You can take Philosophy as a major, an honors degree, a minor, a double-major, or with a minor in another subject. What works best for you?
In order to earn the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Philosophy, students must complete a minimum of 180 credits with a cumulative and major/program grade point average of 2.00. 50 credits are taken in Philosophy.
The Philosophy departmental honors major offers an opportunity for students to complete a challenging individual research project and to work independently under the direction of one of their professors.
Application to the major: To be accepted to the program, students must have a cumulative and major/program grade point average of 3.5. Students must be recommended by a Philosophy faculty member who will take responsibility for directing the student’s honors thesis, and the recommendation must be approved by the department chairperson.
Interested students should apply in spring quarter of the junior year or fall quarter of the senior year. Departmental honors students take 10 credits of designated honors courses (in addition to the 50 credits required for the major) and write a 25-40 page thesis.
Policy for University Honors Program Students
Honors Program graduates may earn a philosophy major by taking an additional 35 credit hours, which include the following required courses: For the Intellectual Traditions track, PHIL 2600, PHIL 4850, and 25 credit hours of approved electives. For the Innovations Track, PHIL 2600, PHIL 3020, PHIL 4850, and 20 credit hours of approved electives. For the Society, Policy and Citizenship track, PHIL 2600, PHIL 4850, and 25 credit hours of approved electives.
Honors Program graduates may earn a philosophy major with departmental honors by fulfilling the requirements for the BA with University Honors described above plus an additional 10 credits (PHIL 4770, PHIL 4780, PHIL 4790) and completion of a 25-40 page thesis.
The Philosophy departmental honors major offers an opportunity for students to complete a challenging individual research project and to work independently under the direction of one of their professors.
Application to the major: To be accepted to the program, students must have a cumulative and major/program grade point average of 3.5. Students must be recommended by a Philosophy faculty member who will take responsibility for directing the student’s honors thesis, and the recommendation must be approved by the department chairperson. Interested students should apply in spring quarter of the junior year or fall quarter of the senior year.
The Philosophy Minor Program is designed to reinforce a student's major area of study, to complement the acquisition of professional skills, and to broaden intellectual horizons. Many students develop an appreciation for philosophical thinking in their Core courses and wish to bring the depth and rigor of philosophical questioning to their other areas of academic interest. The Minor Program allows this dimension of their work to be represented in their undergraduate degree.
Value A minor in philosophy reinforces a major academic field of study by bringing fundamental questions and broad perspectives to bear upon that field. Philosophy students develop the ability to critique the problems and presuppositions that are at the heart of other areas of study. Philosophy provides ways of raising questions of ethics and values that bring an insightfulness to both scholarship and professional development. Students who are seeking careers that require creative and critical thinking, persuasive and precise writing, and the ability to formulate and critique complex arguments find these skills at work in the study of philosophy. The addition of a Philosophy minor distinguishes our students as graduates of a Jesuit Catholic university.
Flexibility Once you complete UCOR 2500 and UCOR 2900 (or 2910 or 2920), you can choose any four 5-credit Philosophy electives to complete the minor. Students who have completed the University Honors Program typically need only an additional 14 Philosophy elective credits for the minor. For information regarding the Minor, please contact the Department Chair or Administrative Assistant.
Seattle University undergraduate Philosophy students should be able to:
For a complete list of Learning Outcomes for College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Programs, click here.