Mar 28, 2024  
2012-2013 General Catalog (Spring 2013) 
    
2012-2013 General Catalog (Spring 2013) ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.

Philosophy - BA


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College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Languages, Philosophy and Communication Studies

(33 credits) (2.5 GPA)

Students must complete the General Education Requirements :

  •   or   will fulfill the Humanities requirement in the Breadth requirements

Students must also complete the University Studies Depth Requirements :

  •   and   will fulfill the Communications Intensive (CI) requirement
  •  , if chosen for the major, will fulfill the Quantitative Intensive (QI) requirement
  • Complete at least 2 credits in approved 3000-level or above courses from each of the following two categories: Life and Physical Sciences (DSC) and Social Sciences (DSS).   will not satisfy this requirement, but   will.

 

All philosophy majors must complete 33 credits of philosophy. Up to 6 pass/fail credits in philosophy courses may be applied toward the philosophy major. The requirements are distributed as follows:

Bachelor of Arts Degree Language Requirement


Bachelor of Arts Degree

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree signifies proficiency in one or more foreign languages. Specifically, the BA requirement may be completed in one of the following ways:

  1. Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020-level or higher (or its equivalent).
    Or
  2. Demonstration of proficiency in American Sign Language by successful completion of COMD 4920  and COMD 4780 , and by passing an exit interview.
    Or
  3. Demonstration of proficiency in two foreign languages by successful completion of the 1020 course level in one language and the 2010 course level in the second language (or its equivalent).
    Or
  4. Completion of an upper-division (3000-level or higher) foreign language grammar or literature course requiring the 2020 course level (or its equivalent) as a prerequisite. Conversation courses cannot be considered for satisfying this requirement.

For nonnative English-speaking students only, the following options are available:

  1. Successful completion of the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) program for international students.
    Or
  2. TOEFL, Michigan, or IELI placement scores high enough to meet the University admission criteria.

Philosophy Major and Minor Requirements


Minimum Departmental Requirements


 Total Credits: 

 

Philosophy Major - BA

33

 

Philosophy Major – BA Concentration in Ethics

33

 

Philosophy Major - BS

33

 

Philosophy Major – BS Concentration in Ethics

33

 

Philosophy Minor

18

  

Grade Point Average to Declare a Major or Minor

2.5 Career GPA

Grade Point Average to Graduate with Major or Minor

2.5 GPA within Major/Minor Classes

A minimum of 50 percent of major credits must be earned at USU. 

 

 

Notes

Courses for Philosophy Majors and Minors require a minimum grade of C- or better.

Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree additional requirements include two years of language, or same as University Requirement. The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in philosophy can be awarded to philosophy majors who have taken 12 credits in math or science beyond the University Studies Requirements, as approved by an advisor.

A Philosophy DSC course will not satisfy the DSC (Depth Life and Physical Sciences) General Education requirement for a Philosophy Major. But if ADVS 3200  is taken (a DSC attribute course) it will fulfill the DSC requirement and will also fulfill a Philosophy elective.

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy Major (33 credits) (2.5 GPA)


Course Requirements


C. Philosophy Senior Project Options (3 credits)


 I.  “Thesis” Option:  After completing at least 24 credits toward the Philosophy major, the student will enroll in PHIL 4910  (3 credits) with a faculty member and write an essay (around 20 pages); suitable for publication in an undergraduate journal on an agreed-upon topic.

II.  “Synthesis” Option:  After completing at least 24 credits toward the Philosophy major, the student will enroll in PHIL 4910  (3 credits) with a faculty member and undertake a project which in some way documents or expresses the relevance of their philosophical studies to an important issue of contemporary life, or to their personal development.  Students must work out in advance the details of the project, including grading criteria, with a faculty member.

III.  “Extra Class” Option:  The student will complete an additional 3000 or 4000-level class (not 4910).

D. Language Requirement


 To receive a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, students must also complete the foreign language requirement. 

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with Concentration in Ethics (33 credits) (2.5 GPA)


All philosophy majors must complete 30 credits of philosophy. Up to 6 pass/fail credits in philosophy courses may be applied toward the philosophy major. The requirements are distributed as follows:

B. Elective Courses (9 credits)


Choose three other philosophy courses not already taken above, two of which must be at the upper-division level (3000 or higher). (See list of elective courses for Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, shown in previous elective courses listing.)

C. Philosophy Senior Project Options (3 credits)


 I.  “Thesis” Option:  After completing at least 24 credits toward the Philosophy major, the student will enroll inPHIL 4910  (3 credits) with a faculty member and write an essay (around 20 pages); suitable for publication in an undergraduate journal on an agreed-upon topic.

II.  “Synthesis” Option:  After completing at least 24 credits toward the Philosophy major, the student will enroll in PHIL 4910  (3 credits) with a faculty member and undertake a project which in some way documents or expresses the relevance of their philosophical studies to an important issue of contemporary life, or to their personal development.  Students must work out in advance the details of the project, including grading criteria, with a faculty member.

III.  “Extra Class” Option:  The student will complete an additional 3000 or 4000-level class (not 4910).

D. Language Requirement


To receive a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, students must also complete the foreign language requirement.

Minimum University Requirements


Total Credits

120

Grade Point Average (most majors require higher GPA)

2.00 GPA

Credits of C- or better

100

Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above)

40

USU Credits (30 USU credits, 20 of which must be upper-division courses, 10 of which must be courses required for student’s major)

30 USU credits

Completion of approved major program of study

See college advisor

Credits in minor (if required)

12

Credits in American Institutions (ECN 1500 ;HIST 1700 , HIST 2700  or HIST 2710 ; HONR 1300 POLS 1100 ; or USU 1300 

3

General Education Requirements  and University Studies Depth Requirements 

 

 

 

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