Philosophy Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
The B.A. program in philosophy requires at least 27 credit hours in courses offered by the department. One of
these courses may be a 100-level course. All others must be at the 200 level or above, including two courses in
the history of philosophy (P201 and P214); one course in logic or the history
and philosophy of science (either P250 or any course in history and philosophy of science, e.g., X100, X200, X220, X303,
or X336);
one course in ethics or social and political philosophy (any one of P325, P340, P341, P342, P343, P344, P345, or P393); and one course in metaphysics or epistemology
(any one of P310, P311, P312, P313, or P360). Other courses should be chosen in consultation with a departmental
adviser.
Interdepartmental Major
Students pursuing an interdepartmental major in philosophy and some other discipline must have a philosophy
faculty adviser, as well as an adviser from the other discipline, with whom they work out a 40-credit-hour program
of study according to the following guideline: at least 15 credit hours in courses offered by the philosophy department
at the 200 level or above.
Minor in Philosophy
Students can earn a minor in philosophy by meeting the following requirements: (1) completion of at least 15 credit hours in courses offered by the department of which at least 12 credit hours are courses at the 200 level or above; (2) one course in the history of philosophy (either P201 or P214); (3) one course in metaphysics or epistemology (any one of P310, P311, P312, P313, or P360); and (4) one course in ethics, logic, or the history and philosophy of science (any one of P250,
P325, P340, P341, P342, P343, P344, P345, P393, X200, X220, X303, or X336).
Associate of Arts in Philosophy
At least 15 credit hours in philosophy are required for the Associate of Arts in Philosophy, of which at least 12 credit hours are at the 200 level or above; one course in the history of philosophy (either P201 or P214); one course in metaphysics or epistemology (any one of P310, P311, P312, P313, or P360); and one course in ethics, logic, or the history and philosophy of science (any one of P250, P325, P340, P341, P342, P343, P344, P345, P393, X200, X220, X303, or X336).
Majoring in Philosophy
The First Course
Students majoring in philosophy usually begin by taking a 100-level philosophy course in their freshman or
sophomore year, either P100 Introduction to Philosophy, P105 Thinking and Reasoning, P135 Introduction to
Existentialism, or P140 Elementary Ethics. P100 is the beginning survey course. It introduces students to basic
areas, figures, terms, and problems in philosophy. Although a 100-level philosophy course is not required for the
major, students planning to major in philosophy are advised to begin with a course at this level.
Coursework in the Major
Prospective majors should choose their philosophy courses so that, by graduation, they have taken at least
27 credit hours of coursework in philosophy. Of these 27 required credit hours, 24 must be in courses at the 200
level or above and 15 must be in courses from the following four required subject areas: (1) the history of philosophy
(two courses required), (2) logic or the history and philosophy of science (one course required), (3) ethics or
social and political philosophy (one
course required), and (4) metaphysics or epistemology (one course required).
(See the statement of degree requirements above for a listing of courses that
satisfy these area requirements.) Because courses in the four required subject
areas might not be offered every semester, it is important that students
planning to major in philosophy not pass up opportunities to take these courses
when they are offered.
Graduation Assessment
The department presently encourages and soon will require that all philosophy majors in their senior year participate
in one or the other of two graduation assessment options: a proseminar option or a portfolio option. In the proseminar
option, the student enrolls in the senior proseminar (P495) to prepare a paper suitable for public presentation.
The paper is to be completed under the supervision of a project committee and then presented to the IU
South Bend Philosophy
Colloquium (or to some other appropriate group or forum). In the portfolio option, the student submits a portfolio
of three or more papers. These papers are read and evaluated by a committee consisting of at least two full-time
department members. The point of the portfolio is not just to collect and evaluate examples of a student's best
work but to help the student achieve a larger perspective on his or her work in philosophy and to provide specific
guidelines for further progress.
