Philosophy Minor

Goal 1: Students will develop the skills of identifying, analyzing, evaluating, and constructing philosophical arguments

Outcome 1.1: Students will be able to recognize arguments that appear in written texts by identifying philosophical conclusions and the premises that support them

Outcome 1.2: Students will be able to evaluate the premises of arguments

Outcome 1.3: Students will be able to construct arguments in order to express philosophical ideas both orally and in writing

Goal 2: Students will demonstrate knowledge of logic (at a level appropriate for undergraduate majors)

Outcome 2.1: Students will recognize basic deductive and inductive argument forms as well as different types of informal fallacies

Outcome 2.2: Students will be able to apply basic logical concepts, such as validity and soundness and strength and cogency, in their evaluation of arguments

Goal 3: Students will gain an appreciation for the history of philosophy, including major figures and texts

Outcome 3.1: Students will be able to explain (in writing, or through oral communication, or on examinations) some of the main ideas, problems, theories, methodologies, or schools of thought from the ancient or medieval periods of Western philosophy

Outcome 3.2: Students should be able to explain (in writing, or through oral communication, or on examinations) some of the ideas, problems, theories, methodologies, or schools of thought from the modern or contemporary periods of Western philosophy

Goal 4: Students will display, at a level appropriate for undergraduate majors, the skills required for engaging in philosophy as a specialized academic discipline

Outcome 4.1: Students will successfully complete an advanced, seminar-style class which features the construction and evaluation of arguments for specific philosophic positions and a focused examination of a particular philosophical problem(s), area, or text

Outcome 4.2: Students will complete a final paper or research project, typically in the context of completing an advanced, seminar-style class

Students seeking to complete a minor in philosophy must take the two philosophy courses required in the GEP:

We recommend that philosophy minors take a philosophy course to satisfy the GEP Faith and Reason signature course area, as well as one to satisfy the Ethics Intensive overlay.