Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts (745)
- Undergraduate
- AB
- Arts & Letters
- Political Science
Overview
Philosophy, thought Socrates, begins with the recognition that an unexamined life is not worth living. Accordingly, those who study philosophy question how to understand ourselves and our relationships to other persons, to society, to nature, to the universe, and, for some, to God.
Philosophy develops our ability to challenge the obvious, trains us to analyze and synthesize ideas, and shows us both how to defend and how to criticize normative claims about actions, policies, and ways of life. By carefully examining and discussing both traditional and contemporary works, it cultivates habits of honest reflection, careful reasoning, and clear thinking.
Philosophy majors can choose one of two tracks (both require 31 credit hours):
-
the philosophy track, for a deeper study of foundational questions, everyday and eternal, that we must face in order to live well and succeed in our careers, or
-
the philosophy, politics, and policy track, for a deeper study of philosophy as it applies to decision-making in politics and social policy.
Concentration(s)
- General (No concentration)
- Philosophy, Politics, and Policy (PHLP)
Program Requirements (31 hours)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
The major in philosophy requires a minimum of 31 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. At least 18 hours must be in courses numbered 300 or above. A minor or second major is required.
Philosophy majors can choose one of two tracks (both require 31 credit hours):
-
the philosophy track, for a deeper study of foundational questions, everyday and eternal, that we must face in order to live well and succeed in our careers, or
-
the philosophy, politics, and policy track, for a deeper study of philosophy as it applies to decision-making in politics and social policy.
Philosophy Track (31 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Logic, Epistemology, and Metaphysics | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
PHIL 214 | Logic, Argument, and Practical Reasoning | |
PHIL 215 | Symbolic Logic | |
PHIL 315 | Philosophy of Religion | |
PHIL 330 | Philosophy of Science | |
PHIL 332 | Philosophy of Mind: Minds and Machines | |
PHIL 334 | Philosophy of Language | |
PHIL 404 | Metaphysics and Epistemology | |
PHIL 415 | Advanced Logic | |
| History of Philosophy | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
PHIL 331 | Analytic Philosophy | |
PHIL 341 | Plato and Aristotle | |
PHIL 342 | Skeptics, Stoics, and Epicureans | |
PHIL 343 | Medieval Philosophy | |
PHIL 344 | Early Modern Moral Philosophy | |
PHIL 345 | Descartes and Hume | |
PHIL 346 | Kant and Idealism | |
PHIL 347 | Leibniz and Locke | |
PHIL 348 | 20th Century Philosophy | |
PHIL 406 | Existentialism | |
PHIL 440 | Readings in Ancient or Medieval Philosophy | |
PHIL 450 | Readings in Modern or Contemporary Philosophy | |
PS 330 | Introduction to Political Theory | |
| Ethics and Values | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
PHIL 202 | Racial Justice | |
PHIL 207 | Philosophy and Popular Culture | |
PHIL 208 | Philosophy of Public Space; Reason, Action & Violence | |
PHIL 211 | Why Are Bad People Bad? | |
PHIL 212 | Philosophy and Gender Theory | |
PHIL 305 | Aesthetics | |
PHIL 322 | Biomedical Ethics | |
PHIL 323 | Social Ethics | |
PHIL 324 | War and Peace | |
PHIL 333 | Marx and Critical Theory | |
PHIL 344 | Early Modern Moral Philosophy | |
PHIL 350 | Ethical Theory | |
PHIL 406 | Existentialism | |
PHIL 426 | Philosophy and Old Age | |
PHIL 427 | Philosophy of Law | |
| Senior Seminar | ||
| PHIL 496 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| Electives | ||
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
Any philosophy (PHIL) course that is not already counting towards one of the above categories. | ||
RELS 242 | The Meaning of Life; Atheism to Zen | |
RELS 317 | Confucianism | |
RELS 318 | Daoism | |
| Total Hours | 31 | |
Philosophy, Politics, and Policy Track (31 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Logic, Epistemology, and Metaphysics | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
PHIL 214 | Logic, Argument, and Practical Reasoning | |
PHIL 215 | Symbolic Logic | |
PHIL 315 | Philosophy of Religion | |
PHIL 330 | Philosophy of Science | |
PHIL 332 | Philosophy of Mind: Minds and Machines | |
PHIL 334 | Philosophy of Language | |
PHIL 404 | Metaphysics and Epistemology | |
PHIL 415 | Advanced Logic | |
| History of Philosophy | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
PHIL 331 | Analytic Philosophy | |
PHIL 341 | Plato and Aristotle | |
PHIL 342 | Skeptics, Stoics, and Epicureans | |
PHIL 343 | Medieval Philosophy | |
PHIL 344 | Early Modern Moral Philosophy | |
PHIL 345 | Descartes and Hume | |
PHIL 346 | Kant and Idealism | |
PHIL 347 | Leibniz and Locke | |
PHIL 348 | 20th Century Philosophy | |
PHIL 406 | Existentialism | |
PHIL 440 | Readings in Ancient or Medieval Philosophy | |
PHIL 450 | Readings in Modern or Contemporary Philosophy | |
PS 330 | Introduction to Political Theory | |
| Ethics and Values | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
PHIL 202 | Racial Justice | |
PHIL 207 | Philosophy and Popular Culture | |
PHIL 208 | Philosophy of Public Space; Reason, Action & Violence | |
PHIL 211 | Why Are Bad People Bad? | |
PHIL 212 | Philosophy and Gender Theory | |
PHIL 305 | Aesthetics | |
PHIL 322 | Biomedical Ethics | |
PHIL 323 | Social Ethics | |
PHIL 324 | War and Peace | |
PHIL 333 | Marx and Critical Theory | |
PHIL 344 | Early Modern Moral Philosophy | |
PHIL 350 | Ethical Theory | |
PHIL 406 | Existentialism | |
PHIL 426 | Philosophy and Old Age | |
PHIL 427 | Philosophy of Law | |
| Senior Seminar | ||
| PHIL 496 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| Electives | ||
| Select at least two philosophy (PHIL) courses and at least two political science (PS) courses from the following: | 12 | |
Any philosophy course that is not already counting towards one of the above categories | ||
PS 201 | Concepts of Political Science | |
PS 311 | Public Policy | |
PS 316 | The Legislative Process | |
PS 326 | Constitutional Law | |
PS 327 | Civil Liberties | |
PS 328 | Criminal Justice Procedures | |
PS 330 | Introduction to Political Theory | |
PS 338 | Government and Ethics | |
PS 340 | Principles of Public Administration | |
Any graduate political science (PS) course | ||
| Total Hours | 31 | |
Honors in the Philosophy Major
An honors option is available for ambitious and high-achieving students seeking additional opportunities for intensive philosophical investigation. This may be pursued through honors-enriched versions of any philosophy course, and by writing a formal honors thesis in addition to the 31-hour program requirement. More details about an honors degree in philosophy can be obtained by contacting the department chair or any philosophy faculty member.
Finish in Four Plans
Finish in Four Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| COMM 145 or ENG 100 | 3 | ENG 100 or COMM 145 | 3 |
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | MATH 109 (or higher) | 3 |
| Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences with lab | 3-4 |
| Philosophy: Logic, Epistemology, and Metaphysics Course | 3 | Philosophy: Logic, Epistemology, and Metaphysics Course | 3 |
| PHIL 101, PHIL 102, or PHIL 103 | 3 | Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Science | 3 |
| 15 | 15-16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| RELS 200 or ENG 200 | 3 | ENG 300 | 3 |
| Philosophy: Ethics and Values Course | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 |
| Philosophy: History of Philosophy Course | 3 | Philosophy: History of Philosophy Course | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | Philosophy: Ethics and Values Course | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Philosophy: Elective Course | 3 | Philosophy: Elective Course | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Systems) | 3 | 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | PHIL 496 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Philosophy: Elective Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120-121 | |||