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Philosophy Major

 

Requirements:

In addition to meeting all University of Oregon Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree, students must meet the following requirements to complete a Major in Philosophy:

1. Credits, Course Levels and Grades:

52 credits earned from Philosophy courses

  • Upper Division: At least 40 credits must be earned via Upper-Division courses (300 or 400-level).
  • Residence: At least 20 Upper-Division credits must be from courses taken in residence (i.e. at UO).
  • Grades: All credits must be from courses completed with a grade of C- or higher. No more than 8 credits may be earned from courses graded P/NP.

2. Required Courses:

  • History of Philosophy: At least four of the following courses (with at least two from PHIL 310, 311, and 312):*
    PHIL 310: History of Philosophy: Ancient and Medieval
    PHIL 311: History of Philosophy: Modern
    PHIL 312: History of Philosophy: 19th Century
    PHIL 342: Introduction to Latin American Philosophy
    PHIL 415: Continental Philosophy
    PHIL 420: American Philosophy
  • Gender, Race, Class, and Culture (GRCC): At least one of the following courses:
    PHIL 110: Human Nature
    PHIL 170: Love and Sex
    PHIL 216: Philosophy and Cultural Diversity
    PHIL 315: Introduction to Feminist Philosophy
    PHIL 342: Introduction to Latin American Philosophy
    PHIL 443: Feminist Philosophy
    PHIL 451: Native American Philosophy
    PHIL 452: Philosophy and Race
    (or another course on this theme approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies)
  • Logic:
    PHIL 225: Introduction to Formal Logic
    or
    PHIL 325: Logic, Inquiry, and Argumentation (Please note: effective Fall 2018, PHIL 325 will no longer be offered, yet does still fulfill the logic requirement for those who have already taken it)
  • Authors Courses:
    At least two 400-level courses that focus on the works of specific philosophers (e.g. Plato, Kant, Dewey, Beauvoir, Arendt, etc.). One of them must have a PHIL subject.

*Students who declared a Major in Philosophy prior to Fall 2019 may satisfy the History of Philosophy course requirement by taking all three of PHIL 310, PHIL 311, and PHIL 312.

Current Major Requirements Checklist:

Sample Course Plan:

First Year:
Three 100-level or 200-level courses: PHIL 225 and any combination of two others (12 lower-division credits in Philosophy).
Second Year:
PHIL 310, 311, 312, 342, 415, or 420 (16 upper division credits in Philosophy).
Third Year:
Two 300-level courses, one 400-level “Authors” course (12 upper division credits in Philosophy).
Fourth Year:
One 400-level “Authors” course, plus three courses consisting of any combination of 300-level courses or 400-level seminars (12 upper division credits in Philosophy).

 

Preparing for Graduate Study in Philosophy:

Students who intend to do graduate work in philosophy are strongly urged to prepare themselves by acquiring a good reading knowledge of a second language appropriate to their interests. Meet with the Undergraduate Director early in your undergraduate studies to discuss additional plans for graduate school preparation and for application advice.

 

Declare a Major in Philosophy