Department Chair: Dr. Harold V. Bennett (Professor)
Faculty: Dr. Kipton Jensen (Professor); Nathan Nobis (Professor)
Program Overview:
The Program in Philosophy aims to develop a critical and analytical approach to all significant areas of human inquiry and existence. Courses focus on critical thinking, argument analysis, and clear, effective communication - orally, in writing, and in new digital media - about matters of utmost personal, social, and global consequence. Philosophy is an ideal preparation for any career or field of advanced study that requires rigorous argumentative skills, strong communication abilities, critical analysis, evaluation, and problem-solving skills.
Philosophical concerns include the nature of sound reasoning and fair debate, the demands of ethics and justice, the limits and extent of knowledge, the rationality of religious belief and practice, the nature of ourselves and what makes for meaningful lives, and the engagement of ethical and philosophical issues in the sciences, arts, business, politics and all other aspects of human existence. Because philosophical and ethical issues are present in all fields of inquiry, philosophy is an ideal second major or minor; an increased understanding of the philosophical issues in any area increases one’s depth of knowledge.
Philosophy courses rigorously engage pressing, relevant philosophical and ethical questions from Western and non-Western traditions, from diverse thinkers both past and present. Students develop skills in understanding complex theories and arguments, engaging and teaching new audiences about important issues, and developing their own informed and well-justified views and positions on philosophical issues that affect their lives and the lives of many communities, whether these agents are local, national, or global.
Student learning outcomes
Students who concentrate in Philosophy will be able to critique what influential past and present philosophical thinkers have argued about a variety of subjects in philosophical disciplines.
Students who concentrate in Philosophy will be able to analyze methodologies influential past and present philosophical thinkers used to articulate and examine philosophical positions.
Students who concentrate in Philosophy will be able to appraise abstract theories for engaging issues of justice, sexuality, racism, classism, religious diversity, and other prominent issues that receive attention in conversations and debates in the public square.
Students who concentrate in Philosophy will produce arguments on important issues confronting society, as well as personal existential, ethical, religious, political, and vocational questions.
Department policies and/or general education modifications:
- A minimum grade of C is required for all Philosophy courses that apply towards the major or minor.
- Students may qualify for program honors in Philosophy by satisfying the following criteria: (1) earning at least a 3.5 grade-point average in Philosophy; (2) and completing a research paper on a topic approved by the Program and in accordance with the program’s regulations.
- Students must select Cognate electives in consultation with their academic adviser.
- Philosophy majors must write a substantial research paper either (a) in one of the regular courses in the major or (b) in a Directed Study course.
- A student who decides to do his research project as a part of the Directed Study course must obtain the approval of the professor who will teach the course and make the research paper a part of it. Obtaining consent from the professor must be done before the last day of classes of the semester preceding the course. Every student must fill out a copy of the appropriate form to register for the research paper and submit it to the Chair of the Department before the last day of classes of the semester preceding the research project. A copy of the final paper should be submitted to the thesis advisor by the end of the semester in which the project is carried out. This policy makes the research requirement a part of the thirty-nine-hour requirement for a Philosophy major.
