Philosophy (First Year and Transfer)

• Information for Transfer Students
• Philosophy courses most often transferred

Philosophy
Academic Bulletin

Area of Study: Values and Societies
Programs: Major and Minor
Department: History & Philosophy
Program Coordinator: Prof. Eric Palmer

Offered Fall 2024:

• PHIL 130 (Values and Knowledge) a study of scientific knowledge (since scientific theories are refuted and replaced, why is it called knowledge?), and of the social effects of scientific knowledge (in technological application, such as genetic engineering).

• PHIL 140 (Ethics and Community) emphasized the topic areas its title suggests.

  • It also serves a role in the Business major, Community & Justice Studies Major, Education Studies Minor, Energy & Society Minor, Data Science Major and Minor, Global Health Studies Major.

• PHIL 270 (Early Modern Philosophy) a study of a few notable threads of thought from the writings of Rene Descartes, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, and other European Enlightenment thinkers.  PHIL 270 has a “one course in Philosophy” prerequisite; but it may open to students with strong preparation and reading skills (please contact Eric Palmer for consideration).

• PHIL 285 (Business and Professional Ethics) topic as indicated, offered once per year. Due to enrollment pressures, students should anticipate enrolling during Sophomore year at earliest.

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

• Two introductory courses from among Philosophy 120, 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 310, 340, 385
• Philosophy 580 (students arrange for 580 in junior or senior year while taking a 300-level course in consultation with the Program Coordinator)
• Philosophy 600 and 610 (students arrange these with their intended senior project advisor – or consult with Program Coordinator)
• 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. 

A combined maximum of eight transfer credits and credits taken credit/no credit at Allegheny may be counted toward the major, including PHIL 600 (2 credits, C/NC); exceptions must be approved by the Program Coordinator.  At graduation, Philosophy majors must have a GPA of at least 2.0 in required courses and further courses that satisfy the credit count up to the department requirement of 42 credits. 

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

• Two courses from among Philosophy 120, 130, 140, 165 and 220.
• Two among Philosophy 310, 340, 385, 580.
• Two electives to bring the total to 24 credits.

A combined maximum of six transfer credits and credits taken credit/no at Allegheny may be counted toward the minor. At graduation, Philosophy minors must have a GPA of at least 2.0 in required courses and further courses that satisfy the credit count up to the department requirement of 24 credits.

Philosophy majors/minors are required to have a GPA of at least 2.0 in the Major/Minor at graduation. 

Information for Transfer Students

Pathways to the Philosophy Major

A combined maximum of eight transfer credits plus credits taken credit/no credit at Allegheny may be counted toward the major, including Allegheny’s PHIL 600 (2 credits, C/NC); exceptions must be approved by the Program Coordinator. 

A Philosophy major might be achieved on a 2 year schedule by a student who transfers in two (3-credit) introductory philosophy courses from earlier college experience and pursues the following schedule (for explanation of non-numbered course requirements noted in the table, see further below):

(The schedule above is hypothetical: all required courses are offered each year, but their pattern of offering varies between spring and fall.)

More detail on the Philosophy major: The path to a Philosophy major might best be traced back from its endpoint (graduation!). It requires completion of 42 credits.

In your Fourth (Senior) Year:

You must complete your senior project, a two semester sequence of your own independent work (PHIL 600 (2 credits), PHIL 610 (4 credits)), carried out under the supervision of a faculty member. PHIL 610 is the course that completes your senior project. PHIL 600 (2 credits) is the preparatory phase of that project and should be taken in the semester before PHIL 610. So, PHIL 600 may be taken as early as your Junior year spring semester, or in the fall semester of your Senior Year.

In your Third (Junior) or Fourth Year:

You should expect to take our highest-level course offerings: the junior seminar (PHIL 580) and an applied seminar (PHIL 310, PHIL 340, PHIL 385). These may be taken either year, it is preferable, but not required that PHIL 580 precede PHIL 610.

In your Second (Sophomore) or Third Year (or, if not completed earlier, in your Senior Year):

You should expect to take epistemology (PHIL 220) and at least one sciences and philosophy course (PHIL 230, PHIL 240). The Program Coordinator may determine that a transfer student has completed this requirement, or the history requirement (PHIL 165) if appropriate courses have been previously completed and transferred to Allegheny. Consult with the Program Coordinator for details.

And, for those who begin their college education at Allegheny, or transfer in after the first year:

In your First or Second Year:

You should expect to take two of our introductory-level courses (PHIL 120, PHIL 130, PHIL 140, PHIL 165). You may also take 200-level courses.

A Philosophy minor is easily completed in two years. A student should expect to take our highest-level course offerings: the junior seminar (PHIL 580, regularly offered in fall) and an applied seminar (PHIL 310, 340 and 385). These may be taken either Junior or Senior year. The minor also requires 24 credits total, of which two courses should be from among PHIL 130, 140, 165 and 220. That two course requirement might be satisfied through transfer courses: for details, see the “Philosophy courses most often transferred” below.

Students transferring to Allegheny College who are considering a Major or Minor in Philosophy should feel free to ask questions of the Program Coordinator (Eric Palmer, epalmer@allegheny.edu) to informally discuss courses that may transfer to satisfy specific requirements listed above.

Philosophy courses most often transferred 

Issues to consider for transfer credits:

1. A 3-credit transfer course with a similar description and course content will be accepted to fulfill a 4-credit requirement in Philosophy. However, a student must still meet the minimum number of credit hours required for the major (or minor), which might necessitate taking or transferring elective courses in Philosophy.
2. Philosophy requires two introductory 100-level courses towards the Major, and up to two such courses may be counted towards the Minor. Students who transfer in a Philosophy course to Allegheny College are most likely to receive credit that will serve to fulfill the requirement for one of those introductory courses. This is necessarily so if the course transfers in as PHIL 120, 130, 140, or 165. It is very likely to be the case even when courses transfer as a generic number (PHIL*1TE or PHIL*2TE). It is safe to say that any introductory course in a standard area of philosophy such as logic, metaphysics, epistemology, or critical thinking will qualify as one of the numbers listed above. Explicit determination may be decided upon consultation with the Program Coordinator.
3. History of Philosophy Courses: A course focused upon history of philosophy that is discontinuous, jumping through time periods, is likely to transfer either as PHIL 165 or PHIL 1*TE equivalency. More formal history of philosophy courses will transfer as 2*TE and will also serve to fulfill the PHIL 165 requirement for the major (examples: Greek Philosophy, Medieval Philosophy, History of African Philosophy, 20th Century Continental Philosophy).
4. Epistemology course: PHIL 220 Epistemology is likely to be a transfer-equivalent for any college-level course with the title “Epistemology”, “Theory of Knowledge,” “Knowledge,” or “Problems of Knowledge.” A course with the title “Knowledge and [second subject area]” is unlikely to qualify as PHIL 220 and is likely to transfer as PHIL 1*TE equivalency.
5. PHIL 285 Business and Management Ethics is likely to be a transfer equivalent for another college-level course with the title “Business Ethics” or “Management Ethics” or a similar title, where the course has an upper-level (above introductory level) number within the numbering system that is used by the institution at which the course is taught. Introductory level courses are likely to transfer as Phil 1*TE equivalency.
6. PHIL 385 Medical Ethics is likely to be a transfer equivalent for a college-level course with the title “Medical Ethics” or “Biomedical Ethics” or a similar title, where the course has an upper-level (above introductory level) number within the numbering system that is used by the institution at which the course is taught. Introductory level medical ethics courses are likely to transfer as Phil 1*TE equivalency.
7. Cognate courses: Up to two courses that count towards a Major in Philosophy may be “cognate courses”. A cognate course (from an area outside of the study of philosophy) will qualify as providing credits towards the Major if your Philosophy advisor at Allegheny College finds that the course you propose contributes to your philosophical work. This arises most frequently when a course contributes towards informing work that will be developed in the Senior Project. So, for example, a Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies course may be a suitable cognate for a student whose work focuses upon social and political philosophy. Your academic advisor at Allegheny determines qualification for cognate courses following your arrival, and usually well into your study at Allegheny, so this will not affect decisions regarding qualifying transfer courses. But having a background in relevant courses may reduce the number of courses in Philosophy that will be required to complete the major.  

Students transferring to Allegheny College who wish to consult on courses should feel free to ask questions of the Program Coordinator (Eric Palmer, epalmer@allegheny.edu) to informally discuss courses that may transfer.