Philosophy, B.A.

(120 units)

This degree is approved for distance education by the WSCUC.

Requirements

A minimum of 36 units in Philosophy divided as follows:

Lower Division:

A maximum of 12 lower-division (100- or 200- level) units may be counted toward the major. In addition to the nine units from the three required 200-level courses listed above, students may count any lower division Philosophy course toward the major.

PHIL 203 - History of Early Western Philosophy (3 units)
PHIL 204 - History of Modern Western Philosophy (3 units)
PHIL 270 - Symbolic Logic I (3 units)

Upper Division:

A minimum of 24 units in philosophy, including at least two courses (6 units) from each of the following groups:

Note:

The required 6 upper-division units remaining are to be selected from philosophy courses with the advice and consent of the student’s departmental advisor, and may include PHIL 497H and PHIL 498H .

Pre-Law Emphasis

The pre-law emphasis requires the same minimum 36 units required for the major. Prelaw students should include at least four of the following in their course of study:

PHIL 351 - Political Philosophy (3 units)
PHIL 352 - Philosophy of Law (3 units)
PHIL 363 - Ethical Theory (3 units)
PHIL 451 - Liberty and Justice: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in American Law (3 units)
PHIL 489 - Philosophy Internship/Pre-Law (3-6 units)

Honors in Philosophy

The Honors in Philosophy program provides qualified undergraduate philosophy majors with an opportunity to do independent research with a faculty member on a topic of interest to the student and to present the results of that study in a seminar format. The Program has two curricular components:

a year-long, two-semester directed studies course (PHIL 498H - Undergraduate Honors Thesis ) in which the student learns advanced research techniques and writes an undergraduate thesis under the close supervision of a faculty member, and
a seminar (PHIL 497H - Undergraduate Honors Seminar ) in which honors students meet weekly to discuss work in progress and present a final thesis. The Seminar is designed each year with readings, discussions, and critiques of student work around the themes of the honors projects that year. To be eligible for the program, students must:
1. have a 3.50 GPA in the philosophy major and a 3.0 GPA overall;
2. successfully complete all lower-division courses for the major (PHIL 203 , PHIL 204 , and PHIL 270 );
3. successfully complete at least nine (9) units of upper-division philosophy courses (at least six [6] units at CSULB);
4. obtain written agreement from a philosophy faculty member to serve as the Honors Thesis Advisor.

Students enroll in PHIL 498H - Undergraduate Honors Thesis in Fall and Spring (3 units each semester), and in PHIL 497H - Undergraduate Honors Seminar in Spring (3 units), for a total of 9 units in the program. Students who have been admitted to the honors program and have successfully completed these requirements, along with the regular requirements for the Major in Philosophy, will graduate with Honors in Philosophy.