Philosophy, B.A.

University Core Curriculum Requirements — 40 credit hours

All University of Portland students progress through a set of shared course options as part of the University’s liberal arts Core Curriculum. This curriculum offers a foundation of multiple lenses to address enduring questions of human concern, integrating the liberal arts, the University mission, and the knowledge, skills, and values needed in a diverse society and in the workplace.

See Core Curriculum Requirements

In Philosophy Major Option 3, one of the three core requirements in the Scientific and Quantitative Literacy and Problem Solving Habit is satisfied by ECN 120 or POL 200 within the major.

PHL 371/372/373/374 and PHL 499 are the designated Writing in the Discipline courses for the B.A. in Philosophy.

College of Arts and Sciences B.A. Requirements — 24-33 credit hours

See College Requirements, B.A.

Philosophy Major Option 1 — 25 credit hours

This curriculum features a strong emphasis on the history of philosophy and is designed for students planning to go on to graduate work in philosophy, or whose primary interest is in the history of philosophy.

Option 1 Required Courses - 16 credit hours

PHL 321Logic

3

PHL 371Ancient Philosophy

3

PHL 372Medieval Philosophy

3

PHL 373Early Modern Philosophy

3

PHL 374Hegel and 19th Century Philosophy

3

PHL 499Senior Capstone

Variable

Option 1 Major Electives - 9 credit hours

Any 300- or 400-level PHL course, two of which must be at the 400-level.

Any additional credit hours required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours

Philosophy Major Option 2 — 25 credit hours

Designed for students who desire to complement an interest in philosophy with an interest in a related field such as business, education, or any of the liberal arts. Students choosing this option should consult with their advisor for specific course recommendations to complement their interests in related fields of study.

Logic – 3 credit hours

PHL 321Logic

3

History – 6 credit hours

Select two courses from the following:
PHL 371Ancient Philosophy

3

PHL 372Medieval Philosophy

3

PHL 373Early Modern Philosophy

3

PHL 374Hegel and 19th Century Philosophy

3

Metaphysics or Epistemology - 3 credit hours

Select one course from the following:

PHL 330Metaphysics - A Survey

3

PHL 331Metaphysics: Asian Philosophy

3

PHL 332Metaphysics: Philosophy of Mind

3

PHL 333Metaphysics: Philosophy of Religion

3

PHL 334Metaphysics: Problem of Being

3

PHL 335Metaphysics: Self and Identity

3

PHL 336Metaphysics: Native American Philosophy

3

PHL 337Metaphysics: Freedom

3

PHL 338Metaphysics: Ancient Greek Metaphysics in Context

3

PHL 339/THTR 405Metaphysics of Shakespeare

3

PHL 371Ancient Philosophy

3

PHL 372Medieval Philosophy

3

PHL 373Early Modern Philosophy

3

PHL 374Hegel and 19th Century Philosophy

3

PHL 422Philosophy of Science

3

PHL 479Existentialism

3

Ethics or Politics – 3 credit hours

Select one course from the following:

PHL 313Socio-Political Philosophy

3

PHL 314Metaphysics: Philosophy and Feminism

3

PHL 324Environmental Ethics

3

PHL 325Bioethics

3

PHL 410/ETHS 410Decolonial Education and Politics

3

PHL 412Philosophy of Law

3

PHL 430Advanced Ethics

3

Option 2 Major Electives - 9 credit hours

Any 300 or 400 level philosophy class, two of which must be 400-level.

Capstone - 1-3 credit hours

PHL 499Senior Capstone

Variable

Any additional credit hours required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours

Philosophy Major Option 3 Philosophy Politics and Policy — 63 credit hours

This curriculum is designed for students with an interest in philosophy and political science with an emphasis on public policy. Students choosing this option will have a double major in philosophy and political science. A decision to follow this curriculum should be made before the end of the junior year.

Option 3 Required Courses - 39 credit hours

PHL 313Socio-Political Philosophy

3

PHL 321Logic

3

PHL 371Ancient Philosophy

3

PHL 373Early Modern Philosophy

3

ECN 120Principles of Macroeconomics

3

ECN 121Principles of Microeconomics

3

POL 200Introduction to United States Politics

3

POL 203Introduction to Political Theory

3

POL 205World Politics

3

POL 250Political Inquiry and Analysis

3

POL 335American Public Policy

3

PHL 490Directed Study

Variable

Or

POL 490Directed Study

3

PHL 499Senior Capstone

Variable

Or

POL 499Senior Thesis

3

PHL 490/POL 490 and PHL 499/POL 499 must be taken for 3 credit hours each.

PHL 490/POL 490 should be completed during the junior year. PHL 499/POL 499 should be completed during the senior year and in the discipline not chosen for the directed study during the junior year.

Select one course from the following - 3 credit hours

POL 305Ancient and Medieval Political Thought

3

POL 306Modern Political Thought

3

POL 307Contemporary Political Theory

3

Option 3 Major Electives — 21 credit hours

12 upper-division credit hours must be from political science, with 6 credit hours being 400-level. These must include one comparative politics course, one U.S. politics course, and one international relations course.
9 upper-division credit hours must be in philosophy, chosen from those courses not already required.