2024-2025 Catalog

Philosophy, BA, BS

Degree Requirements - 126 credits

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

Philosophy Major Requirements: 11 courses, 41 credits

Core Requirements (4 courses, 13 credits)

CAS-201College to Career: Explore Your Options and Find Your Path

1

CAS-H201Honors College to Career: Explore Your Options and Find Your Path

1

PHIL-210Ancient Traditions

4

PHIL-211History of Modern Philosophy

4

PHIL-515Senior Symposium

4

Students in the Honors Program have the option of completing the Honors version of a course.

Core Electives (2 courses, 8 credits)

Choose one of the following:

PHIL-113Critical Thinking and Civil Discourse

4

PHIL-212Formal Logic

4

Choose one of the following:

PHIL-119Global Ethics

4

PHIL-H119Honors Ethics

4

PHIL-120Ethics and Civic Life

4

PHIL-H120Honors Ethics and Civic Life

4

PHIL-123Social Ethics: The Good Life

4

PHIL-H123Honors Social Ethics: The Good Life

4

PHIL-127Contemporary Moral Issues

4

PHIL-H127Honors Contemporary Moral Issues

4

Electives (5 courses, 20 credits)

-Choose one additional 4-credit Philosophy course

4

-Choose one additional 4-credit Philosophy course

4

-Choose one additional 4-credit Philosophy course at the 200-level or higher

4

-Choose one additional 4-credit Philosophy course at the 300-level or higher

4

-Choose one additional 4-credit Philosophy course at the 400-level

4

Note: A list of Philosophy courses can be found in the Courses section of the Academic Catalog.

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.

About the Philosophy Major

Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.

View the Program Page

Applied Ethics Concentration

Major Requirements with Applied Ethics Concentration: 11 courses, 41 credits

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

Core Requirements (6 courses, 21 credits)

CAS-201College to Career: Explore Your Options and Find Your Path

1

CAS-H101Honors Strategies of Success

1

PHIL-119Global Ethics

4

PHIL-H119Honors Ethics

4

PHIL-210Ancient Traditions

4

PHIL-211History of Modern Philosophy

4

PHIL-250Social and Political Philosophy

4

PHIL-515Senior Symposium

4

Students in the Honors Program have the option of completing the Honors version of a course.

Core Elective (1 course, 4 credits)

Choose one of the following:

PHIL-113Critical Thinking and Civil Discourse

4

PHIL-212Formal 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-120Ethics and Civic Life

4

PHIL-H120Honors Ethics and Civic Life

4

PHIL-123Social Ethics: The Good Life

4

PHIL-H123Honors Social Ethics: The Good Life

4

PHIL-127Contemporary Moral Issues

4

PHIL-H127Honors Contemporary Moral Issues

4

PHIL-319Topics in Applied Ethics

4

PHIL-362Environmental Ethics

4

About the Philosophy Major

Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.

View the Program Page

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

About the Philosophy Major

Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.

View the Program Page

Honors

Honors in the Major is a highly selective opportunity to complete a signature original project or thesis with the close personalized mentorship of a departmental faculty member beginning in the junior year.  Students have the opportunity to complete a junior level interdisciplinary course addressing real-world problems. In the senior year, students present research or creative works completed in their discipline at the Honors in the Major Symposium. There is special recognition at Commencement and on the Suffolk transcript. 

About the Philosophy Major

Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.

View the Program Page