Philosophy, Bachelor of Science
Department of Philosophy
College of Arts and Letters
Philosophy is the study, and critical analysis, of fundamental human concerns. It addresses questions ranging from metaphysics (e.g., what is free will?), to epistemology (e.g., what distinguishes genuine knowledge from accidentally true belief?), to ethics (e.g., what makes a society just?). Students in the Philosophy BS will receive a broad philosophical education, including coursework in all major philosophical subfields. They will develop skills in critical thinking, argumentative writing, logical analysis, and effective communication. These skills prepare students for careers in law, government, business, public service, administrative work, or graduate school.
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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 general studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
- All of Northern Arizona University's general 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:
- 36 units of major requirements.
- Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy General 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 |
| University Honors Program | Optional |
| AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A | Recommended |
| Progression Plan Link | Not Available |
Purpose Statement
Philosophy is the study, and critical analysis, of fundamental human concerns. It addresses questions ranging from metaphysics (e.g., what is free will?), to epistemology (e.g., what distinguishes genuine knowledge from accidentally true belief?), to ethics (e.g., what makes a society just?). Students in the Philosophy BS will receive a broad philosophical education, including coursework in all major philosophical subfields. They will develop skills in critical thinking, argumentative writing, logical analysis, and effective communication. These skills prepare students for careers in law, government, business, public service, administrative work, or graduate school.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Develop critical thinking and problem solving competence in the following:
- Formal Logic.
- Examining and critiquing arguments expressed in formal logical systems and prose writing.
- Constructing arguments.
- Develop effective communication (exegetical and argumentative writing) competence in the following:
- Rendering others' arguments in a way that showcases the arguments' strengths (i.e., not constructing a straw man).
- Assessing the internal coherence of others' arguments.
- Assessing the external validity of others' arguments (i.e., determining whether an internally coherent position conflicts with other well-established facts).
- Creating new arguments that enhance internal coherence and external validity.
- Understanding philosophical concepts, and their historical context, through reading and class discussion.
- Trace the influence of these concepts on past social, political, and intellectual practices.
- Trace the influence of these concepts on present social, political, and intellectual practices.
- Major Requirements
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This major requires 36 units distributed as follows:
- Required Philosophy Coursework: 24 units
- Philosophy Electives: 12 units
Take the following 36 units:
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Required Philosophy Coursework (24 units)
- Select from the following (3 units):
- Select from the following (3 units):
- PHI 240, PHI 241 (6 units)
- Select from the following (3 units):
- Select from the following (3 units):
- Select from the following which meet the junior-level writing requirement (3 units):
- PHI 414C which meets the senior capstone requirement. (3 units)
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Philosophy Electives (12 units)
- Select additional PHI coursework.
- At least 6 units must be at the 300-level or higher.
- Students considering graduate studies in philosophy should take as many upper-division electives as their schedule allows.
- Select additional PHI coursework.
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Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:
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- Philosophy, BA
- General Electives
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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 General Studies Requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
- Additional Information
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Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.