Major in Philosophy 2011-2012

The Philosophy department reserves the right to change major requirements at any time. Please check with the Philosophy department or the CU Boulder catalog for the most current listing of requirements. You are subject to the requirements in effect at the time you declare your major as an Arts & Sciences degree seeking student.

In addition to the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences, students must complete 33 to 45 credit hours in Philosophy. Also, students must take 18 hours of upper-division work in Philosophy with a grade of C- or better. Students must earn a C- or better for 33 credit hours of course work and an average of C (2.00) for all work attempted in Philosophy.

All students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of upper-division course work in the major on the CU-Boulder campus.

Courses required for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy at CU-Boulder and Colorado Community College applicable courses.

CU-Boulder Required Courses Colorado Community College Applicable Courses

History (9 credit hours)
  • PHIL 3000 (3) History of Ancient Philosophy, Ancient and Medieval
  • PHIL 3010 (3) History of Modern Philosophy, Modern

One course from the following:

  • PHIL 4010 (3 ) Single Philosopher
  • PHIL 4020 (3) Topics in the History of Philosophy
  • PHIL 4030 (3) Medieval Philosophy
  • PHIL 4040 (3) 20th Century Philosophy
  • PHIL 4070 (3) Existential Philosophy
  • PHIL 4080 (3) Introduction to Phenomenology
  • PHIL 4090 (3) Philosophy of Kierkegaard
  • PHIL 4250 (3) Marxism

Logic (3 credit hours)

Complete one of the following:
  • PHIL 2440 (3) Symbolic Logic
  • PHI 213 (3) Symbolic Logic
  • PHIL 4440 (3) Topics in Logic

Philosophical Writing (3 credit hours)
  • PHIL 3480 (3) Critical Thinking and Writing in Philosophy (prereq. or coreq., PHIL 2440 Symbolic Logic)

Values (6 credit hours)
  • PHIL 3100 (3) Ethical Theory (prereq. or coreq., PHIL 3480 Critical Thinking and Writing in Philosophy)

Complete one of the following:

  • PHIL 2140 (3) Environmental Justice
  • PHIL 2200 (3) Major Social Theories
  • PHIL 2220 (3) Philosophy and Law
  • PHIL 2290 (3) Philosophy and Women
  • PHIL 3110 (3) Feminist Practical Ethics
  • PHIL 3140 (3) Environmental Ethics
  • PHIL 3160 (3) Bioethics
  • PHIL 3190 (3) War and Morality
  • PHIL 3200 (3) Social and Political Philosophy
  • PHI 201 (3) Social and Political Philosophy
  • PHIL 3260 (3) Philosophy and the International Order
  • PHIL 4110 (3) Contemporary Moral Theory
  • PHIL 4200 (3) Contemporary Political Philosophy
  • PHIL 4250 (3) Marxism

Metaphysics and Epistemology (6 credit hours)
  • PHIL 4340 (3) Epistemology (prereqs. PHIL 2440 (3) Symbolic Logic and PHIL 3010 (3) History of Modern Philosophy; prereq. or coreq. PHIL 3480 (3) Critical Thinking and Writing in Philosophy)

One of the following additional courses:

  • PHIL 3600 (3) Philosophy of Religion
  • PHIL 4300 (3) Philosophy of Mind
  • PHIL 4360 (3) Metaphysics
  • PHIL 4400 (3) Philosophy of Science
  • PHIL 4490 (3) Philosophy of Language

Electives (6 hours):

Two courses at the 2000 level or above, which are not taken to satisfy any of the above requirements.

Note: The Philosophy Department offers topically oriented majors that are interdisciplinary in nature, including law and society, and values and social policy. These majors require two semesters in the history of Philosophy, as well as a series of core courses that vary according to the topical emphasis. A student intending to complete a topical major in Philosophy should see either the appropriate advisor in the area or the departmental undergraduate advisor as soon as possible.

Elective courses that do not count for the Philosophy Major but can be used for elective credit

Philosophy courses that do not count for the major at CU

The following courses do not count for the Philosophy major, however, they may be used to fulfill lower-division general elective credit at CU Boulder.

Colorado Community College Appicable Courses CU-Boulder Equivalent Course (if any)
  • PHI 111 (3) Introduction to Philosophy
  • PHIL 1000 (3) Introduction to Philosophy
  • PHI 112 (3) Ethics
  • PHIL 1100 (3) Ethics
  • PHI 113 (3) Logic
  • PHIL 1440 (3) Introductory Logic
  • PHI 214 (3) Philosophy of Religion
  • PHIL 1600 (3) Philosophy and Religion