Requirements
At least 33 units, 24 of which must be upper division. All majors must complete Phi 199 (Philosophy Capstone). Plus General Education requirements and electives totaling 124 semester units, including the Language requirement.
There is abundant data that philosophy, perhaps more than any other major, prepares students for a wide range of careers. There are also many courses that serve students well in introducing them to philosophy. Therefore, the Philosophy Department does not prescribe a series of courses required for the philosophy major. Rather, philosophy majors should consult with their advisor to develop a major plan to determine which philosophy courses are most suitable for their career and academic goals. Often that will involve a double major.
Indeed, under the conviction that every career should be open to a philosophy major, the Philosophy Department has designed the philosophy major to easily accommodate double majors. With its flexibility (only 1 required course) and low unit requirement (only 33 units in the major), we invite all students who are interested in philosophy to consider a double major.
Recognizing that our majors will have many things they want to do with their philosophy degree, the Philosophy Department aspires to offer a range of courses in the history of philosophy (western and non-western), value theory, interdisciplinary philosophy, and the more traditional area of logic, epistemology, and metaphysics.
Philosophy majors are not defined by the courses they take, but the skills and dispositions they develop. These are captured in our department’s student learning goals and outcomes:
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Broad Goals
Philosophy graduates will demonstrate proficiency in each of the following skills:
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Learning Outcomes
A Mount graduate with a Philosophy major should be able to:
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Area 1: Tools for Philosophical Reasoning
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- Written Skills at Argumentation: Write philosophical essays constructing a defensible argument for a position.
- Analysis & Critique: Analyze and evaluate problems and arguments in a logical manner.
- Real World Applications: Apply philosophical theories/models to cases, policies, and global or domestic issues.
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Area 2: Content Mastery
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- Content Knowledge: Demonstrate basic grasp of subject areas of the discipline utilizing diverse perspectives.
- Moral Reasoning: Demonstrate basic knowledge of major ethical theories and be able to compare, contrast, and apply them.
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Area 3: Appreciation of Philosophy
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- Articulate how studying philosophy has been helpful to the student in their academic goals, career goals, or as a person and/or member of society.
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Students who are interested in pursuing graduate study in philosophy are encouraged to take as many of the following courses as possible:
PHI 21
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Moral Values and Ethical Decisions
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PHI 124
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Wisdom of the Ancients
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PHI 126
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Theories of Everything from Descartes to Kant
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PHI 130
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Existentialism
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PHI 134
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Philosophy in the Americas
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PHI 150
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Body and Mind; Self and the World
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PHI 152
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Knowledge, Gender, and Justice
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PHI 155
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Symbolic Logic
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PHI 158
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Scientific Method
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PHI 160
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Philosophy of Religion
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PHI 170
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Social & Political Philosophy
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PHI 180
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Philosophy of Change
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PHI 182
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Mexican Philosophy, Culture, and Society
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Lower Division
A total of 9 units.
A. Analytical Skills. One of either:
PHI 5 Introduction to Logic (3); or
PHI 10 Critical Thinking (3).
B. Moral and Philosophical Reasoning Skills. One class of:
PHI 15 Introduction to Philosophy (3); or
PHI 16 Philosophy Through Popular Culture (3).
And
PHI 21 Moral Values and Ethical Decisions (3).
Areas of Philosophy
Philosophy majors and minors are encouraged to select courses from the following areas of philosophy as appropriate for their academic and career goals.
A. History of Philosophy:
B. Value Theory:
C. Logic, Metaphysics, and Epistemology:
| PHI 150 | Body and Mind: Self and the World | 3 |
| PHI 152 | Knowledge, Gender, and Justice | 3 |
| PHI 155 | Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| PHI 158 | Scientific Method | 3 |
| PHI 160 | Philosophy of Religion: The Nature of Divinity and the Divinity of Nature | 3 |
D. Interdisciplinary Philosophy:
Plus General Education requirements and electives totaling 124 semester units, including the Language requirement.