Philosophy Program Requirements

Faculty

• Kara Barnette
• Nicholas D. More (Chair)
• Michael A. Popich

View Philosophy Courses

Program Goals

• To become effective analytical and critical thinkers, and to communicate such thinking orally and in writing.
• To gain familiarity with philosophical and its central issues.
• To think and write in the form and by the method proper to the discipline of Philosophy, i.e., rational argumentation in support of a significant thesis.
• To pursue in depth one field of philosophy, either theoretical or applied.
• To produce a substantial piece of original scholarship in Philosophy.
• To become more reflective of the human condition, and the effect of globalization and diversity; to understand the relevance of philosophical thinking to one’s own life and public policies and practices.

Objectives

The Philosophy Program offers an academic major in philosophy leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Science degree, as well as an academic minor. It provides students with the critical and philosophical thinking skills necessary to examine human systems of value, knowledge, and belief, and to make rational analyses of ideas fundamental to living thoughtfully in the world. Philosophy is an excellent choice of study for pre-law students, as preparation for graduate school in philosophy, as a minor or second major for liberal arts students preparing for graduate school, and for anyone who would benefit from a discipline of clear thinking, writing, and problem solving in the pursuit of wisdom.

Students majoring in Philosophy who plan to pursue an M.A. or Ph.D. in the field should plan for graduate school, with the assistance of the Philosophy faculty, no later than the second semester of their junior year. Students intending to pursue a degree in theology are advised to major in English, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, or any broad liberal arts program. The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada recommends that students have a background in history, religions of non-western cultures, and a world language.

Students majoring or minoring in philosophy with a GPA of 3.5 overall and in philosophy coursework may be invited to become members of Phi Sigma Tau, the international undergraduate Philosophy Honor Society. Westminster University’s Utah chapter is the oldest in the state.

Program Requirements

Students must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.3 GPA in courses required in the Philosophy major.

Students must meet the university-wide graduation requirements in addition to the Philosophy major:

• 124 total hours
• 30 upper division hours
• WCore or Honors College requirements

Philosophy Major Bachelor of Arts Degree

HON 201 and 202 Foundational Conversations I & II may be substituted for any two of the following three courses required of philosophy program majors: PHIL 102, one lower-division course, an additional 200 level course. HON 203 Foundational Conversations III may be substituted for one of these courses. For the minor, HON 201 and 202 Foundational Conversations I & II may be substituted for any two of the following courses: PHIL 102, PHIL 216, or PHIL 221, and HON 203 Foundational Conversations III may be substituted for one of these courses.

Philosophy Major Bachelor of Science Degree

For a Bachelor of Science degree in Philosophy, students must fulfill the same requirements as for the Bachelor of Arts degree, except that students are required to take eight credit hours of a laboratory science in lieu of the history requirement.

HON 201 and 202 Foundational Conversations I & II may be substituted for any two of the following three courses required of philosophy program majors: PHIL 102, one lower-division course, an additional 200 level course. HON 203 Foundational Conversations III may be substituted for one of these courses. For the minor, HON 201 and 202 Foundational Conversations I & II may be substituted for any two of the following courses: PHIL 102, PHIL 216, or PHIL 221, and HON 203 Foundational Conversations III may be substituted for one of these courses. 

Recommended Plan of Study (B.A. or B.S.)

* It is recommended that students take 2 hours of PHIL 300 during May term for all four years.

Philosophy majors can take a combination of upper division courses in order to meet the catalog requirements for 14 (minimum) elective hours in Philosophy. For example, in their sophomore and junior years they could take 2 or 3 courses as 300-level electives (offered in the Fall and Spring semesters) and then take several 2-credit May Term Philosophy 300 special topics courses. Alternatively, the student could take several 300-level electives in their junior and senior years and several 2-credit Philosophy 300 special topics May Term courses over their sophomore, junior and senior years in order to reach the 14-hour (minimum) electives requirement in Philosophy. Note: 30 upper division credits overall are needed for a Bachelor’s degree.

Honors College students who complete HON 201 and HON 202 can have two of the three lower-division philosophy major course requirements fulfilled. To meet the lower-division requirement, Honors College students may take any one WCore course offered by the department, including PHIL 124: Ethics and the Profit Motive; PHIL 207: Humor and Philosophy; PHIL 208: The Philosophy of Love and Sex; PHIL 209: Poverty and Global Justice; and PHIL 216: Ethical Issues in Health Care.

Philosophy Minor