Philosophy - BA, BS

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College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Communication Studies and Philosophy

About This Degree

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental human problems and questions, including existence, religion, reality, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. The philosophy program at Utah State is designed to provide students with an understanding of the origin and nature of philosophical issues, the development of these issues, the debates surrounding them, and their implications for various fields of study.

The philosophy program is a small, intimate program where students have the opportunity to pursue undergraduate research and receive individual mentoring from faculty. Through the program, students develop skills that allow them to generate ideas, solve problems, and communicate effectively.

The curriculum is designed to meet a wide variety of student interests and provide a rigorous foundation for students planning to further their education in law, medicine, or other graduate work. On average, philosophy majors outperform students in business, the sciences, and humanities on the MCAT, LSAT, and GMAT exams, which makes them excellent candidates for graduate and professional programs.

The preferred degree is the BA, in which students gain proficiency in one or more foreign languages in addition to regular coursework. If students wish to pursue a BS, they need to complete four extra science courses in addition to the regular course requirements for the major.

For more information about Philosophy, please see the Philosophy website.
Please make sure to consult regularly with your departmental advisor to confirm what courses will be available and to work out your plan of study.
Admitted and current students must meet with an academic advisor.
Log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
The highest math requirement for this degree is Quantitative Literacy (QL) course of the student’s choice.

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits: 120
Credits of C- or better: 100
Total credits taken at USU: 30
Credits of upper-division courses required for the major taken at USU: 10
Minimum Grade Point Average (many majors require a higher GPA): 2.0 GPA
Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above): 40
Upper-division credits taken at USU: 20
General Education Requirements
University Studies Requirements
Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Admission Requirements For This Program

New freshmen must be admitted to USU in Good Standing.
Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU must have a 2.50 GPA.

Additional Information

Several philosophy courses meet USU’s General Education and University Studies requirements:

• PHIL 1000 , PHIL 1120 , PHIL 1320 , or PHIL 2400 will fulfill the Breadth Humanities (BHU) requirement.

• PHIL 3010 or PHIL 3020 will fulfill the Communications Intensive (CI) requirement (two CIs must be taken).

• PHIL 2200 will fulfill the Quantitative Intensive (QI) requirement.

For example: a student who takes PHIL 1000 , PHIL 2200 , PHIL 3010 , PHIL 3020 , and PHIL 3820 has met the BHU, QI, CI, and DHA requirements.

Students must also be sure to meet the requirements for Communication Literacy (CL) , Quantitative Literacy (QL) , and for Breadth (BAI , BCA , BLS , BPS , and BSS ), as well as the Depth Social Sciences (DSS) and Depth Life/Physical Science (DSC) requirement. Students should meet with an advisor for further details.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Language Requirement

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

Philosophy Major Requirements (31 credits)

Total Credits: 31
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.
To receive a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, students must complete the foreign language requirement.

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)

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 - Healthcare 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)

Philosophy Capstone (1 credit)

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)

Related Programs

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

Open Electives

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. Please consult your Academic Advisor for details.

Total Credits: 120

Suggested Degree Map - Philosophy BA, BS

Philosophy BA, BS - 4 Year Degree Map