Philosophy, BA, BS

Degree Requirements

Students can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Science degree with this major

Major Requirements: 11 courses, 38 credits

Core Requirements (4 courses, 10 credits)

CAS-201	College to Career: Explore Your Options And Find Your Path	1
PHIL-210	History of Ancient & Medieval Philosophy	4
PHIL-211	History of Modern Philosophy	4
PHIL-515	Senior Symposium	1

Core Electives (3 courses, 12 credits)

Choose one of the following:

PHIL-113	Critical Thinking and Civil Discourse	4
PHIL-212	Formal Logic	4

Choose one of the following:

PHIL-119	Ethics	4
PHIL-120	Ethics and Civic Life	4
PHIL-123	Social Ethics: The Good Life	4
PHIL-127	Contemporary Moral Issues	4

Choose one Philosophy course at the 400-level

Electives (4 courses, 16 credits)

Students are required to take four additional Philosophy courses selected with the help of an advisor. At least one of these additional courses should be at the 200-level or higher and one should be at the 300-level or higher.

Residency Requirement Policy

In the College of Arts and Sciences, a two-course (8 credit) residency requirement must be satisfied for completion of a minor and a four-course (16 credit) residency requirement must be satisfied for the completion of a major.

Applied Ethics Concentration

Major Requirements with Applied Ethics Concentration: 11 courses, 38 credits

Requirements for the Applied Ethics concentration supersede all other requirements for the major.

Core Requirements (6 courses, 18 credits)

CAS-201	College to Career: Explore Your Options And Find Your Path	1
PHIL-119	Ethics	4
PHIL-210	History of Ancient & Medieval Philosophy	4
PHIL-211	History of Modern Philosophy	4
PHIL-250	Social & Political Philosophy	4
PHIL-515	Senior Symposium	1

Core Elective (1 course, 4 credits)

Choose one of the following:

PHIL-113	Critical Thinking and Civil Discourse	4
PHIL-212	Formal Logic	4

Applied Ethics Requirements (4 courses, 16 credits)

Choose four courses in Applied Ethics, at least two of which must be at the 200-level or higher:

PHIL-120	Ethics and Civic Life	4
PHIL-123	Social Ethics: The Good Life	4
PHIL-127	Contemporary Moral Issues	4
PHIL-319	Topics in Applied Ethics	4
PHIL-362	Environmental Ethics	4
PHIL-363	Bio and Medical Ethics	4
PHIL-513	Internship in Applied Ethics	4

Honors

To complete requirements for honors in the major, a candidate must:

1. Graduate with a major GPA of 3.5 or higher
2. Graduate with an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher
3. Complete either two years of language study by graduation or PHIL-212 and PHIL-423
4. Complete a minimum of two 400-level Philosophy courses
5. Complete PHIL-H515
6. Complete a research paper/thesis in PHIL-H515 that is approved by the department
7. CAS Honors Program students only: Present work from the senior honors experience at the Honors Symposium or Pecha Kucha event

To become a candidate for honors in the major, a student must:

1. Have a major GPA of 3.4 or higher
2. Have an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher
3. Have completed a minimum of 8 credits in Philosophy courses at Suffolk University

CAS Honors Program students only: CAS Honors Program student who fulfill the above GPA requirement and the minimum credits of coursework are assumed candidates for departmental honors and should consult with the major advisor during junior year about registering for honors requirements as described above

All other students: Apply to the department chair or the advisor at the beginning of junior year

Philosophy Major Learning Goals and Objectives

Learning goals and objectives reflect the educational outcomes achieved by students through the completion of this program. These transferable skills prepare Suffolk students for success in the workplace, in graduate school, and in their local and global communities.

Learning Goals	Learning Objectives
Students will...	Students will be able to...
Develop a conceptual and historical understanding of the evolution of ideas and philosophical theories from various traditions and global perspectives [Historical and Theoretical Foundation]	- Acquire a solid foundation in the history of philosophy - Gain proficiency in ethics, theoretical and applied - Study diverse intellectual traditions and approaches - Appreciate the practical importance of a philosophical approach to life questions
Learn logical analysis and develop critical thinking skills [Logic]	- Formulate, analyze, and evaluate arguments - Support arguments with systematic reasoning - Study the foundations of various disciplines - Integrate textual analysis, argument analysis and evaluation
Discuss concepts and issues in a manner that is informed, creative, and charitable [Civil Discourse]	- Engage in civil dialogue through group work, open discussions, Q&A, etc. - Raise probing questions - Use sound argumentation strategies - Debate issues in a respectful manner - Identify the conceptual, historical, and cultural differences which inform contemporary discourse - Give effective presentations, both formal and informal
Become proficient in research and analytical writing [Research and Writing]	- Formulate interesting and important research questions - Identify and synthesize the relevant scholarly resources essential to a research question - Organize an argument in a form and level of depth suitable to a broad audience - Use information technology effectively - Constructively employ philosophical tools (distinctions, objections/responses, convincing hypotheticals and counter-examples) - Write with accuracy, precision, consistency, and relevance to topic at hand
Master a variety of reading styles and genres [Textual Analysis]	- Identify and articulate the core arguments from complex texts - Compare and contrast ideas expressed in different styles and different time periods - Raise substantive questions about the author’s assumptions, conclusions, and rhetorical devices