Contact
Director of Undergraduate Studies
541 Hall of Languages
315-443-2245
Faculty
Martin Abreu Zavaleta, William “Ben” Bradley, Janice Dowell, Kevan Edwards, Samuel Gorovitz, Mark Heller, Josh Hunt, Karin Nisenbaum, Christopher Noble, Hille Paakkunainen, Kara Richardson, Michael Rieppel, Erica Shumener, David Sobel, Robert Van Gulick
Description
Using reason and argument, philosophers seek to answer the most fundamental of questions: What am I? What can I know? What must I do? Because the study of philosophy so effectively sharpens and extends the mind, many students find it to be the ideal companion to other courses of study.
The philosophy curriculum has two principal divisions. The first division consists of studies that are central to philosophy proper. There are four core areas: ethics, logic, metaphysics and the theory of knowledge, and the history of philosophy. The second division includes courses devoted to the philosophical examination of other areas of inquiry and culture, such as mathematics, the natural and social sciences, language, politics and the law, the arts, history, education, and religion.
Students particularly interested in political philosophy should see the program description under that heading here.
Students particularly interested in logic should see the description of the logic concentration, included under “Interdisciplinary Minors” in this section of the catalog.
Major Requirements
Students seeking a BA in philosophy are required to complete at least 30 credit hours in philosophy, at least 24 credits of which are numbered 300 or above. In order for a course to count towards a student’s major program, the student must receive a grade of C or better in the course. Each student must fulfill the following requirements:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| PHI 251 | Logic | 3 |
| PHI 401 | Seminar for Philosophy Majors | 3 |
| 6 |
| Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy | |
| Classical Islamic Philosophy | |
| The Rationalists | |
| British Philosophy | |
| Political Philosophy: The Social Contract Tradition and its Critics | |
| History of Ethics | |
| Hegel, Marx, and Nietzsche | |
| Topics in Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy | |
Note:
*Other appropriate courses as approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies
Metaphysics, Epistemology, Mind, Language, and Logic: At least one of the following:
Note:
*Other appropriate course approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies
Value Theory: At least one of the following:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| PHI 317 | Political Philosophy: The Social Contract Tradition and its Critics | 3 |
| PHI 391 | History of Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 393 | Contemporary Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 394 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 395 | Philosophy of Art | 3 |
| PHI 396 | Stem Cells and Society | 3 |
| PHI 397 | Philosophy of Law | 3 |
| PHI 398 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 417 | Contemporary Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHI 493 | Contemporary Ethical Issues | 3 |
| PHI 593 | Ethics and the Health professions | 3 |
Note:
*Other appropriate course approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies
College of Arts and Sciences Requirements
For all Arts and Sciences|Maxwell students, successful completion of a bachelor’s degree in this major requires a minimum of 120 credits, 96 of which must be Arts and Sciences|Maxwell credits, completion of the Liberal Arts Core requirements, and the requirements for this major (30 credits) that are listed above.
Dual Enrollments:
Students dually enrolled in Newhouse* and Arts and Sciences|Maxwell will complete a minimum of 122 credits, with at least 90 credits in Arts and Sciences|Maxwell coursework and an Arts and Sciences|Maxwell major.
*Students dually enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences|Maxwell as first year students must complete the Liberal Arts Core. Students who transfer to the dual program after their first year as singly enrolled students in the Newhouse School will satisfy general requirements for the dual degree program by completing the Newhouse Core Requirements.
Undergraduate University Requirements
The following requirements and experiences apply to all Syracuse University Undergraduate matriculated degree programs.
