Philosophy at Aquinas College

Philosophy Major (BA)

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>Major Checklist (pdf)

Major Requirements: A minimum of thirty (30) semester hours

Required Courses:

  • PH111
  • PH 334
  • PH450 (SC)
  • Two courses in the history of philosophy from the following:
    • PH 215
    • PH 220
    • PH 225
    • With permission, students may take another course such as PH 330 or PH 312.
  • One course in Metaphysics or Epistemology (designated ME)
    • PH 306
    • PH 331
    • With chairperson’s approval, a course in philosophy or language or philosophy of mind
  • Four (4) courses of electives

NOTE:

  • At least four courses must be numbered 300 or higher. At most, two courses may be numbered below 200.
  • A maximum of two (2) independent study courses
  • Students majoring in Philosophy must complete a minimum of fifteen (15) hours in philosophy at Aquinas College.

Courses

  • PH111 Logic (3) HP

    Basic tools for analyzing and criticizing arguments, including basic patterns of deductive logic, recognizing common fallacies, and criticizing analogical and causal arguments.

  • PH334 Ethics (3)

    A historical survey of the ethical theories offered to solve moral problems and the cultural traditions in which they arose. Such theories include virtue ethics, natural law, Stoic ethics, utilitarianism, Kantian ethics, emotivism, ultratrunism, existential ethics, and feminist ethics. The course will challenge the students to discover ethical approaches to moral decision-making in post-modern pluralistic society.

  • PH450 Philosophical Research (3) SC

    The aim of this course is to strengthen proper philosophical research methods and practices in students, as well as assist them in producing a piece of original philosophical writing of a very high quality. This course is not accepted for the General Education Humanities requirement.

  • PH215 Ancient Greek and Chinese Philosophy (3) HP

    Major philosophers between the 5th century B.C. and the 3rd century A.D. including Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Confucius and Lao Tzu.

  • PH220 Medieval Philosophy (3) HP

    Major philosophers between the 4th and 14th centuries: Augustine, Boethius, Anselm, Thomas Aquinas, members of the Arabic and Jewish schools, Duns Scotus, Ockham.

  • PH225 Modern Philosophy (3) HP

    Critical review of the most influential writings of four major philosophers: Descartes, Locke, Hume and Kant.

  • PH306 Epistemology (3) ME

    Theory of knowledge; evidence, knowledge and opinion, the a priori, truth, insight; canons of inquiry: history, science, religion, and literature as knowledge.

  • PH331 Metaphysics (3) ME

    Issues covered: whether there is a universal, basic human nature; what it means to be a ‘person’; (how) is the mind linked to the body and the soul; what does it mean to be a self.

Philosophy