Philosophy, B.A.

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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 Areas G and H 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.)

Area F: Courses Appropriate to the Major (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

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

Recommended courses for the B.A. in Philosophy with no concentration:

Any 1000/2000-level philosophy courses not used to fulfill requirements in Areas B, C, or F.

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

Any 1000/2000-level philosophy courses not used to fulfill requirements in Areas B, C, or F.
ECON 2105 - Principles of Macroeconomics 3 Credit Hours
ECON 2106 - Principles of Microeconomics 3 Credit Hours

Area G: Major Courses (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)

PHIL 3000 - Philosophical Discussions-CTW 3 Credit Hours

History of Philosophy Requirements (6 Hours)

Select one of the following (3 Hours)

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

Select one of the following (3 Hours)

Neither 3010 nor 3020 may be repeated.

PHIL 3010 - Origins of Western Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 3020 - Rise of Modern Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 3030 - 19th - 20th Century Philosophy 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 4075 - Topics in 19th Century Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4085 - Topics in the History of Philosophy 3 Credit Hours

Value Theory Requirement. (3 Hours)

Select at least one of the following courses:

PHIL 4700 - Ethics 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 4780 - Neuroethics 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

Metaphysics and Epistemology Requirement. (3 Hours)

Select at least one of the following courses:

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 4530 - Philosophy of Language 3 Credit Hours

Select four more Philosophy courses at the 3000 or 4000-Level (12 Hours)

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 PPE program, the student must have excelled in his or her PPE courses and undergraduate career. For a student to earn Graduation with Distinction, the student must have at least a 3.5 GPA in the major and 3.5 GPA overall and must be in good academic standing. Rare exceptions may be made by faculty vote.