Overview

A major in philosophy is built on the central texts in the history of Western thought. Philosophy focuses on the perennial problems raised by the encounter of human beings with their history, culture, and the world. It emphasizes methods of analysis and clarity of argumentation. Students who major in philosophy have the broadest possible preparation in the liberal arts.

Students who complete a major in philosophy are prepared to enter either graduate programs or the world of work. In addition to providing vocational skills and a solid foundation for graduate work in the discipline, a major in philosophy constitutes appropriate and strong preparation for graduate work in other academic disciplines as well as in professional programs in a broad variety of fields. The Department of Philosophy and Humanities is prepared to work with students who are interested in postgraduate professional education to assure that their preparation meets disciplinary and/or professional criteria and expectations in areas including law, business administration, and theology. The faculty of the Department of Philosophy and Humanities also work with advisors in the Health Professions Advising Office of the College of Science to ensure that philosophy majors pursuing a pre-medical curriculum are kept abreast of required and recommended courses outside the major.

Requirements for Admission to a Major in Philosophy

Students should have completed 30 hours of core with 30 hours at UT Arlington, or 40 hours of core with 12 hours at UT Arlington with an overall GPA greater than 2.0. Before being accepted into the major in philosophy, students must also have passed a course in symbolic logic (PHIL 2311 LOGIC or the equivalent). Students may be accepted as pre-philosophy majors if the above standards are not met.

Requirements for a Minor in Philosophy

A minor in philosophy requires 18 semester hours, at least six of which must be 3000/4000 level.

Requirements for a Minor in Classical Studies

A minor in classical studies requires at least 18 semester hours, at least six of which must be 3000/4000 level, in approved classical studies courses. There are three options for the classical studies minor:  Greek Language, Latin Language, Classical Civilization, and Ancient Studies. 

Requirements for a Minor in Medical Humanities and Bioethics

A minor in medical humanities and bioethics requires 18 hours.  There are three required courses: HUMA 3300, PHIL 3319, and the student's choice from a list of Disability Studies courses.

Requirements for the Certificate in Ethics

The certificate in ethics requires at least 15 semester hours in approved ethics courses.

Requirements for the Certificate in Medical Humanities

The certificate in medical humanities requires at least 12 semester hours in approved courses.

Undergraduate Advising

All philosophy majors are directed in their program by a designated undergraduate advisor. In addition, the following special advisors are available:

Graduate Work in Philosophy: Majors who are interested in graduate work in philosophy should consult the departmental graduate advisor during their junior year.

Pre-Law: Majors who intend to apply to law school will find courses in logic, philosophy of law, political philosophy, and ethics particularly useful. Interested students should consult the Philosophy/Pre-law faculty advisor for assistance in course selection and application procedures.

Philosophy/Business Administration Minor: It is possible to combine the philosophy major with a business administration minor in preparation for admission to the UT Arlington MBA program. (See Liberal Arts Major/Business Administration Minor section in the introduction of the College of Liberal Arts.) The Philosophy/Business Administration faculty advisor will assist students in coordinating their program and meeting admissions requirements either at UT Arlington or other schools.

Pre-Theological: Majors who plan to enter a school of theology should consider a minor in classics and foreign language preparation in Greek and/or Latin. Electives in ethics and philosophy of religion are particularly recommended. Interested students should consult the Philosophy/Pre-ministerial faculty advisor for additional assistance.

Pre-Medical: A departmental faculty advisor is available to assist majors who intend to apply to medical school. The major program will be coordinated with the Health Professions Advising Office of the College of Science.

Oral Communication Competency

Students majoring in philosophy may demonstrate competency in oral communication by

1. successful completion of a specific course approved by the Department of Philosophy and Humanities for this purpose, or
2. successful completion of any course from among those approved by the Undergraduate Assembly.

Computer Use Competency

Students majoring in philosophy may demonstrate competency in computer use by

1. successful completion of PHIL 3307 SEMINAR IN RESEARCH METHODS AND PHILOSOPHICAL WRITING, or
2. successful completion of any course from among those approved by the Undergraduate Assembly for this purpose, or
3. passing the University proficiency examination in computer use.

 REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN PHILOSOPHY (GENERAL TRACK)

Pre-Professional Courses
General Core Requirements		42
Core Courses Required for this Major
UNIV 1131	STUDENT SUCCESS	1
ENGL 1301	RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I	3
ENGL 1302	RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II	3
Program Requirements
Modern and Classical Languages: 1441 and 1442		8
Electives sufficient to complete the 120 credit hours required for the degree.
Professional Courses
Major
PHIL 2300	INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY	3
PHIL 2311	LOGIC	3
PHIL 3307	SEMINAR IN RESEARCH METHODS AND PHILOSOPHICAL WRITING	3
Additional hours (12 advanced hours, with at least six hours at the 4000 level) 1		18
Total Hours		84

¹

In consultation with the undergraduate philosophy advisor and in light of individual aims and interests, students in the general track are to select electives concentrated primarily in one or two areas of secondary emphasis-for example, business, classical studies, cognitive science, computer science engineering, history, humanities/liberal arts, mathematics, or political science.

Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy (Pre-Professional Track)

Pre-Professional Courses
General Core Requirements		42
Core Courses Required for this Major
UNIV 1131	STUDENT SUCCESS	1
ENGL 1301	RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I	3
ENGL 1302	RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II	3
Program Requirements
Modern and Classical Languages: 1441 and 1442		8
Electives sufficient to complete the 120 credit hours required for the degree.
Professional Courses
PHIL 2300	INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY	3
PHIL 2311	LOGIC	3
PHIL 3301	HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY: ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY	3
PHIL 3303	HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY: RENAISSANCE AND EARLY MODERN EUROPEAN PHILOSOPHY	3
PHIL 3307	SEMINAR IN RESEARCH METHODS AND PHILOSOPHICAL WRITING	3
Select at least one course from the "metaphysics and epistemology" group:		3
PHIL 3318	THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
PHIL 3321	PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE
PHIL 3350	TOPICS IN ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHY (when relevant and with permission of advisor)	3
PHIL 4383	PHILOSOPHY OF MIND
PHIL 4385	THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE
PHIL 4386	METAPHYSICS
PHIL 4388	TOPICS IN THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY (when relevant and with permission of advisor)
PHIL 4389	TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (when relevant and with permission of advisor)
Select at least one course from the "value theory" group:		3
PHIL 2312	ETHICS
PHIL 2313	PHILOSOPHY OF THE ARTS
PHIL 3316	PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
PHIL 3319	BIOMEDICAL ETHICS
PHIL 3320	PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
PHIL 3330	SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 3340	TOPICS IN APPLIED ETHICS
PHIL 3341	TOPICS IN BIOETHICS
PHIL 4387	TOPICS IN VALUE THEORY
Advanced hours-with a total of at least six hours at the 4000 level 1		6
PHIL 4394	SENIOR THESIS (complete a senior thesis sometime during their final year)	3
Total Hours		90

¹

Including any 4000-level "metaphysics and epistemology" or "value theory" courses, but not including PHIL 4394.

Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy (Pre-Law Option)

Students interested in the Pre-Law Option must complete the requirements for the Pre-Professional Track degree in philosophy, while selecting their elective course work in consultation with the Philosophy/Pre-Law faculty advisor. Recommended philosophy courses for the Pre-Law Option include

PHIL 1301	FUNDAMENTALS OF REASONING	3
PHIL 1304	CONTEMPORARY MORAL PROBLEMS	3
PHIL 2312	ETHICS	3
PHIL 3317	PHILOSOPHICAL LOGIC	3
PHIL 3318	THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY	3
PHIL 3319	BIOMEDICAL ETHICS	3
PHIL 3320	PHILOSOPHY OF LAW	3
PHIL 3321	PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE	3
PHIL 3324	BUSINESS ETHICS	3
PHIL 3330	SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY	3
PHIL 3340	TOPICS IN APPLIED ETHICS	3
PHIL 4385	THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE	3
PHIL 4387	TOPICS IN VALUE THEORY	3

Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy (Mind, Language, and Cognition Option)

Students interested in the Mind, Language, and Cognition (MLC) Option must complete the requirements for the General Track degree in philosophy, with a minor in linguistics, and psychology as their area of secondary emphasis for elective course work. Although specific major, minor, and elective courses should be selected in consultation with the MLC advisor in philosophy, typical courses include

LING 2301	INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF HUMAN LANGUAGE	3
LING 3311	PRINCIPLES OF LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS	3
LING 3330	PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY	3
LING 3340	SYNTAX I	3
LING 3345	CRITICAL REASONING IN LINGUISTICS	3
LING 4303	SYNTAX II	3
LING 4317	SOCIOLINGUISTICS	3
LING 4335	LANGUAGE UNIVERSALS & LINGUISTIC TYPOLOGY	3
LING 4345	FORMAL SEMANTICS	3
LING 4347	PRAGMATICS	3
LING 4370	HISTORY OF LINGUISTICS	3
PHIL 2300	INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY	3
PHIL 2311	LOGIC	3
PHIL 3317	PHILOSOPHICAL LOGIC	3
PHIL 3318	THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY	3
PHIL 3321	PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE	3
PHIL 4383	PHILOSOPHY OF MIND	3
PHIL 4385	THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE	3
PHIL 4389	TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (Mind)	3
PSYC 1315	INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY	3
PSYC 4332	THEORIES OF HUMAN LEARNING AND MEMORY	3
PSYC 4338	COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE	3

(Students who intend to apply to graduate school may elect to complete the requirements for the Pre-Professional Track degree in philosophy, with the minor in linguistics and elective course work in psychology.)

Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy (Philosophy and Classics Option)

Students interested in the Philosophy and Classics Option typically complete the requirements for the General Track degree in Philosophy, with a minor in Classical Studies, and are required to fulfill their language requirement with Latin; with advisors' approval, students may choose to substitute Greek, French or German. Specific major, minor and elective courses should be selected in consultation with the philosophy undergraduate advisor and the director of Classical Studies. (Students who intend to apply to graduate school may elect to complete the requirements for the Pre-Professional Track degree in Philosophy, with the minor in Classical Studies, and the language hours in Latin.)

Minor in Philosophy

18 hours, at least six of which must be  3000/4000 level.

Minor in Classical Studies

The Minor in Classical Studies requires 18 hours, at least six of which must be  3000/4000 level.  There are four options for the classical studies minor:  Greek Language, Latin Language, Classical Civilization, and Ancient Studies.  Interested students must consult with the advisor to determine which courses are required for each option.  

Minor in Medical Humanities and Bioethics

The Minor in Medical Humanities and Bioethics requires 18 hours.  There are three required courses: HUMA 3300, PHIL 3319, and the student's choice from the listed Disability Studies courses.

Certificate in Ethics

To receive the certificate, a student must complete five courses from the following list:
PHIL 1304	CONTEMPORARY MORAL PROBLEMS	3
or PHIL 2312	ETHICS
or PHIL 3319	BIOMEDICAL ETHICS
or PHIL 3320	PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
or PHIL 3324	BUSINESS ETHICS
or PHIL 3330	SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
or PHIL 3340	TOPICS IN APPLIED ETHICS
or PHIL 4387	TOPICS IN VALUE THEORY
With the permission of the departmental adviser, one of the five required courses may be replaced by a course from the following list:
BDEC 3311	BUSINESS DECISION MAKING - PLANNING, ETHICS, SUSTAINABILITY, & AGILITY	3
or COMM 3310	COMMUNICATION LAW & ETHICS
or EDUC 4346	SECONDARY SCHOOL CULTURE AND THE TEACHING PROFESSION
or JOUR 2346	REPORTING
or LSHP 4312	LEADER ETHICS
or MANA 4340	BUSINESS AND SOCIETY
or MILS 2251	INDIVIDUAL/TEAM DEVELOPMENT
or PSYC 3304	ANALYSIS & MANAGEMENT OF BEHAVIOR

Certificate in Medical Humanities

To receive the certificate, a student must complete HUMA 3300 and three courses from an approved list. Students can count toward the certificate no more than two courses from a single department. At least two courses must be from the College of Liberal Arts.