Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Pre-law
The Department of Philosophy offers a major in Philosophy within the Bachelor of Arts degree, as well as a minor in Philosophy. The study of philosophy can serve many useful purposes, but perhaps the most important are:
Training in philosophy helps one think more clearly, more perceptively, and more effectively. Regardless of one's personal and occupational goals, and regardless of the projects in which one is interested, being able to think clearly and effectively about them is important. Americans today switch careers (not just jobs) two to three times on average over their lives. More than ever it is important to have the learning, critical thinking, and analytical skills that philosophy provides to be able to transition between different professions.
The study of philosophy uniquely helps one to better understand and appreciate oneself, the world outside, and how the two are related. In order to live a happy and fulfilled life, it is important to make sense of life and one's place in it. The satisfaction of that need is at the core of philosophy.
A major in Philosophy will provide strong preparation for a variety of careers, particularly careers in K-12 teaching, business, law, medicine, public policy, the ministry, and college teaching. A minor in Philosophy will provide excellent support for majors in numerous fields, including history, government, English, psychology, sociology, math and certain areas of science and business administration.
Core Curriculum - 42 Hours
The Core Curriculum serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree must achieve core student learning outcomes, including communication, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility and social responsibility, by completing courses within each category or component area of the Core Curriculum as outlined below.
The University has approved specific courses that satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements. Approved courses can be found on the Core Curriculum Page. Students seeking the most efficient way to complete the core curriculum and major or minor requirements are advised to take approved courses that can fulfill both requirements. Although core curriculum courses can also be used to fulfill major or minor requirements, earned credits hours are only applied once.
Major Requirements - 60 Hours
Required Courses - 12 Hours
Philosophy Core| PHIL 1340 | Introduction to Logic |
| PHIL 3301 | Ancient Philosophy |
| PHIL 3303 | Modern Philosophy (1600-1800) |
| PHIL 4380 | Senior Seminar |
Prescribed Electives - 21 Hours
A minimum of 15 advanced of prescribed electives must be completed.Metaphysics or Epistemology - 3 hours
Choose from:| PHIL 4310 | Epistemology |
| PHIL 4312 | Metaphysics |
Value Theory - 3 hours
Choose from:| PHIL 1310 | Ethics, Happiness, and the Good Life |
| PHIL 1312 | Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy |
| PHIL 1330 | Philosophy, Art, and Film |
| PHIL 2306 | Introduction to Ethics |
| PHIL 2322 | Ethics, Health, and Culture |
| PHIL 2326 | Ethics, Technology, and Society |
| PHIL 3330 | Aesthetics/Philosophy of Art |
| PHIL 3352 / RELS 3352 | Religion, Spirituality, Ecology |
| PHIL 4302 | Special Topics in Applied Ethics |
| PHIL 4320 | Moral Theory |
| PHIL 4322 | Social and Political Philosophy |
| PHIL 4328 | Environmental Philosophy |
Diversity and Pluralism in Philosophy - 3 hours
Choose from:| PHIL 1304 / RELS 1304 | Introduction to World Religions |
| PHIL 1305 | Introduction to Latin American Philosophy |
| PHIL 1306 | Introduction to Asian Philosophy |
| PHIL 1362 | Race, Sexuality, and Class |
| PHIL 3307 / RELS 3307 | Indigenous Philosophies and Religions |
| PHIL 3354 / RELS 3354 | Islam |
| PHIL 3355 / RELS 3355 | Buddhism |
| PHIL 3356 / RELS 3356 | Judaism |
| PHIL 3360 | Feminist Philosophy |
| PHIL 3365 / MASC 3365 | Chicana and Latin American Feminisms |
| PHIL 4305 | Special Topics in Latin American Philosophy |
| PHIL 4345 | Mexican/Mexican-American Philosophy |
Philosophy Electives - 12 hours
Choose from additional philosophy ( PHIL ) courses not used to fulfill other requirements.Pre-Law Concentration - 27 hours
Philosophy on the Law & Justice - 3 hours
| PHIL 3370 | Philosophy of Law |
Social and Political Philosophy - 3 hours
Choose from:| PHIL 1312 | Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy |
| PHIL 4322 | Social and Political Philosophy |
Political and Economic Philosophy - 6 hours
Choose from:| PHIL 4318 | Philosophy of Food |
| PHIL 4323 | Radical Political Philosophy |
| PHIL 4325 | Capitalism and Philosophy of Economics |
| PHIL 4327 | Philosophy of Propaganda |
Reasoning, Rhetoric, and Truth - 6 hours
Choose from:| PHIL 1300 | Critical Thinking |
| PHIL 3340 | Intermediate Logic |
| PHIL 4310 | Epistemology |
Pre-Law Prescribed Electives - 9 hours
Choose from:| BLAW 3337 | Business Law I |
| COMM 1315 | Public Speaking |
| COMM 2335 | Argumentation and Debate |
| COMM 4315 | Persuasive Communication |
| CRIJ 1306 | Court Systems and Practices |
| CRIJ 4356 | Law and Society |
| CRIJ 4361 | Comparative Criminal Justice Systems |
| ENGL 4344 | Writing for Lawyers |
| HIST 3329 | American Legal History |
| HIST 3345 | History of England to 1688 |
| MASC 3332 / HIST 3332 | Mexican American History |
| MATH 1342 | Elementary Statistical Methods |
| POLS 2350 | Introduction to Political Economy |
| POLS 3353 | Urban Political Economy |
| POLS 3356 | U.S. Economic Policy |
| POLS 4310 | U.S. Judicial Process |
| POLS 4311 | U.S. Constitutional Law - Federalism |
| POLS 4312 | U.S. Constitutional Law - Civil Liberties |
| POLS 4390 | Legal Research and Writing I |
| PSYC 2301 | General Psychology |
| PSYC 4342 | Psychology and Law |
Free Electives - 18 hours
Free elective credit hours at the advanced level may be needed to achieve the institutional minimum of 42 advanced hours.Advanced Minimum Credit Hours: 42
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS: 120