Major in Philosophy
What is Philosophy?
Philosophy is the systematic study of ideas and issues. It is derived from the Greek word philosophia, which translates to “love of wisdom.” It is the study of fundamental questions about reality, knowledge, existence, values, and reasons aiming to understand the world and our place in it. In a basic sense philosophy is an activity people undertake when they seek to understand fundamental truths about themselves, and the world in which they live.
Those who study philosophy as an academic discipline are perpetually engaged in asking, answering, and arguing for their answers to life’s basic questions. The skills learned in philosophy can be applied to any field of study and to everyday life.
Declare Major Major Handout Major Checklist Why Philosophy 4-year plan sample
The 5 main areas of study in Philosophy
1.
Metaphysics
The study of the nature of reality. What exists in the world. What it’s made of, and how it’s ordered.
Common questions: What is truth? What is a person? Do people have free will? Is the world strictly composed of matter?
2.
Epistemology
The study of knowledge. Concerned with what we know about the world and how we know it.
Common questions: What is knowledge? Do we really know anything? Can we be justified in claiming to know certain things?
3.
Ethics
Concerns questions about what we ought to do and why it is best
What is good? What is right? Is morality objective or subjective? How should I treat others?
4.
Logic
The study the nature and structure of arguments.
What constitutes good or bad reasoning? How do we determine if a given piece of reasoning is good or bad?
5.
History of PHIL
A significant part is studying how people answered questions in the past.
Students study the works of Aristotle, Plato, Aquinas, Nietzsche, Locke, Descartes, West, Mill, de Beauvior, hooks, Wollstonecraft, and many more.
The degree requirements in philosophy allow students to tailor their course of study.
Required coursework for philosophy students is organized around four main areas of study: Ethics and Values; Metaphysics and Epistemology; History of Philosophy; Logic and Formal Methods. Students are required to take courses from each area of study. The specific requirements are explained below.
The Major in Philosophy calls for a minimum of 36 units of philosophy coursework that meets the following six requirements:
3011*: Philosophy of _________
3080: Philosophy of Feminism (DV)
3390: Technology & Design Ethics
3500: Ethics
3510: Business Ethics
3520: Bioethics
3530: Environmental Ethics
3570: Research Ethics
3700: Political Philosophy
3710: Philosophy of Law
3730: Justice & International Affairs
3750: Philosophy of Literature
3790: Film & Philosophy
3800: Philosophy of Art
3820: Meaning of Life
4540: Engineering Ethics & Society
5130: History of Ethical Theory
5191*: Philosophy of ______
5500: Contemporary Ethical Theory
5510: Applied Ethics
5520: Advanced Bioethics
5530: Environmental Philosophy
5700: Advanced Political Philosophy
5800: Topics in Philosophy of Art
* These courses typically have variable content and may be taken multiple times, each time counting as a new and separate course, so long as the course content is different.
3012*: Philosophy of ____
3300: Theory of Knowledge
3310: Science & Society
3350: History & Philosophy of Science (CW)
3370: Philosophy of Biology
3375: Philosophy of Social Science
3380: Feminist Philosophy of Science (DV)
3400: Mind, Language, & Reality
3440: Cognitive Science
3600: Philosophy of Religion
3870: Philosophy of Race
4380: Philosophy of Physics
4400: Metaphysics
4450: Philosophy of Mind
4480: Philosophy of Language
5192*: Philosophy of ___
5300: Epistemology
5350†: Topics in Philosophy of Science
5370†: Philosophy of Biology
5375†: Topics in Philosophy of Social Science
5400*: Metaphysics
5450: Philosophy of Mind
5480*: Philosophy of Language
* These courses typically have variable content and may be taken multiple times, each time counting as a new and separate course, so long as the course content is different.
† These courses sometimes have variable content, in which case they may be taken multiple times. Check with instructor for permission to take a second time.
3013*: Philosophy of ___
3040: 20th Century Analytic
3060: 20th Century Continental
3085: History of African American Philosophy
3086: History of African American Philosophy
3100: Survey of Ancient Greek Philosophy
3110: Survey of Medieval Philosophy
3120: Survey of Early Modern Philosophy
3130: Survey of 19th Century Philosophy
3810: Existentialism
4140: Classical Chinese Philosophy
5040: Advanced 20th Century Philosophy
5060: Advanced 20th Century Continental
5100: Advanced Ancient Philosophy
5110: Advanced Medieval Philosophy
5120*: Advanced Early Modern Philosophy
5145: Topics in Classical Chinese Philosophy
5193*: Philosophy of ___
5360: Topics in the History of Science
* These courses typically have variable content and may be taken multiple times, each time counting as a new and separate course, so long as the course content is different.
3200: Deductive Logic (QI)
3210: Inductive Logic
5200: Advanced Deductive Logic
5210: Advanced Inductive Logic
5220: Rational Choice Theory
Additional Requirements
At least three courses of the total 36 units must come from the 5000-level (or higher). These advanced courses do at the same time satisfy an Area Requirement, as indicated in the above requirements. (Note: the Advanced Course Requirement may not be satisfied by "independent study" coursework.)
Majors must take the Senior Seminar, Phil 4010. Students need not wait till their senior year to take this course, though it is aimed at advanced majors.
The minimum prerequisites for taking the Senior Seminar are that the student have already completed at least one course from each of Areas I, II, and III, in the Area Requirement table above.
Note: Senior Seminar satisfies the University Advanced Writing Requirement.
The Grade Requirement has three parts.
- Only coursework taken for a letter grade will contribute to the above requirements; CR/NC coursework will not count.
- No individual course receiving a grade lower than C- will count for any of the above requirements.
- The overall grade-point average (GPA) for courses meeting the above requirements must be at least 2.00.
Various of the above requirements may, in special cases, and with approval, be satisfied with transfer credit.
Advanced Course Requirement and the Seminar Requirement must be satisfied by course work completed at the University of Utah.
Students elect the particular courses (from each of the major requirement area) they wish to take.
Those who are just starting the degree should begin taking courses of interest, in each of the four areas, beginning with courses at the 3000 or 4000-level.
Here are three guidelines for which courses to take and in which order:
- First, it is generally a good idea to take courses from multiple Areas at once, rather than focusing on courses only from
one Area: following this advice will make it easier, in your final year, to complete any leftover
coursework that you have yet to complete.
- We do not offer all of these courses, each semester, however, we do make a point -- each fall and spring -- to offer a mix of courses from each of the four Areas, at both the 3000 or 4000-level and at the 5000-level.
- Second, we tend to offer the most courses in Area I, and the fewest in Area III; so it would be unwise to wait on taking Area III courses--in case the few offerings in play, in your final semester, don't provide the flexibility you need.
- Third, as for prerequisites, before taking any 5000-level course students must have completed at least one 3000 or 4000-level course from that same Area; exceptions must be approved by the instructor of the 5000-level course.
Beyond these guidelines, take whatever looks interesting to you. If you need further guidance, please see the advisor.
If meeting the major requirements brings your total to 36 units, you need not take any further courses in philosophy.
Otherwise, an elective course will be needed to bring the total to 36.
Every course the philosophy department offers counts towards the Elective Requirement.
Note the following two kinds of courses count only towards the elective requirement and do not fulfill major requirements.
- All lower division courses count as electives (i.e., 1000 level and 2000 level courses).
- The four specifically religion-oriented courses we offer: Phil 3610 (Religions of
India), Phil 3620 (Religions of China and Japan), Phil 3630 (Buddhist Thought), and
Phil 3640 (World Religions).
- Since these courses are not primarily philosophical in content, they do not count towards any of our specific philosophy requirements, but they do count for the Elective Requirement. The historical explanation of why the philosophy department offers these courses is that U of U did not have a Religion Department, the natural home for such courses. Though the U of U does now have a Religious Studies program, PHIL continues to teach these courses. Note that Phil 3600 (Philosophy of Religion) is a philosophy course, and it meets the Area II requirement.
You may, of course, take more than just one elective. Doing so will enhance your philosophical education. Additional electives will count towards the total number of units needed for the University Baccalaureate Degree requirements.
Philosophy majors develop superior reasoning and analytical skills, helping explain why philosophers majors excel on such Grad School entrance exams as the GRE, LSAT, MCAT, and GMAT. Employers value problem solving skills, along with an aptitude for clear expression of ideas (both spoken and written).
- Legal Professional
- Business Professional
- Professor
- Policy Analysis
- Mental Health Professional
- Medical Professional