major. |
| 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 | PHIL 2306 satisfies both the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) and 3 hours toward the major. |
| 8 | Four courses required in one language. |
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,
- A well-developed capacity for synthesizing information.
- Strong critical thinking abilities.
- The ability to communicate ideas in a clear and coherent way, in both written and oral mediums.
- A well-developed capacity to understand diverse perspectives.
