Major in Philosophy

The Philosophy major requires completion of 36 units within a chosen course of study.¹  The standard philosophy major requires study in the history of philosophy, non-western philosophy, theoretical philosophy, logic, and ethics.  

Alternatively, students can pursue a course of study that emphasizes social justice.  This optional track retains requirements in logic, history, and non-western philosophy, expands requirements in ethics and social/political philosophy, and includes an interdisciplinary component.

Standard Philosophy Major

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Section A: Required Courses
PHIL 101	INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY	3
PHIL 111	INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC	3
Section B: Required Courses
Select three of the following:		9
PHIL 221	ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 312	PLATO AND HIS PREDECESSORS
PHIL 313	ARISTOTLE AND HIS SUCCESSORS
PHIL 325	TWENTIETH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 328	EARLY MODERN PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 329	LATE MODERN PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 333	ANALYTIC PHILOSOPHY
Section C: Required Courses
Select one of the following:		3
PHIL 301	PHILOSOPHIES OF INDIA
PHIL 302	PHILOSOPHIES OF CHINA & JAPAN
PHIL 327	AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY
Section D: Required Courses
Select two of the following:		6
PHIL 201	SOCIAL & POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 204	RACE, CLASS AND GENDER
PHIL 205	MASTERS OF SUSPICION: MARX, NIETZSCHE, FREUD
PHIL 255	ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
PHIL 260	PHILOSOPHY OF THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
PHIL 332	FEMINIST PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 340	PLATO'S ETHICS
PHIL 341	ETHICS
PHIL 342	WHAT MAKES US MORAL
PHIL 361	BIOMEDICAL ETHICS
Section E: Required Courses
Select two of the following:		6
PHIL 309	NIETZSCHE
PHIL 315	MIND AND CONSCIOUSNESS
PHIL 320	PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
PHIL 321	PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
PHIL 326	AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 330	PHILOSOPHY AND FILM
PHIL 339	THEORIES OF KNOWLEDGE
PHIL 343	AESTHETICS
PHIL 353	PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
PHIL 380	PHILOSOPHICAL TOPICS
Section F: Electives
Select two of the following:		6
PHIL 417	EXISTENTIALISM
PHIL 427	KANT
PHIL 440	PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEMS
PHIL 460	WRITNG SEMINAR IN PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES
PHIL 470	PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEMS
PHIL 495	RESEARCH TUTORIAL IN PHILOSOPHY
Total Units		36

Philosophy and Social Justice Track

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Section A: Required Courses
PHIL 111	INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC	3
PHIL 201	SOCIAL & POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY	3
PHIL 204	RACE, CLASS AND GENDER	3
One of the following courses:		3
PHIL 440	PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEMS
PHIL 460	WRITNG SEMINAR IN PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES
PHIL 470	PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEMS
PHIL 495	RESEARCH TUTORIAL IN PHILOSOPHY 2
Section B: Select two of the following		6
PHIL 221	ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHY
or PHIL 312	PLATO AND HIS PREDECESSORS
or PHIL 313	ARISTOTLE AND HIS SUCCESSORS
PHIL 328	EARLY MODERN PHILOSOPHY
or PHIL 329	LATE MODERN PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 325	TWENTIETH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY
or PHIL 333	ANALYTIC PHILOSOPHY
Section C: Select one of the following		3
PHIL 301	PHILOSOPHIES OF INDIA
PHIL 302	PHILOSOPHIES OF CHINA & JAPAN
PHIL 327	AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY
Section D: Select three of the following		9
PHIL 255	ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
PHIL 260	PHILOSOPHY OF THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
PHIL 321	PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
PHIL 332	FEMINIST PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 341	ETHICS
PHIL 361	BIOMEDICAL ETHICS
PHIL 371	BUSINESS ETHICS
PHIL 380	PHILOSOPHICAL TOPICS (on a topic related to social justice)
PHIL 497	PHILOSOPHY INTERNSHIP
Section E: Select two of the following		6
ANTH 321	ANTHROPOLOGY OF GENDER
ANTH 346	WEALTH, POWER AND POLITICS IN CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE
CRMJ 317	JUSTICE AND CRIME
CRMJ 333	RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
CRMJ 345	RACE, CRIME, AND JUSTICE
CRMJ 360	CRITICAL CRIMINOLOGY
ECON 303	AMERICAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECON 334	ECONOMICS OF POVERTY AND DISCRIMINATION
ECON 375	ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
ECON 376	NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS
FMST 250	INTRODUCTION TO THE NONPROFIT SECTOR
GEOG 410	ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY
GEOG 419	CLIMATE CHANGE: SCIENCE TO POLICY
HIST 328	THE MAKING OF COLONIAL AFRICA (C. 1884-1994)
POSC 209	INTRODUCTION TO LAW
POSC 340	COMPARATIVE PUBLIC POLICY
POSC 343	AFRICAN-AMERICAN POLITICS
POSC 344	RACE AND AMERICAN POLITICS
POSC 418	CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND POLITICS
RLST 305	FAITH PERSPECTIVES IN MEDICAL ETHICS
RLST 310	JEWISH LAW AND ETHICS
RLST 313	ISLAMIC ETHICS
RLST 367	ISLAM IN THE MODERN AGE
SOCI 243	SOCIOLOGY OF RACE, CLASS AND GENDER
SOCI 323	SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
SOCI 341	CLASS, STATUS AND POWER
WMST 231	WOMEN IN PERSPECTIVE
WMST 233	INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES OF WOMEN
Any 300-400 level WMST course can also be used to satisfy this requirement.
Total Units		36

Departmental Honors Program

The Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies offers a departmental honors program for students who demonstrate exemplary abilities in philosophy. Students pursuing this option are required to complete PHIL 498 with a minimum grade of A-. Completion of  PHIL 498 requires students to produce and defend a 15-20 page paper presenting substantial research in philosophy.

Applicants for departmental honors must have earned 75 units with a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA, including 18 units in Philosophy courses. In addition, applicants must find a faculty adviser to guide the thesis research and evaluate the final paper and thesis defense. Departmental honors will be posted to the transcript shortly after the bachelor’s degree is conferred.

To apply for departmental honors, students must complete an application with the department. Students who wish to take PHIL 498 in the Fall term should apply during the previous spring by March 1st.  Students who wish to take PHIL 498 in the Spring term should apply during the previous Fall by Oct. 1st. 

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Required Coursework for Departmental Honors In Philosophy
PHIL 498	HONORS THESIS RESEARCH 3	3

¹

At least 18 units must be upper-level courses.

²

If PHIL 495 is used to satisfy this requirement, it must be a topic related to social justice.

³

PHIL 498 does not count towards the Philosophy major requirements. Students pursuing departmental honors will be required to take 39 units rather than 36.

Standard Philosophy Major Sample Four-Year Plan

The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course schedules, student needs, and student choice, individual plans may vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.

Philosophy and Social Justice Track Sample Four-Year Plan

The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course schedules, student needs, and student choice, individual plans may vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.

Freshman
Term 1	Units	Term 2	Units
PHIL 101	3	PHIL 111	3
Core 1 (or Core 2)	3	Core 2 (or Core 1)	3
Core 3	3	Core 8	4
Core 6	3	Core 10	3
Core 7	4	Core 11	3
	16		16
Sophomore
Term 1	Units	Term 2	Units
PHIL 204	3	One course from Section B	3
One course from Section B	3	One course from Section D	3
Core 5	3	Core 13	3
Core 9	3	Core 14	3
Core 12	3	Elective	3
	15		15
Junior
Term 1	Units	Term 2	Units
One course from Section C	3	One course from Section D	3
One course from Section D	3	One course from Section E	3
Core 4	3	Elective	3
Elective	3	Elective	3
Elective	3	Elective	3
	15		15
Senior
Term 1	Units	Term 2	Units
One course from Section E	3	PHIL 440, 460, 470, or 495	3
Elective	3	Elective	3
Elective	3	Elective	3
Elective	3	Elective	3
Elective	3	Elective	1
	15		13
Total Units 120

1. Philosophically explain and discuss theories and concepts of the major thinkers of schools in Western philosophy.
2. Philosophically explain and discuss culturally diverse philosophical traditions.
3. Engage in a philosophical discussion of social and/or political and/or moral issues.
4. Think philosophically, i.e., to analyze, articulate, synthesize, and/or creatively develop arguments, concepts and theories.
5. Practice inductive and deductive reasoning, the composition of argument and demonstration, and the detection of formal and informal fallacies.