Undergraduate Programs

 

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Basic Information

         Courses in philosophy are an essential component of bachelor's degrees in the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Architecture and Planning, Engineering, Nursing, and Music, as well as Metropolitan College. Two courses in sequence introduce the student to philosophy and are prerequisites to all other courses:

         PHIL 201 - The Classical Mind
         PHIL 202 - The Modern Mind

Requirement (4 courses)

         PHIL 201 and 202 plus two other courses (for a total of 12 credit hours) are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in any subject at CUA.

 

Subconcentration (Minor - 6 courses)

         Open to students in the School of Arts and Sciences. Subconcentration consists of two courses beyond the four required courses for a total 18 credit hours.

 

The Major in Philosophy

         Offered in two different programs leading to the bachelor's degree: Concentration and Pre-Law. These two programs are available to students enrolled either in the School of Arts and Sciences or in the School of Philosophy. For students enrolled in the School of Arts and Sciences, 12 philosophy courses are required in each program. For students enrolled in the School of Philosophy, 14 courses are required in each program.

         Contact: Dr. Jean DeGroot
         Undergraduate Advisor, Assistant Dean
         Room 200

         Aquinas Hall (formerly the Life Cycle Institute)
         Telephone: 202/319-6656
         E-mail: degroot@cua.edu

 

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.

 

Subconcentration (Minor) in Philosophy

    Those interested in taking more philosophy can choose a subconcentration or minor by taking two courses, one from each of the above two areas, in addition to the four courses that fulfill the CUA Philosophy Requirement. Thus, the student will have completed six courses (18 credit hours) in philosophy. There is no comprehensive examination in the subconcentration. Notice of the subconcentration will appear on the student's official academic record.

 

Bachelor Degree Programs for Philosophy Majors

    Two programs are available for the more intensive study of philosophy: Concentration and Pre-Law. The student may plan a course of study to combine either of these programs with a major in another discipline. As a Concentrator in philosophy, the student may elect enrollment in either the School of Arts and Sciences (12-course requirement) or the School of Philosophy (14-course requirement).  If the student has already taken PHIL 201 and PHIL 202 and then decides to concentrate in philosophy, the student may substitute PHIL 201 for PHIL 353 or PHIL 354 and use PHIL 202 as a free elective.

 

Concentration Program 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.

 

    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.

Philosophy and Law

    Philosophy is highly recommended by legal educators as a preparation for the study of law. Special counseling will enable the student to select relevant courses in the School of Arts and Sciences to fulfill the distribution requirements for graduation and enhance the student's preparation for the further study of law.

 

Pre-Law Program in Philosophy

    This program is designed for students who wish to prepare for a career in law or related fields. The curriculum places a special emphasis on philosophical topics pertinent to the study of law.

 

    Pre-Law Curriculum

    Required for all majors (12 courses):

 

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

 

University Honors Program

    The Aristotelian Studium is a four-semester sequence inspired by the philosophy of Aristotle which presents a coherent system of knowledge and provides tools for inquiry still useful in the present day. These courses are open only to students admitted to the University Honors Program. They fulfill the CUA philosophy requirement for the bachelor's degree and also can be used in the Philosophy Concentration Programs.

 

    HSPH 101 - Reasoning and Argumentation

    HSPH 102 - Human Action and Government

    HSPH 203 - Science, Nature and Human Nature

    HSPH 204 - Metaphysics

 

Engineering Philosophy Sequence

    These courses are required for all students who receive a bachelor's degree from the School of Engineering.

    361 - Foundations for Ethical Judgment

    362 - Professional Ethics in Engineering

 

What Philosophy Can Do For You

    The study of philosophy will benefit you personally and professionally. It will develop your mind by improving your ability to analyze, organize, synthesize, and express your own thoughts and the expressed thoughts of others. It will enhance your ability to make good judgments, to discern and understand relationships, to make necessary distinctions, and to broaden your perspective. These abilities will be your assets in any discipline or endeavor.