Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts
College: College of Liberal Arts
Department: History, Philosophy, and Theology
Student Type: Traditional Undergraduate
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Campus: Lisle Campus
Requirements - Major
Students majoring in Philosophy must complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours of courses toward their major, with a grade of “C” or better. Of these 36 semester credit hours, these courses must include at least 30 semester credit hours of formally registered Philosophy courses, and may include up to 6 semester credit hours of department-approved courses. The latter refers to department-agreed substitutions for formally registered Philosophy courses from related academic fields. Of the formally registered philosophy courses, 18 semester credit hours must be at the 3000 level or above of which 6 semester credit hours must be at the 4000 level or above. Courses toward the Philosophy major must also include:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 1101 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| or PHIL 1120 | Greek Philosophy | |
| PHIL 2200 | Introduction to Logic | 3 |
| PHIL 2210 | Philosophy of Being | 3 |
| or PHIL 2255 | Existentialism | |
| PHIL 2225/3325 | Medieval Philosophy | 3 |
| or PHIL 2235/3335 | Modern Philosophy | |
| PHIL 2215/3315 | Theory of Knowledge | 3 |
| or PHIL 2230 | Analytic Philosophy | |
| or PHIL 3330 | Analytic Philosophy | |
| PHIL 3391 | Selected Topics | 3 |
| or PHIL 4491 | Selected Topics (Advanced) | |
| PHIL 4399 | Thesis | 6 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Feminist Philosophy | ||
| General Ethics | ||
| Biomedical Ethics | ||
| Business Ethics | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Social & Political Philosophy | ||
| 6 semester credit hours of department-approved courses | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
In addition, majors must complete either four semesters of a single language (other than English) or two semesters each of two different languages (other than English).
Philosophy as a Second Major
Philosophy majors are encouraged to combine their major with a second major in another academic field related to their particular philosophical interests, or to combine the Philosophy major with one or more academic minors, related to their particular interests in philosophy. Philosophy has always been an intrinsically interdisciplinary academic field. Philosophical reflection presupposes the knowledge of a wide variety of many different (academic and non-academic) fields and topics. It is this presupposed knowledge that provides the critical starting point for philosophical reflection. We wish to encourage our philosophy students to engage, as fully as they are capable, in this basic interdisciplinary, philosophical spirit.
Students in the Philosophy program will achieve the following student learning outcomes (SLO):
Student Learning Outcome 1: Identify and comprehend key ideas and arguments within classic philosophical texts.
• University SLO: 1. Disciplinary Competence and Skills; 2. Critical and Creative Thinking Skills
Student Learning Outcome 2: Critically analyze and evaluate key arguments within classic philosophical texts.
• University SLO: 1. Disciplinary Competence and Skills; 2. Critical and Creative Thinking Skills; 5. Analytical Skills
Student Learning Outcome 3: Support a philosophical claim with a well-reasoned argument.
• University SLO: 1. Disciplinary Competence and Skills; 2. Critical and Creative Thinking Skills; 3. Communication Skills
Student Learning Outcome 4: Demonstrate knowledge of important doctrines of distinguished philosophers, including their connections with the Catholic and Benedictine intellectual traditions.
• University SLO: 1. Disciplinary Competence and Skills; 2. Critical and Creative Thinking Skills; 9. Personal Development