Philosophy Major
The philosophy major is designed to help students listen carefully, think deeply, and present compellingly as they prepare for graduate studies in philosophy (leading to teaching careers in philosophy and related fields), in law (leading to careers associated with the legal profession), and in seminary (leading to ministry in the church both here and abroad); and to provide the best possible integrated liberal arts education (leading almost anywhere).
Program Outcomes:
Students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy will be able to:
- show a general understanding of the work of major figures in the history of philosophy, including Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, and Kant
- evidence conversancy with the most important topics in a range of areas at the center of contemporary philosophical thought, including metaphysics, epistemology, ontology, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of language
- demonstrate familiarity with various ethical systems and how to apply them
- demonstrate familiarity with the field of logic, both formal and informal, and how to solve logical problems and proofs based on these forms of logic
- think analytically, creatively, and Christianly about philosophical texts and issues
- express philosophical ideas and defend them effectively in argument, both in writing and orally
- acquire the confidence, self-awareness, and preparation for graduate studies in philosophy, law school, seminary, or any area of life or the humanities
Requirements total 33 hours. These include 12 hours of humanities core, 12 hours of philosophy wrap-around core courses, and 9 hours from elective courses. Additionally, students may complete one or two emphases of 9 hours chosen as their elective hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities Core | 12 | |
| The Western Heritage I: From Antiquity to the Reformation | ||
| The Western Heritage II: From the Scientific Revolution to the Twentieth Century | ||
| Literary Classics of the Western World | ||
| Humanities Capstone | ||
| Philosophy Wrap-Around Core | 12 | |
| Logic | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Contemporary Theory | ||
| Seminar on Problems in Philosophy and the Philosophy of History | ||
Electives and Emphases
Philosophy majors are required to take select one of the following options:
- 9 additional hours of philosophy courses (or)
- the Christian Apologetics Emphasis (9 hours) (or)
- the Ethical Theory and Practice Emphasis (9 hours)
An emphasis is not required.
Christian Apologetics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PH 290 | Christian Apologetics | 3 |
| Select two of the following | 6 | |
| Christianity and Darwinism | ||
| Foundations of Evangelism (Graduate level class available to qualified students) | ||
| Topics in Apologetics | ||
| Survey of Religious Diversity | ||
| Christian Faith and Contemporary Challenges (Graduate level class available to qualified students) | ||
| Psychology of Religion | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Ethical Theory and Practice
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PH 182 | Ethics | 3 |
| or PH 482 | Ethical Theory | |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Ethical Theory (Graduate level class available to qualified students) | ||
| Seminar in Business and Management Ethics | ||
| Love and Friendship | ||
| Topics in Ethics | ||
| Introduction to Bioethics | ||
| Topics in Bioethics | ||
| Undergraduate Bioethics Institute | ||
| Undergraduate National Conference | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Recommended Additional Courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 306 | Renaissance Literature | 3 |
| ENG 310 | Romantic Literature | 3 |
| ENG 318 | American Literature I: Puritanism Through Transcendentalism | 3 |
| ENG 320 | American Literature II: Civil War Through Depression | 3 |
| ENG 350 | Topics in Literature | 1-3 |
| ENG 406 | Shakespeare | 3 |
| ENG 420 | Capstone Seminar in the British Novel | 3 |
| HI 271 | Topics in World History | 3 |
| HI 321X | American Church History | 3 |
| HI 322X | Topics in Church History | 3 |
| HI 325 | Topics in European History | 3 |
| HI 340X | History of Christianity | 3 |
| HI 372 | History of Ideas in America | 3 |
| HI 373 | African American History | 3 |
| HI 375 | Topics in American History | 3 |
| HI 376 | Twentieth-Century American Cultural History | 3 |
| HI 430 | Seminar in Early Modern Europe | 3 |
| HI 471 | Seminar in Colonial and Revolutionary America | 3 |