Philosophy

Philosophy
Academic Bulletin

When advising a student interested in Philosophy, please note:

Entering and other students can’t go wrong with any 100 level course. Philosophy 130 (Science and Values) and Philosophy 140 (Ethics and Community) emphasize the topic areas their titles suggest. Philosophy 165 (The Examined Life: Philosophy Through the Ages) focuses on classic and contemporary texts.

200-level courses should be accessible without prior preparation to entering first year students with stronger than average writing and reading skills.

A current schedule of Philosophy and Religious Studies courses, descriptions and times that includes further information for some courses that is not provided in the Academic Bulletin, is accessible for students and advisors at this link.

The Major in Philosophy requires completion of at least 42 semester credit hours as outlined below:

• Two introductory courses from among Philosophy 130, 140 and 165. It is recommended, but not required, that these courses be taken before courses above the 100 level.
• Philosophy 220
• One of Philosophy 230 or 240
• One of Philosophy 260, 270, 350 
• Philosophy 310
• Philosophy 580
• Philosophy 600 and 610
• Two elective courses in philosophy or cognate courses from another discipline. By consulting with faculty, students may use electives to create an emphasis in a specific area of philosophy.

The Minor in Philosophy requires completion of at least 24 semester credit hours as outlined below:

• Two courses from among Philosophy 130, 140, 165 and 220.
• Philosophy 310
• Philosophy 580
• Two electives to bring the total to 24 credits.

Philosophy majors/minors are required to have a GPA of at least 2.0 in the Major/Minor at graduation. All department courses taken at Allegheny on a letter-grade basis are included in that calculation, with the exception of repeated courses for which only the most recent grade counts. No more than one Philosophy course that is taken Credit/No Credit will count toward the minor.