Calendar of Events

Philosophy and Critical Thought

  • Major
  • Minor
  • BA

Academic Requirements

Effective for students entering Fall 2023, Philosophy’s title has changed to Philosophy and Critical Thought. 

In addition to completing  General Education requirements and other degree requirements,  all Philosophy and Critical Thought majors must complete a minimum of nine courses in philosophy, (40 credits) plus an 8-credit senior project:

  • PHI 1515/Ancient Greek Philosophy: Philosophy of the Polis 4 credits
  • PHI 2110/Modern European Philosophy: Descartes to Kant 4 credits
  • PHI —/One elective in the history of philosophy from below: 4 credits
      • LBS3024/Theories of Justice
      • PHI1530/Ideas of Good and Evil
      • PHI1610/Reorienting Asian Thought
      • PHI2060/Existentialism 
      • PHI2400/Introduction to Asian Thought
      • PHI2430/Classical Buddhist Philosophy
      • PHI3211/Enlightenment and Revolution
      • PHI3212/Realizing Freedom and Equality: From Hegel to Nietzsche
      • PHI3360/Responsibility and Judgement: Postwar European Philosophy
      • PHI3365/Democracy and its Discontents
      • PHI3592/ Phenomenology and Embodiment
      • PHI3595/From Phenomenology and Embodiment 
      • PHI4170/Consciousness
  • PHI —/One seminar on a major figure (typically Plato, Kant, Hegel, or Heidegger/Arendt) or issue from below: 4 credits (Upper level)
      • PHI4100/Plato Seminar
      • PHI4110/Aristotle
      • PHI4120/Heidegger/Arendt Seminar
      • PHI4130/James and Dewey Seminar
      • PHI4150/Nietzsche Seminar
      • PHI4160/Crimes and Punishments: Foucault/Arendt Seminar
      • PHI4200/Kant Seminar
      • PHI4250/Kant/Hegel Seminar
      • PHI4310/Hegel Seminar
  • At least two additional philosophy courses*  8 credits (minimum 4 credits must be upper level)
    *Strongly recommended courses include:
    • PHI 2120/Methods of Reasoning: 4 credits
    • PHI —/One additional elective on a major figure or issue: 4 credits
  • PHI 3899/Junior Seminar: 4 credits
  • PHI 4860/Senior Colloquium: 2 credits*
  • PHI 4890/Senior Seminar: 2 credits
  • SPJ 4990/Senior Project I: 4 credits
  • SPJ 4991/Senior Project II: 4 credits

*Effective Spring 2024, PHI4860/Senior Colloquium is changing from 1 to 2 credits.

Additional notes:

  • No more than two courses at the 1000 level may be counted towards the major.
  • The sequence and selection of courses is to be made in consultation with a philosophy faculty member chosen by the student to serve as a major advisor.
  • The topic of the senior project is to be developed in conjunction with the junior seminar and in consultation with the advisor, who will normally be the project supervisor.
  • At the time of graduation, a student must have a minimum 2.0 (C) GPA for courses, excluding the senior project, within the philosophy program.
  • It is recommended that students take one year of college-level foreign language courses (6–8 credits).