The Catholic University of America

Major in Philosophy

This program is designed to provide students with a broad philosophical background both in the history of philosophy and the systematic study of philosophical questions. It also gives the student the opportunity to do upper division work in related disciplines and will serve as excellent preparation for the study of theology.

 

Philosophy Requirement (4 courses) for the Bachelor's Degree at CUA

For the B.A. degree in the School of Arts and Sciences, the student is required to take four philosophy courses for a total of 12 credit hours. The first two courses introduce the student to philosophy and are prerequisites to all other philosophy courses. 

PHIL 201 - The Classical Mind

PHIL 202 - The Modern Mind 

To complete the four-course requirement the student chooses two more courses, one from each of the following two areas: 

Area I: Logic, Morality, and Action 

  • 301 - Reasoning and Argumentation
  • 303 - Biomedical Ethics
  • 309 - Ethics
  • 310 - Philosophy of Art
  • 311 - Contemporary Moral Issues
  • 332 - Political Philosophy
  • 333 - Philosophy of Natural Right & Natural Law
  • 351 - Introduction to Symbolic Logic
  • 403 - Morality and Law 

Area II: Nature, Knowledge, and God 

  • 305 - Metaphysics
  • 308 - Philosophy of God
  • 313 - Philosophy of Human Nature
  • 315 - Philosophy of Language
  • 317 - Philosophy of Religion
  • 329 - Philosophy of Science
  • 331 - Philosophy of Knowledge

Descriptions of all courses are in the current Announcements. 

 

Bachelor Degree Programs for Philosophy Majors

Two programs are available for a major in philosophy: Concentration and Pre-Law. The student may elect enrollment in either the School of Arts and Sciences (12-course requirement) or the School of Philosophy (14-course requirement). With enrollment in the School of Arts and Sciences, the student may plan a course of study to combine either of these programs with a major in another discipline.

 

Concentration Curriculum

Required for all majors (12 courses):

  • 309 - Ethics
  • 331 - Philosophy of Knowledge
  • 351 - Introduction to Symbolic Logic
  • 353 - History of Ancient Philosophy
  • 354 - History of Medieval Philosophy
  • 355 - Metaphysics I
  • 356 - Metaphysics II
  • 453 - History of Modern Philosophy
  • 454 - Contemporary Philosophy
  • 557 - Coordinating Seminar (Senior Seminar)
  • 558 - Coordinating Seminar (Senior Seminar)

Elective (one of the following):

  • 310 - Philosophy of Art
  • 311 - Contemporary Moral Issues
  • 313 - Philosophy of Human Nature*
  • 315 - Philosophy of Language
  • 317 - Philosophy of Religion
  • 329 - Philosophy of Science*
  • 332 - Political Philosophy

Additional Requirements for students enrolled in the School of Philosophy (2 courses):

  • 313 - Philosophy of Human Nature
  • 329 - Philosophy of Science

*Not an elective for majors in the School of Philosophy.

Comprehensive examinations are administered during the second semester of the senior year.