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Philosophy and Classics - Undergraduate and Certificate Programs

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 four options for the classical studies minor:  Greek Language, Latin Language, Classical Civilization, and Ancient Studies. 

Requirements for the Certificate in Ethics

The certificate in ethics requires at least 15 semester hours in approved ethics 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 (Pre-Professional Track)

Pre-Professional Courses
General Core Requirements 42
Core Courses Required for this Major
ENGL 1301RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I3
ENGL 1302RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II3
Program Requirements
Modern and Classical Languages: 1441, 1442, 2313, 231414
Professional Courses
PHIL 2300INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY3
PHIL 2311LOGIC3
PHIL 3301HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY: ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY3
PHIL 3303HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY: RENAISSANCE AND EARLY MODERN EUROPEAN PHILOSOPHY3
PHIL 3307SEMINAR IN RESEARCH METHODS AND PHILOSOPHICAL WRITING3
Select at least one course from the "metaphysics and epistemology" group:3
THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE
THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE
METAPHYSICS
TOPICS IN THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY
TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
Select at least one course from the "value theory" group:3
ETHICS
PHILOSOPHY OF THE ARTS
PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
BIOMEDICAL ETHICS
PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
TOPICS IN VALUE THEORY
Advanced hours-with a total of at least six hours at the 4000 level 19
PHIL 4394SENIOR THESIS (complete a senior thesis sometime during their final year)3
Total Hours95
1

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

 Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy (General Track)

Pre-Professional Courses
General Core Requirements 42
Core Courses Required for this Major
ENGL 1301RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I3
ENGL 1302RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II3
Program Requirements
Modern and Classical Languages: 1441, 1442, 2313, 231414
Professional Courses
Major
PHIL 2300INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY3
PHIL 2311LOGIC3
PHIL 3307SEMINAR IN RESEARCH METHODS AND PHILOSOPHICAL WRITING3
Additional hours (12 advanced hours, with at least six hours at the 4000 level)18
Total Hours89
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-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 1301FUNDAMENTALS OF REASONING3
PHIL 1304CONTEMPORARY MORAL PROBLEMS3
PHIL 2312ETHICS3
PHIL 3317PHILOSOPHICAL LOGIC3
PHIL 3318THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY3
PHIL 3319BIOMEDICAL ETHICS3
PHIL 3320PHILOSOPHY OF LAW3
PHIL 3321PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE3
PHIL 3324BUSINESS ETHICS3
PHIL 3330SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY3
PHIL 3340TOPICS IN APPLIED ETHICS3
PHIL 4381THEORIES OF INTERPRETATION3
PHIL 4385THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE3
PHIL 4387TOPICS IN VALUE THEORY3

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 2301INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF HUMAN LANGUAGE3
LING 3311INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTIC SCIENCE3
LING 3330PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY3
LING 3340SYNTAX I3
LING 3345CRITICAL REASONING IN LINGUISTICS3
LING 4303SYNTAX II3
LING 4317SOCIOLINGUISTICS3
LING 4335LANGUAGE UNIVERSALS & LINGUISTIC TYPOLOGY3
LING 4345SEMANTICS3
LING 4347PRAGMATICS3
LING 4370HISTORY OF LINGUISTICS3
PHIL 2300INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY3
PHIL 2311LOGIC3
PHIL 3317PHILOSOPHICAL LOGIC3
PHIL 3318THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY3
PHIL 3321PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE3
PHIL 4381THEORIES OF INTERPRETATION3
PHIL 4385THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE3
PHIL 4389TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (Mind)3
PSYC 1315INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY3
PSYC 2443RESEARCH DESIGN & STATISTICS I4
PSYC 2444RESEARCH DESIGN & STATISTICS II4
PSYC 4332THEORIES OF HUMAN LEARNING AND MEMORY3
PSYC 4338COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE3
PSYC 4355THE HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY3

(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 Greek; with advisors' approval, students may choose to substitute Latin, 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 Greek.)

Minor in Philosophy

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

Minor in Classical Studies

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.  Typical courses include:

CLAS 1300INTRODUCTION TO CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY3
CLAS 2300HOLLYWOOD CLASSICS: THE ANCIENT WORLD IN FILM3
CLAS 2303THE CLASSICAL ROOTS OF ENGLISH VOCABULARY3
CLAS 2307WOMEN IN THE ANCIENT WORLD3
CLAS 3310INTRODUCTION TO GREEK CIVILIZATION3
CLAS 3320INTRODUCTION TO ROMAN CIVILIZATION3
CLAS 3323TOPICS IN CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY3
CLAS 3335TOPICS IN CLASSICAL STUDIES3
CLAS 4391CONFERENCE COURSE3
CLAS 4394SENIOR THESIS/HONORS THESIS3
ENGL 3361HISTORY OF WORLD LITERATURE I3
HIST 3374ANCIENT GREECE3
HIST 3375ANCIENT ROME3
HIST 3380HISTORY OF ANCIENT SPORT3
ANTH 3370ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE PREHISTORIC AEGEAN3
ANTH 3371ARCHAEOLOGY OF GREECE3
ANTH 3372ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST3
ANTH 3373ARCHAEOLOGY OF EGYPT3
ART 1309ART OF THE WESTERN WORLD I: GREECE THROUGH RENAISSANCE3
GREK 1441GREEK LEVEL I4
GREK 1442GREEK LEVEL II4
GREK 2313GREEK LEVEL III3
GREK 2314GREEK LEVEL IV3
GREK 4335TOPICS IN GREEK LITERATURE3
GREK 4391CONFERENCE COURSE3
LATN 1441LATIN LEVEL I4
LATN 1442LATIN LEVEL II4
LATN 2313LATIN LEVEL III3
LATN 2314LATIN LEVEL IV3
LATN 4301INTENSIVE LATIN FOR READING I3
LATN 4302INTENSIVE LATIN FOR READING II3
LATN 4335TOPICS IN LATIN LITERATURE3
LATN 4391CONFERENCE COURSE3

Certificate in Ethics

To receive the certificate, a student must complete five courses from the following list:
PHIL 1304CONTEMPORARY MORAL PROBLEMS3
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 3311BUSINESS DECISION MAKING - PLANNING, ETHICS, SUSTAINABILITY, & AGILITY3
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