2015-2016

Philosophy, Politics and Law, Bachelor of Arts

Department of Philosophy

College of Arts and Letters

This bachelor's degree prepares students to examine "truths," precedents, and proposals through critical thinking and provides exposure to great thinkers and practitioners. This major pulls from three challenging disciplines and illuminates them with the lights of history, logic, and math/economics.

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's diversity, liberal studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • At least 54 units of major requirements
  • Language courses, if needed, to reach proficiency equal to 4 semesters of university-level coursework or 16 units

  • Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.

  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 120
Major GPA 2.0
Highest Mathematics Required MAT 114
Foreign Language Required
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Optional
Research Optional
Study Abroad Optional
University Honors Program Optional
Progression Plan Link Not Available

Major Requirements

  • Take the following 54 units with a Grade of "C" or better in each course:

    Lower Division (24 units)

  • Upper Division (30 units)
    • Concentration (15 units)
  • REQUIRED PPL SEMINARS
    Students are required to complete a PPL seminar milestone and attend at least two seminars with distinguished visiting lecturers. Typically, a seminar will consist of no more than 15 students in a roundtable session with a guest lecturer. Students will read and be prepared to raise questions about an excerpt of work in progress by the guest.  A PPL advisor's signature on the student's graduation form indicates completion of these requirements.

    RECOMMENDED PRACTICUM
    Students are advised to complete one or more of the following practicum listed below, which will require the completion of an application and specific requirements):
    • Research project in collaboration with a faculty member
    • Internship such as a legislative internship (HIS 466 or PHI 466) or with a law firm or business (PHI 408)
    • Service learning such as leading philosophy sessions in local high schools (PHI 408)
    • Semester of external study as an international or national exchange student
Foreign Language Requirement

  • You must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English that is equivalent to four terms of university coursework in the same language. You may satisfy this requirement by taking language courses or by testing out of all or part of it by taking CLEP exams. 

General Electives

  • Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

    You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.