Aug 23, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Philosophy Major

BA degree  

 

Philosophy Program Learning Outcomes

  • Content: Enabling students to describe, discuss, explain, or review major topics in any of the following sub-fields of philosophy: (a) the history of philosophy; or (b) moral, social or political philosophy; or (c) metaphysics or epistemology; or (d) non-traditional philosophy.
  • Skills: Enabling students to identify and evaluate formal (deductive, inductive, abductive, etc.) or informal arguments based on explicit criteria (e.g., validity, soundness, strength, cogency, etc.), or identify common argumentative fallacies.
  • Skills: Enabling students to locate, analyze, summarize, paraphrase, or synthesize philosophical arguments in primary or secondary texts.
  • Capstone Skills: Enabling students to create, develop, and defend one’s own original thesis either orally or in writing.

Philosophy Requirements

Core Requirements

  • Credits: 3

  • One three (3) credit course from the concentration area Moral, Social or Political Philosophy
    One three (3) credit course from the concentration area History of Philosophy
    One three (3) credit course from the concentration area Metaphysics and Epistemology
    One three (3) credit course from the concentration area Critical Philosophy

  • Credits: 3

  •  

    Plus five philosophy courses, three (3) credits each, in any area - 15 credits total

     

    Note that 15 credits must be at the 300-level or above.

     

    Total Credits: 33

Moral, Social or Political Philosophy Area Concentration

Select one 200 or 300-level course, three (3) credits, from the following list:

History of Philosophy Area Concentration

Select one 200 or 300-level course, three (3) credits, from the following list:

Metaphysics and Epistemology Area Concentration

Select one 200 or 300-level course, three (3) credits, from the following list:

Critical Philosophy Area Concentration

Select one 200 or 300-level course, three (3) credits, from the following list:

Philosophy Electives

Pre-Law Concentration

Philosophy majors interested in pursuing graduate work and/or a career in law related fields may choose a pre-law concentration within the major. Students selecting the pre-law concentration take the same number of credits as other philosophy majors, but the structure of those credits is different.

The core requirements for the Pre-Law Concentration are identical to those requirements in the philosophy major (18 credits). The Pre-Law Concentration Plan requires two courses, LEG 201 Introduction to Legal Studies (3 credits) and PHL 215 Introduction to Ethics. Additionally, students in the pre-law concentration must complete 3 elective courses (9 credits) in the areas of Advanced Reasoning, Ethical Inquiry and Communication Skills.

Requirements

Note that 15 credits overall of the Philosophy with Pre-Law Concentration must be at the 300- level or above.

Philosophy Major Core Courses: 18 Credits

Students take the same foundation courses as other PHL majors (18 Credits).

  • Credits: 3
  • One three (3) credit course from the concentration area Moral, Social or Political Philosophy
  • One three (3) credit course from the concentration area History of Philosophy
  • One three (3) credit course from the concentration area Metaphysics and Epistemology
  • One three (3) credit course from the concentration area Critical Philosophy
  • Credits: 3

Pre-Law Concentration Required Courses: 6 Credits

Pre-Law Plan Electives: 9 Credits

Students will complete one course in each category.

Advanced Reasoning:

Ethical Inquiry:

Communication Skills (written, oral and other modalities):

Total Credits: 33

University Studies Requirements

In addition to the requirements in the major, students will be required to complete the University Studies requirements. For more information: http://www.umassd.edu/generaleducation/universitystudies/universitystudiescurriculum/.