Major Requirements



	For a Major in Philosophy
	For a Concentration in philosophy
	For a Premedical Concentration in Philosophy
	For a Major in Economics-Philosophy
	Departmental Honors
	Courses of Instruction

For a Major in Philosophy

Program of Study: Students considering a major in philosophy are strongly encouraged to meet with the director of undergraduate studies early in their sophomore year. All majors must consult the director of undergraduate studies each term before registering for classes in order to plan and update their individual programs of study.

Students planning to major in philosophy are advised to begin with PHIL C1010. Beginning students are especially encouraged to take 2000-level courses, both in the history of philosophy and in systematic philosophy. These courses are typically less specialized and less narrowly focused than higher-numbered ones. More advanced students are encouraged to take 3000-level courses. The department requires that all majors take at least one major's seminar, C3912. To write an honors thesis, students must have a 3.6 average in philosophy, register for C3996-C3997 (supervised senior research), and work closely with a faculty adviser. Plans for the thesis must begin in the fall semester, in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.

Courses:

At least 30 points in philosophy, chosen from courses prefixed with C, G, V, or W, including:

PHIL V2101 or another course in the history of ancient or medieval philosophy (e.g. PHIL W3131)
PHIL V2201 or another course in the history of late medieval or early modern philosophy (e.g. PHIL V3237 or 3264)
PHIL V3411 or, in exceptional cases, a more advanced course in logic
At least one course in either metaphysics or epistemology (e.g. PHIL W4501, V3601, or a related course to be chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies)
At least one course in either systematic ethics or social and political philosophy (e.g. PHIL V2702, V3701, V3751, or a related course to be chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies)
At least one majors' seminar, C3912.

NOTE: In order to enroll in one of the 4000-level courses, students must have taken at least four courses in Philosophy.

NOTE: No more than one course at the 1000 level can be counted toward the major.

NOTE: Students may choose courses prefixed with G only with the instructor's permission. Additionally, because these seminars will be capped, students should register early.

For a Concentration in Philosophy

Program of study: Philosophy, as an academic discipline, has significant points of contact with a wide range of other subjects-in the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences. A concentration in philosophy thus can be an attractive option for many students. Those considering becoming concentrators are strongly encouraged to meet with the director of undergraduate studies early in their sophomore year, in order to discuss their specific interests and to plan their programs of study. All concentrators should consult with the director of undergraduate studies each term before registering for courses.

Courses: At least 24 points in philosophy, chosen from courses prefixed with C, G, V, or W. There are no specific courses required for the concentration.

NOTE: PHIL C3912 is open to junior and senior concentrators who have taken at least four courses in philosophy.

NOTE: Students may choose courses prefixed with G only with the instructor's permission.Additionally, because these seminars will be capped, students should register early.

For a Premedical Concentration in Philosophy

Program of study: The director of undergraduate studies strongly encourages prospective concentrators to discuss the concentration early in their sophomore year. Each concentrator is expected to talk to the director of undergraduate studies in the middle of their junior year and at the beginning of their senior year.

Courses: At least 15 points in philosophy, chosen from courses prefixed with C, G, V, or W. PHIL C1010 is strongly recommended. For required premedical science courses, see Special Programs in this bulletin.

NOTE: Students may choose courses prefixed with G only with the instructor's permission. Additionally, because these seminars will be capped, students should register early.

For a Major in Economics-Philosophy

Adviser for Philosophy: John Collins, 714 Philosophy Hall

Please read Regulations for Economics Majors, Concentrators, and Interdepartmental Majors in the Economics section of the Bulletin.

Program of Study:
Economics-philosophy is an interdisciplinary major that, while introducing students to the basic methodologies of economics and philosophy, stresses areas of particular concern to both. These include subjects such as rationality and decision making, justice and efficiency, freedom and collective choice, the logic of empirical theories and their testing. Many of the issues are dealt with historically, and classic texts of Plato, Kant, Mill, Marx, and Smith are reviewed.

Two advisers are assigned for the interdepartmental major, one in the Department of Economics and one in the Department of Philosophy. Please note that the economics adviser can only advise on the economics requirement and the philosophy adviser can only advise about on the philosophy requirements.

The departmental advisers strongly encourage prospective majors to discuss the major early in their sophomore year. Each major is expected to talk to the departmental advisers in the middle of his or her junior year and at the beginning of his or her senior year.

Required courses: This program requires a total of 44 points: 16 points in economics, 15 points in philosophy, 6 points in mathematics, 3 points in statistics, and 4 points in the interdisciplinary seminar, ECPH W4950.

Economics core courses (10 points):

ECON W1105, Principles of economics
W3211 Intermediate microeconomics
W3213 Intermediate macroeconomic

Mathematics sequence (6 points)

Statistics (3 points)

Economics Electives (6 points)
Two of the following:

ECON W4020 Economics of uncertainty and information
ECON W4080 Globalization, incomes, and inequality
ECON W4211 Advanced Microeconomics
ECON W4213 Advanced Macroeconomics
ECON W4228 Urban economics
ECON G4235 Historical foundations of modern economics OR ECON BC3041 Theoretical foundations of political economy
ECON G4301 Economic growth and development
ECON 4321 OR ECON BC3029 Economic development
ECON W4329 Economics of sustainable development
ECON W4345 World economic problems
ECON W4370 Political economy
ECON W4400 OR ECON BC3019 Labor economy
ECON W4415 Game theory
ECON W4438 Economics of race in the United States
ECON W4465 Public economics
ECON W4480 Gender and applied economics
ECON W4500 OR ECON BC3047 International trade
ECON W4615 Law and economics
ECON W4625 Economics of environment
ECON W4750 Globalization and its risks
ECON BC3011 Poverty and income distribution

Philosophy Courses (15 points):

PHIL C1010 Methods and problems of philosophical thought
PHIL V3411 Symbolic Logic
PHIL V3701 Moral philosophy (or another adviser-approved course in moral or political philosophy)
PHIL W3551 Philosophy of science (or another adviser-approved course in epistemology or philosophy of science)
One of the following:
PHIL G4561 Probability and induction
PHIL G4565 Rational choice

Seminar (4 points)
ECPH W4950 Economics and philosophy seminar (or another adviser-approved seminar in philosophy or economics)

For courses in history and philosophy of science, please see seperate headings in the Bulletin.

NOTE: Courses in which a grade of D has been received do not count toward the major or concentration.

Departmental Honors

In order to qualify for honors in philosophy, a student must have a grade point average of at least 3.6 in the major and complete a senior thesis. Seniors are expected to discuss their plans for a thesis with the director of undergraduate studies early in the fall semester and to submit a written petition by December 1. The completed thesis must be submitted by April 1. Students are expected to write the thesis under the close supervision of a member of the department (see PHIL C3997). Normally, no more than 10 percent of the graduating majors in the department each year will receive departmental honors.

Courses of Instruction

In the listing, the designator PHIL (Philosophy) is understood to precede all course numbers for which no designator is indicated. The following designators also appear in abbreviated form: CSPH (Computer Science-Philosophy) and ECPH (Economics-Philosophy).