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
Cornerstone Core Curriculum Requirements
Consist of 14 core and 2 overlay requirements. See below for additional detailed information on each of these requirements.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Course Requirements | ||
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| World History Course Area | 3 | |
| Philosophy Requirements | ||
Either Level One or Level Two (but not both) -- must be Ethics designated. If approved, philosophy courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as Philosophy Level Two and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Philosophy Level One | 3 | |
| Philosophy Level Two | 3 | |
| Theology & Religious Studies Requirements | ||
If approved, Theology & Religious Studies courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as CCC Theology and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Theology | 3 | |
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Diversity & INT 151 Requirements | ||
A student's Diversity course may not count for any other CCC course area requirement or as their Mission Overlay course. If approved, Diversity courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive Overlay requirement. INT 151 may not count for any other CCC requirements. This course must be taken in the first two years | ||
| Diversity | 3 | |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| Math & Natural Science Requirements | ||
If approved, Math & Natural Science Requirements may count toward overlay requirements. | ||
| Mathematics | 3-4 | |
| Natural Science | 4 | |
| Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, such Social Science Requirement may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Non-Native Language Requirement | 3-4 | |
A single Non-Native Language course may not count as an overlay course but a second language course fulfills a student's Mission Overlay requirement. | ||
| Literature Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Literature courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Overlay Requirements | ||
| Writing-Intensive | 3 | |
If approved, Writing-Intensive courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, electives, or as any CCC course area requirement except for the first-year courses (World History and Rhetoric and Composition). | ||
| Mission-Overlay | 3 | |
Mission Overlay courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, elective courses, or any of the following CCC course areas: Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design, Literature, Mathematics, Natural Science, or Social Science. | ||
| Total Hours | 47-49 | |
Major Requirements
8 courses:
- Logic or Symbolic Logic
- History course: Ancient/Pre-Modern
- History course: Modern/Contemporary
- PHL elective course
- PHL elective course
- PHL elective
- PHL 495 Senior Seminar or Junior Seminar
- 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. Graduation requires 120 credits. Any credits necessary to reach that number outside of the CCC and major requirements are considered free electives.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| Philosophy Level One | 3 | |
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| Mathematics | 3-4 | |
| Social Science | 3 | |
| Non-Native Language | 3-4 | |
| Hours | 15-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| Philosophy Level Two | 3 | |
| World History | 3 | |
| Theology | 3 | |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHL Logic | 3 | |
| PHL History Ancient/Pre-Modern | 3 | |
| Diversity | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHL History Modern/Contemporary | ||
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 4 | |
| Writing Intensive Overlay | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHL Electives | 6 | |
| Fine, Performing Arts, Design & Creativity | 3 | |
| Mission-Specific Overlay | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHL Electives | 6 | |
| PHL 495 | Philosophy Seminar | 3 |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHL Elective | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHL elective | 3 | |
| PHL 495 | Philosophy Seminar | 3 |
| Free Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 119-121 | |