Philosophy, B.A.

Return to: 3450 Department of Philosophy

Degree Requirements

The prerequisite for all 4000-level philosophy courses is at least one 2000- or 3000-level philosophy course with a grade of C or higher. Majors are strongly urged to take PHIL 2010 or PHIL 2030 and PHIL 3000 before taking 4000-level courses.

In addition to the Program Degree Requirements, students must fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements (see College Degree Requirements ) and the University Degree Requirements (see 1400 University Degree Requirements and Graduation ).

University Grade-Point Average and Grade Requirements

Georgia State University undergraduate students must achieve an overall institutional grade-point average of 2.0 and a major GPA of 2.0 in the Major and Additional Courses areas to receive a bachelor’s degree from the university. Grades of C- can be used to satisfy graduation requirements. However, some courses have prerequisites that require a grade of C or higher. (See 1460 GPA Requirement for additional information.)

Field of Study Area (18 Hours)

Required Courses (8-9 Hours)

One of the following (2-3 Hours)

PHIL 1010 - Critical Thinking 2 Credit Hours
PHIL 2500 - Introduction to Symbolic Logic 3 Credit Hours (Required for Graduation with Distinction and can improve performance on LSAT for Pre-Law students.)

One of the following (3 Hours)

PHIL 2010 - Introduction to Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 2030 - Introduction to Ethics 3 Credit Hours

World Language Requirements

World Language at the 1002 or Higher Level 3 Hours

Field Electives

Select additional 1000- or 2000-level courses from any department with a subject in the core curriculum to complete 18 hours in the Field of Study Area.

Recommended courses for the B.A. in Philosophy with a Pre-Law concentration:

ECON 2105 - Principles of Macroeconomics 3 Credit Hours
ECON 2106 - Principles of Microeconomics 3 Credit Hours

Major Area (27 Hours)

To satisfy the requirements for the B.A. degree with a major in philosophy, students must take a total of 27 semester hours in philosophy courses at the 3000 level or above, including the following distribution requirements:

CTW Requirement (3 Hours)

Complete the following course to fulfill the Critical Thinking Through Writing (CTW) requirement:

PHIL 3000 - Philosophical Discussions-CTW 3 Credit Hours

Required Foundational Course (3 Hours)

Select at least one of the following (3 Hours)

PHIL 3010 - Origins of Western Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
or
PHIL 3020 - Rise of Modern Philosophy 3 Credit Hours

Select any seven Philosophy courses (21 hours) at the 3000 or 4000 level, at least two at the 4000 level

The philosophy major is very flexible to allow students to meet their educational needs and career goals. Students may take classes in the Clusters described below if they wish to add more structure to their education in philosophy and best meet their career goals. Speak with the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) for additional guidance and suggestions.

Students interested in preparation for law school and legal careers can major in Philosophy, B.A., Pre-Law Concentration .

Major Authors & Traditions Cluster

Take multiple courses in this Cluster if you want to study major authors (such as Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, Hegel) and major philosophical traditions (such as Stoicism, Existentialism, Marxism).

PHIL 3010 - Origins of Western Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 3020 - Rise of Modern Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 3060 - Existentialism 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 3230 - Philosophy of Religion 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4010 - Plato 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4020 - Aristotle 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4030 - Topics in Ancient Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4050 - Topics in 17th-18th Century Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4055 - Hume 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4060 - Kant 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4070 - Marxism 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4075 - Topics in 19th Century Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4085 - Topics in the History of Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4090 - Topics in Continental Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4095 - Topics in Analytic Philosophy 3 Credit Hours

Mind, Brain & Knowledge Cluster

Take multiple courses in this Cluster if you want to study the nature of the mind and knowledge, and their connections to psychology, neuroscience, language, action, and emotion.

PHIL 3330 - Mind and Brain 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4100 - Epistemology 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4130 - Philosophy of Science 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4150 - Topics in Epistemology 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4300 - Metaphysics 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4330 - Philosophy of Mind 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4340 - Philosophy and Cognitive Science 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4350 - Topics in Metaphysics 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4500 - Symbolic Logic 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4530 - Philosophy of Language 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4770 - Moral Psychology 3 Credit Hours
* Specific courses in Major Authors and Traditions will often provide foundational ideas for the courses in this Cluster.

Ethics, Politics & Society Cluster

Take multiple courses in this Cluster if you want to study questions about morality, justice, social problems, and political structures.

PHIL 4700 - Ethics 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 3710 - Sex and Love 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 3720 - Contemporary Moral Problems 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 3730 - Business Ethics 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 3740 - Biomedical Ethics 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 3750 - Race and Racism 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 3810 - Introduction to Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics (PPE) 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 3820 - Legal Reasoning 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 3855 - Topics in Political Theory 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4740 - Advanced Biomedical Ethics 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4750 - Topics in Ethics 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4760 - Ethics and Contemporary Public Policy - Ethics Bowl 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4770 - Moral Psychology 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4800 - Social and Political Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4820 - Philosophy of Law 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4830 - Topics in Philosophy of Art 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4855 - Advanced Topics in Political Theory 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4860 - Feminist Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4890 - Topics in Social and Political Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
* Specific courses in Major Authors and Traditions will often provide foundational ideas for the courses in this Cluster.

Concentration Areas

Pre-Law Concentration

Graduation with Distinction in the Major

This unit offers undergraduate students with the opportunity to earn the designation of graduation with distinction in the major. To graduate with distinction in the PHIL program, the student must have excelled in his or her PHIL courses and undergraduate career. To earn Graduation with Distinction in PHIL, a student must be in good academic standing, and the student must have at least a 3.5 GPA in the major, a 3.5 GPA overall, and a B or higher in PHIL 2500 . Rare exceptions may be made by faculty vote.

Graduate Program Preparation

Majors who are preparing to apply to MA or PhD programs in Philosophy should try to take Phil 2500, Phil 3010, Phil 3020, and as many 4000-level courses as possible. Meet with the DUS to discuss other features of your application to graduate programs.