Philosophy - BA, BS

Philosophy Major Requirements (31 credits)

• Total Credits: 31
• Grade Point Average to declare Philosophy Major: 2.5 Overall GPA
• Grade Point Average to graduate with Philosophy Major: 2.5 GPA within major coursework
• Credits in Residence: At least half (50 percent) of the credits earned for these degrees must be completed in upper-division USU courses offered by the Department of Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies. All other credits (including transfer and study abroad credits) must be approved by the Philosophy faculty in order to be counted towards these degrees.​
• Minimum Grade Requirement: All courses taken for the major require a minimum grade of C- or better. Up to 6 pass/fail credits in philosophy courses may be applied toward the Philosophy major.
• A Minor, Double Major, or Certificate completion is required in addition to major requirements.

A. Required Courses (15 credits)

• PHIL 1120 - Social Ethics (BHU) 3 credit(s) or
• PHIL 2400 - Ethics (BHU) 3 credit(s)

• Or an upper division ethics course:

  PHIL 3500 , PHIL 3520 , PHIL 3530 , PHIL 3580 , or PHIL 4500  

   

• PHIL 1250 - Practical Logic (BHU) 3 credit(s) or
• PHIL 2200 - Deductive Logic (QI) 3 credit(s)

•  

• PHIL 3010 - Survey of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy (CI) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 3020 - Survey of Modern Philosophy (CI) 3 credit(s)

•  

• PHIL 4300 - Epistemology (DHA) 3 credit(s) or
• PHIL 4310 - Philosophy of Science (DHA) 3 credit(s) or
• PHIL 4400 - Metaphysics 3 credit(s) or
• PHIL 4410 - Philosophy of Mind (DHA) 3 credit(s)

Philosophy Capstone

The following 1 credit Capstone Portfolio course is required and should be taken in a student’s senior year. 

• PHIL 4990 - Philosophy Capstone Portfolio 1 credit(s)

B. Elective Courses (15 credits)

Choose five additional philosophy courses not already taken above. Four of the courses must be at the upper-division level (3000 or higher).

• PHIL 1000 - Introduction to Philosophy (BHU) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 1120 - Social Ethics (BHU) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 1250 - Practical Logic (BHU) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 1320 - The Good Life (BHU) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 1500 - The Examined College Life: Education and Its Ends (BHU) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 2200 - Deductive Logic (QI) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 2400 - Ethics (BHU) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 2600 - Introduction to Philosophy of Religions (BHU) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 2988 - Special Problems 1-3 credit(s)
• PHIL 3010 - Survey of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy (CI) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 3020 - Survey of Modern Philosophy (CI) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 3500 - Medical Ethics (DHA) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 3520 - Business Ethics (DHA) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 3530 - Environmental Ethics (DHA) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 3550 - Philosophy in the Public Square 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 3580 - Ethics and Economic Life (DHA) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 3600 - Philosophy of Religion (DHA) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 3700 - Political Philosophy (DHA) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 3710 - Philosophies of East Asia 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 3720 - Philosophical Theology 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 3800 - Philosophy in Literature (DHA) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 3810 - Philosophy of Art (DHA) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 3820 - Theories of Sex and Gender (DHA) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 3990 - Philosophy and Pop Culture (DHA) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 4250 - Tolkien and Lewis on Myth and Truth 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 4300 - Epistemology (DHA) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 4310 - Philosophy of Science (DHA) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 4400 - Metaphysics 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 4410 - Philosophy of Mind (DHA) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 4500 - Virtue Ethics (DHA) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 4530 - Ethics and Biotechnology (DSC) 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 4600 - Philosophy of Law 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 4900 - Philosophy Seminar 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 4910 - Readings and Research 1-4 credit(s) (This course cannot count more than twice toward major or minor.)
• PHIL 4950 - Senior Thesis in Philosophy 3 credit(s)
• PHIL 4990 - Philosophy Capstone Portfolio 1 credit(s)

D. Bachelor of Arts Requirement

To receive a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, students must complete the foreign language requirement. See Bachelor of Arts requirements shown below.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Language Requirement

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:

• Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020-level or higher (or its equivalent).
  OR
• Demonstration of proficiency in American Sign Language by successful completion of COMD 4920  and COMD 4780 , and by passing an exit interview.
  OR
• 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
• 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:

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

Related Programs

• Philosophy Major
• Ethics Concentration BA/BS: 31 credits
• Philosophy Minor: 15 credits