Major Requirements

Philosophy Major

Across such concerns, philosophy investigates the concepts, methods, and basic orientations of other human enterprises, academic disciplines, and creative pursuits. It also extends to various fields and activities: philosophy of science, philosophy of language, philosophy of art, philosophy of religion, and so on.

The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at CSUSM provides a comprehensive survey of the main questions of philosophy, delivered through a historical approach to the study of philosophy. Students follow the course of philosophical thought as it develops in the west and across global traditions of thought. The major features courses that follow the development of Western philosophy from its origins in ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, on through the ages, up through the latest currents in postmodern thought. Further coursework provides a survey of non-Western philosophy, and numerous applied ethics courses address issues of social justice, equity, and inclusion in global contexts. As students gain knowledge of the history of philosophy, additional courses support their study of logic, the philosophy of mind, ethical theory, practical ethics, and other branches of philosophy.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy will be able to …

Articulate the basic subject areas of philosophy.
Present well-developed research within the discipline of philosophy.
Communicate philosophical positions, concepts, and arguments.
Recognize conceptual, logical, and epistemological problems that relate philosophical theory to practice.
Articulate relationships between ethics, legal systems, and social structures.

Special Conditions for the Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

All courses counted toward the Major, including Preparation for the Major courses, must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better. Community college transfer students may transfer a maximum of nine (9) lower-division units toward requirements of the Philosophy B.A., and a maximum of eighteen (18) lower-division units for the Concentration in Ethics, Law, and Society. Students interested in more directed studies should consider the Ethics, Law, and Society Concentration.

Philosophy Major Requirements

Philosophy Major Requirement Worksheet

Philosophy Major By Units
Course Title	Units
General Education Requirements	43
Preparation for the Major PHIL 101 PHIL 210	6
Upper-Division Requirements PHIL 310 PHIL 312 PHIL 315 PHIL 318 PHIL 335 PHIL 360 PHIL 370 PHIL 410	24
Practical Ethics Elective PHIL 340 PHIL 345 PHIL 346 PHIL 348	3
Philosophy General Electives Two of the following: PHIL 311 PHIL 330 PHIL 332 PHIL 342 PHIL 352 PHIL 355 PHIL 365 PHIL 390 PHIL 430 PHIL 480 PHIL 499 *May be repeated for up to six (6) units of General Elective credit.	6
Interdciplinary Social Science Requirement All Philosophy majors must meet an Interdisciplinary Social Science (IDSS) requirement. This is satisfied with an approved lower-division interdisciplinary social science course from the following departments or programs: American Indian Studies, Border Studies, Environmental Studies, Ethnic Studies, Geography, Global Studies, Linguistics, Social Sciences, and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. The course taken to satisfy this requirement cannot double-count with other major requirements and must be outside the student’s major discipline.	3
Breadth Requirement Additional course in upper-division Arts and Humanities (UD3 designated) outside the major. This requirement can also count as the UD3 requirement in Upper-Division General Education, but it must be taken in a program other than Philosophy. Any course carrying the UD3 designation outside of Philosophy can be used to fulfill this requirement.	3
Capstone Sequence PHIL 470 PHIL 480	6
Total Units	120