In order to ensure that students have a broad background in the history of philosophy as well as a good degree of choice in shaping their experience as a major, we are changing the major requirements.

The new requirements have been approved. Philosophy majors beginning with the class of '13 will major under the new requirements.

All current majors (the class of '12) will fall under the current rubric for the major.

Prerequisites for Courses in Philosophy:

• For courses numbered 100-210: none.
• For courses numbered 211 through 299: six credits in philosophy (not including credits earned in first-year seminars) or permission of the instructor.
• For courses numbered 300 through 400: twelve credits in philosophy (not including credits earned in first-year seminars) or permission of the instructor.

New Major Requirements

69 credits in philosophy, including: 

1) Each of the following core courses (24 credits)

• Logic
• Ancient philosophy
• Modern philosophy
• Ethics

2) Theoretical Philosophy Area Requirement: 6 credits at or above the 200 level. Theoretical philosophy courses include, but are not limited to, courses that predominantly cover themes from metaphysics, epistemology, the philosophy of language, the philosophy of science, logic, or the philosophy of mind.

3) Practical Philosophy/Value Theory Area Requirement: 6 credits at or above the 200 level. Practical Philosophy/Value Theory courses include, but are not limited to, courses that predominantly cover themes from ethics, political philosophy, social philosophy, or aesthetics.

4) Advanced courses and comps (21 credits)

• 395 Advanced Seminar (two sections must be taken – 12 credits)
• 399 Senior Thesis (6 credits)
• 400 Integrative Exercise/Comps (3 credits)

Courses cannot be double counted to meet more than one of the above requirements. That is, if a student takes a 395 Advanced Seminar in the philosophy of mind, it cannot count both as a theoretical philosophy distribution requirement (2 above) and as an advanced seminar (4 above).

No more than on 100-level course will count toward the major.

Depending on each student's individual educational goals, up to one course from another department can count toward the philosophy major after consultation with, and at the discretion of, the chair of the Philosophy department.