Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
About This Program
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy majors study many of the most fundamental questions of our existence and how to think more effectively about them. Through exploring the history of ideas and the structures of good argumentation, philosophy majors develop high-level reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.
Competencies
- Upon completion, students will be able to construct and critically assess complex philosophical arguments.
- Upon completion, students will demonstrate an understanding of the central figures and main problems in the history of philosophy.
- Upon completion, students will demonstrate an understanding of the central figures and main problems in “systematic” areas of philosophy — such as, ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, etc.
- Upon completion, students will display knowledge of philosophical methods of analysis.
- Upon completion, students will be able to read philosophical texts with care and comprehension.
- Upon completion, students will be able to write clear, effective, and thoughtful philosophical prose.
- Upon completion, students will demonstrate proficiency in the research skills necessary for successfully completing the philosophy degree.
Admissions Criteria
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. Students may be accepted as pre-philosophy majors if the above standards are not met.
Curriculum
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy students are required to take Introduction to Philosophy and either Logic or Fundamentals of Reasoning. They must also take at least one course in the area of Metaphysics & Epistemology, one course in the area of Value Theory, and two courses in the History of Philosophy. Students have a wide variety of options so that they can study the areas of philosophy they find most fascinating.
| Foundations | ||
| General Core Requirements | 42 | |
| Students are required to complete specific courses in certain core areas. | ||
| For Communications select: | ||
| RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I | ||
| RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II | ||
| College of Liberal Arts Core | ||
| UNIV 1131 | STUDENT SUCCESS | 1 |
| or UNIV 1101 | CAREER PREPARATION AND STUDENT SUCCESS | |
| Select 1441, 1442 in any modern or classical language | 8 | |
| Philosophy Specialization | ||
| PHIL 2300 | INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY | 3 |
| PHIL 2311 | LOGIC | 3 |
| or PHIL 1301 | FUNDAMENTALS OF REASONING | |
| Select 21 hours of PHIL courses at least 15 of which must be at the 3000/4000-level. | 21 | |
| For Metaphysics & Epistemology select at least one from the following: | ||
| PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION | ||
| PHILOSOPHICAL LOGIC | ||
| PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE | ||
| PHILOSOPHY OF MIND | ||
| THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE | ||
| METAPHYSICS | ||
| TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES | ||
| For Value Theory select at least one from the following: | ||
| BIOMEDICAL ETHICS | ||
| PHILOSOPHY OF LAW | ||
| DISABILITY ETHICS | ||
| BUSINESS ETHICS | ||
| SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY | ||
| TOPICS IN APPLIED ETHICS | ||
| TOPICS IN BIOETHICS | ||
| PHILOSOPHY AND LITERATURE | ||
| TOPICS IN VALUE THEORY | ||
| CONFERENCE COURSE IN BIOETHICS | ||
| For History of Philosophy select at least two from the following: | ||
| HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY: ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY | ||
| HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY: ROMAN AND MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY | ||
| HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY: RENAISSANCE AND EARLY MODERN EUROPEAN PHILOSOPHY | ||
| HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY: NINETEENTH AND EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY | ||
| HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY: CLASSICAL INDIAN & BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY | ||
| EXISTENTIALISM | ||
| TOPICS IN ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHY | ||
| PHENOMENOLOGY | ||
| TOPICS IN THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY 2 | ||
| With advisor approval, select electives sufficient to complete 120 hours 1 | 42 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
In consultation with the undergraduate philosophy advisor and in light of individual aims and interests, students 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.
- 2
As the topic changes, PHIL 4388 may be repeated to meet the two-course (6 hour) History of Philosophy requirement.
Suggested Course Sequence
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| ENGL 1301 | 3 | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| U.S. History (part 1) | 3 | U.S. History (part 2) | 3 |
| Language 1441 | 4 | PHIL 2311 or 1301 | 3 |
| UNIV 1131 or 1101 | 1 | PHIL 2000/3000 | 3 |
| PHIL 2300 | 3 | Language 1442 | 4 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHIL 2000/3000 | 6 | PHIL 3000/4000 | 6 |
| Core Creative Arts | 3 | Core Mathematics | 3 |
| Core Mathematics | 3 | Core Life & Physical Science | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHIL 3000/4000 | 6 | PHIL 3000/4000 | 6 |
| Core Life & Physical Science | 3 | POLS 2312 | 3 |
| POLS 2311 | 3 | Core Social & Behavioral Science | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PHIL 3000/4000 | 6 | PHIL 3000/4000 | 6 |
| Elective | 9 | Elective | 9 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours: 120 | |||
Program Completion
Philosophy majors must take at least one course from the Metaphysics & Epistemology list of courses, one course from the Value Theory list of courses, and two courses from the History of Philosophy list of courses.
Advising Resources
Students should meet with their advisor prior to enrolling in classes every semester. Walk in advising sessions are available during posted office hours. Emailing the advising office is recommended for many advising issues.
Philosophy and Medical Humanities
Location:
307 Carlisle Hall
Email:
philosophyadvising@bookings.uta.edu
Phone:
817-272-2764