Bachelors Degree
The Program
Philosophy is the search for an understanding of how the world as a whole hangs together and of how we are to assume our place in the world. Philosophy pursues its goal first of all historically. It is the trustee of the heritage of great philosophical texts, and it engages those texts in a conversation with contemporary problems. Second, philosophy turns to the contemporary world directly and tries to illuminate and advance its concerns with ethics and art, with science and technology, with ecology and feminism, with law and medicine.
Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees are offered.
Special Degree Requirements
Refer to graduation requirements listed previously in the catalog.
The following requirements must be completed for the Bachelor of Arts
degree with a major in philosophy: a minimum of 33 credits, including
PHIL 210, 215, 251H, and 252H; at least 21 credits in courses numbered
300 and above, including PHIL 300E, PHIL 480 and one course from each
of the following groups: History [PHIL 450, 453, 461, 463]; Value Theory
[PHIL 323E, 325E, 421E, 422E, 427E, 429E, 441E, 443E, 444, 455, 477];
Continental Philosophy [PHIL 465, 467]; Logic and Analytic Philosophy
[PHIL 410, 411, 469, 471]. A PHIL 395 or 495 Special Topics course may
be used to count as a course from any of the above four groups as its
topic makes appropriate (consult the department advisor).
Majors are expected to complete lower-division requirements before beginning
upper-division work. No credit toward the major will be awarded for any
course in which the student receives a grade less than a C.
The Upper-division Writing Expectation must be met by successfully completing
PHIL 300E and PHIL 480.
All philosophy majors must complete at least three semesters of a single
foreign language. One of the following languages is recommended: French,
German, Latin, or Greek.
Suggested Course of Study
| First Year | Autumn | Spring |
| Phil 215 Philosophical Reasoning | 3 | - |
| Phil 210 Introduction to Logic | - | 3 |
| Phil 100 Introduction to Philosophy | - | 3 |
| Enex 101 Composition | 3 | - |
| Hist 104H, 105H or 107H,108H European Civilization | 4 | 4 |
| Electives & General Education** | 6 | 6 |
| Total | 16 | 16 |
| Second Year | Autumn | Spring |
| Phil 251H History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy | 3 | - |
| Phil 252H History of Modern Philosophy | - | 3 |
| Phil 300E Systematic Ethics | - | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 5 | 5 |
| Electives & General Education | 6 | 4 |
| Total | 14 | 15 |
**LS 151L, 152L should be taken the first or second year. Students should not neglect mathematics and the physical and biological sciences in choosing elective courses.
Requirements for a Minor
To earn a minor in philosophy, the student must complete: PHIL 210, 215, 251H, 252H, 300E, and an additional course numbered above 300.
Financial Aid
Information about general campus aid programs can be found at the UM Financial Aids Office . Additionally, the Philosophy Department regularly employs a small number of its advanced majors as reader/graders to assist with classroom instruction.
For additional information please contact Prof. Richard Walton, Chair, Department of Philosophy, (406) 243-6234, or Send Email