Philosophy Major
Majoring in philosophy is a time-honored way of gaining a liberal arts education, i.e., an education fitting for a person who would be free. Philosophy majors at Saint Joseph’s University will have an opportunity to read some of the most profound and challenging works ever written. In the classroom they will partake in lively discussions of life-changing ideas. Majors will develop their capacity to think clearly and creatively, to argue logically and express their thoughts persuasively, to criticize rationally and converse openly, to uncover assumptions and recognize implications and to raise those important questions that are often overlooked.
As a deliberately pluralistic department possessing expertise across a broad range of philosophical traditions and methods, we are able to offer courses across all major historical periods (i.e., ancient, medieval, modern, contemporary) and areas of field specialization (e.g., epistemology, metaphysics, language, religion, ethics, and social and political philosophy). Majors are challenged to grapple with perennial philosophical problems (e.g., free will, skepticism, objectivity, the nature and existence of God) and are introduced to methods of inquiry that allow for the development and appropriation of philosophical modes of thinking, speaking, and writing. An active Undergraduate Philosophy Society provides a forum for gathering with other students also genuinely interested in philosophy, and provides an excellent opportunity for student-faculty dialogue outside the classroom.
Goal 1: Students will understand arguments in philosophy
Outcome 1.1: Students will be able to assess and construct arguments in philosophy
Goal 2: Students will demonstrate knowledge of logic
Outcome 2.1: Students will be able to assess arguments by applying basic logical concepts, such as validity, soundness, strength, and cogency
Goal 3: Students will be able to assess arguments by applying basic logical concepts, such as validity, soundness, strength, and cogency
Outcome 3.1: Students will be able to critically evaluate some of the main ideas, problems, theories, or schools of thought from the main periods of Western philosophy
Goal 4: Students will learn the skills required for engaging in philosophy as a specialized academic discipline
Outcome 4.1: Students will write an advanced research paper or project that (1) analyzes a particular philosophical problem, area, or text; and (2) generates a specialized discussion of that problem, area, or text
The traditional undergraduate programs includes a minimum of 120 credits distributed across three components: A General Education component divided into Signature Courses, Variable Courses, and an Integrative Learning requirement; a Major and Divisional component; and Free Electives. In addition to course requirements as specified in each area, students must complete one certified course in each of the following overlay areas1:
- Diversity, Globalization or Non-western Area Studies,
- Ethics Intensive
- Writing Intensive, and
- Diversity
- 1
Overlay requirements are part of the 120 credit requirements
General Education Signature Courses
See this page about Signature courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHL 154 | Moral Foundations | 3 |
| THE 154 | Catholic Theological Tradition | 3 |
| ENG 102 | Texts & Contexts | 3 |
| HIS 154 | Forging the Modern World | 3 |
| XXX NNN: Faith and Reason Course Area (see course list) | ||
| XXX 150: First Year Seminar | ||
General Education Variable Courses
See this page about Variable courses. Six to Nine courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| THE NNN: Religious Difference | ||
| PHL NNN: Philosophical Anthropology (see list of courses) | ||
| MAT NNN: Mathematics - Beauty | ||
| Non-Native Language (0-2 courses) | ||
| Natural Science (One four-credit lab course or two three-credit non-lab courses) | ||
| Social/Behavioral Science | ||
| Fine Arts/Literature | ||
General Education Overlays
- Writing Intensive
- Ethics Intensive
- Diversity/Globalization/Non-Western
General Education Integrative Learning Component
See this page about Integrative Learning Component. Three courses:
Major Requirements
8 courses:
- Logic or Symbolic Logic
- History course: Ancient/Pre-Modern
- History course: Modern/Contemporary
- PHL elective course
- PHL elective course
- NON-GEP PHL elective
- PHL 495 Senior Seminar or PHL 395 Junior Seminar
- GEP Faith and Reason (if taken in Philosophy) or PHL elective Course
Philosophy majors have the option of pursuing one of five tracks:
- History of Philosophy;
- Social-Political/Philosophy of Law;
- Mind, Language, Science;
- Philosophy of Religion; and .
- Arts and Humanities
Free Electives
14-18 courses
Philosophy majors have the option of pursuing one of five tracks. Major concentration requirements are the same for all five tracks, though the integrated learning requirements (ILC) will vary from track to track.
History of Philosophy Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| The Glory that was Greece | ||
| Knowl & Love of God: Mid Ages | ||
| The Rise of the West: 400-1000 | ||
| Reform/Rev in Europe 1500-1650 | ||
Greek, Latin, German, French (1 or more in the SAME language) | ||
Social-Political/Philosophy of Law Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
Any Economics course | ||
| Intro to American Politics | ||
| Intro to Comparative Politics | ||
| Intro to Global Politics | ||
| Intro to Political Thought | ||
| Political Ideology in America | ||
| Politics, Ideology, & Film | ||
| Constitutional Politics | ||
| Const Law:Rights & Civil Lib | ||
| Social Controv & Supreme Court | ||
| Injustice & the Law | ||
| Women and American Politics | ||
| Race & Ethnic Politics in U.S. | ||
| Protesting Inequality | ||
| U.S. Immigration | ||
| Political Geography | ||
| Haunted by the Past | ||
| Global Political Economy | ||
| Ethics inInternational Affairs | ||
| Sex & Power around the World | ||
| Capstone: Theories of Justice | ||
| Intro to Sociology | ||
| Social Problems | ||
| Ethnic & Minority Relations | ||
| Sociology of Gender | ||
| Classical Sociological Theory | ||
| Social Deviance | ||
| Race and Social Justice | ||
| Language and the Law | ||
| Urban Sociology | ||
| Miscarriages of Justice | ||
| Law and Social Policy | ||
| Restorative Justice | ||
| Race, Crime & CJ | ||
| Gender, Crime & CJ | ||
| Sociology of Law | ||
Mind, Language, Science Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
Any Mathematics course | ||
Any Natural Science course | ||
Any Computer Science course | ||
Any Linguistics course | ||
| Sensation and Perception | ||
| Neuropsychology | ||
| Animal Learning and Memory | ||
| Drugs, the Brain, & Behavior | ||
| Psychology of Emotion | ||
| Comparative Animal Behavior | ||
| Psychology of the Self | ||
| Psychological Disorders | ||
Arts and Humanities Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
Honors Courses | ||
| Franco-Afro-Caribbean Story | ||
| Letters of Paul | ||
| Knowl & Love of God: Mid Ages | ||
| Special Topics in Theology | ||
Art/Music/Film Courses | ||
| Music Fundamentals | ||
| Westrn Music Hist: MidAge-1750 | ||
| Western Music Hist: 1750-Pres | ||
| Music Theory I | ||
| Major Composers | ||
| American Film | ||
| European Cinemas | ||
| Five Films | ||
| Non-Western World Cinemas | ||
| Major Figures in Film | ||
| Film Theory & Criticism | ||
Any ART Studio Course | ||
Literature (English Department) | ||
Any ENG course 301-331 | ||
Literature (Modern Languages) | ||
| Selections in Chinese Lit | ||
Any course in FRE literature/film 410-462 | ||
Any course in GRM literature/film 305-406 | ||
| Selections in Japanese Lit I | ||
| Intro to Latin American Lit | ||
Any course in SPA literature/film 410-456 | ||
Philosophy of Religion Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One Theology/Religious Studies course beyond the GEP | 3 | |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| The Crusades | ||
| The Grandeur that Was Rome | ||
| The Rise of the West: 400-1000 | ||
| Reform/Rev in Europe 1500-1650 | ||
| Religion & Philosophy: Africa | ||
| Cults as Social Movements | ||
Latin or Greek (1 or more in the SAME language) | ||