Degree: B.A., Philosophy and Religious Studies
Department of Classics, Philosophy, and Religion
The discipline of philosophy has been shaped by an intellectual and historical tradition that began some 2500 years ago in Greek culture. “Philosophy” literally means “love of wisdom.” It is the systematic study of ideas and issues, a reasoned pursuit of fundamental truths, a quest for a comprehensive understanding of the world, a study of principles of conduct, and much more.
The problems and materials of philosophy are drawn from every aspect of our lives and experience, and its deliberations extend to every subject admitting of disciplined reflection. Students majoring in philosophy will develop knowledge of the history and current state of Western philosophy, critical areas of Asian philosophy, a grasp of representative philosophical issues and ways of dealing with them, a capacity to apply philosophical methods to intellectual problems, and a sense of how philosophy bears on other disciplines and on human life more generally. A philosophy major, leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies, develops a critical mind, a balance of analytic and interpretive abilities, and a capacity for the imaginative development of abstract formulations and their concrete applications. These virtues make philosophy especially good preparation for responsible citizenship and positions of leadership.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Students will develop the skills required to analyze and construct arguments in the discipline of Philosophy.
2. Students will develop the ability to communicate philosophical insight in writing.
3. Students will identify and develop a specific philosophical thesis and conduct and present research.
Major Requirements
Students wishing to major in Philosophy may choose from two concentrations: the Philosophy major, or the Pre-Law Concentration in Philosophy, which offers special preparation for students considering a career in law or related fields.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 151B | Introductory Logic | 3 |
| PHIL 201 | Ancient Greek Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 202 | Early Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 320 | Philosophy of Law I | 3 |
| PHIL 325 | Philosophy of Law II | 3 |
| PHIL 485 | Research in Philosophy | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Medieval Philosophy | ||
| Hume And Kant | ||
| Hegel, Marx, and Nietzsche | ||
| Select one Ethics course of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Ethics | ||
| Practical Ethics | ||
| Medical Ethics | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Ethical Theory | ||
| Select one Continental Philosophy course of the following: | 3 | |
| Aesthetics | ||
| Philosophy and Technology | ||
| Freud's Greatest Hits | ||
| Phenomenology | ||
| Existentialism | ||
| Critical Theory | ||
| Seminar in Twentieth Century Philosophy | ||
| Select one non-Western course of the following: | 3 | |
| Hinduism | ||
| Buddhism | ||
| Yoga in Theory, History, and Contemporary Society | ||
| Studies in Asian and Comparative Philosophy | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Internship | ||
| Legal Environment of Business | ||
| Law and Economics | ||
| American Legal History | ||
| Introduction to Law | ||
| American Civil Liberties | ||
| Religion and Politics in the United States | ||
| The Sociology of Law | ||
| Total Credits | 33 | |
Majors in Philosophy with an interest in graduate studies should take courses beyond the minimum required for the major, and they are especially urged to achieve competence in Greek, Latin, French or German. Students with a 3.5 GPA in Philosophy (and 3.25 overall) are eligible for Honors contingent on a grade of A in PHIL 485 Research in Philosophy and successful oral defense.
General Education Requirements
The general education requirements for Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degrees apply to all students who are seeking to earn an undergraduate B.A., B.S. or B.S.Ed. degree.
Students seeking a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree have a separate set of BLS general education requirements.
Electives
Elective courses are those that are not needed to fulfill a general education requirement or major program requirement but are chosen by the student to complete the 120 credits required for graduation with a B.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. degree or the BLS degree. These courses may be taken graded or pass/fail (or S/U in the case of physical education and 100-level dance). No student in a regular B.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. program may count more than 60 credits in a single discipline toward the 120 credits required for graduation.
Total Credits Required for the Degree: 120 credits
Plan of Study
This suggested plan of study should serve as a guide to assist students when planning their course selections. It is not a substitute for a student's Degree Evaluation or the Program Requirements listed for this major in the catalog. Academic planning is the student's responsibility, and course selections should be finalized only after speaking with an advisor. Students should familiarize themselves with the catalog in effect at the time they matriculated at the University of Mary Washington. Students should also familiarize themselves with general education requirements which can be fulfilled through general electives as well as major/minor course requirements. Course requirements and sequencing may vary with AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge or previous coursework, transfer courses, or other conditions. To be considered full-time, an undergraduate student must be enrolled in 12 or more credits for the semester.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| FSEM 100 | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
| PHIL 160 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
| General Education Courses | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 110 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| PHIL 151B | Introductory Logic | 3 |
| General Education Courses | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHIL 201 | Ancient Greek Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 320 | Philosophy of Law I | 3 |
| General Education Courses | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 202 | Early Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| General Education Courses or Electives | 12 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHIL 212 | Aesthetics | 3 |
| PHIL 325 | Philosophy of Law II | 3 |
| General Education Courses or Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 303 |
Hegel, Marx, and Nietzsche or Hume And Kant or Medieval Philosophy |
3 |
| General Electives | 12 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHIL 284 | Buddhism | 3 |
| Elecive in Major | 3 | |
| General Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHIL 485 | Research in Philosophy | 3 |
| General Electives | 12 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Classics, Philosophy, and Religion Department
Jason P. Matzke, Career and Pre-Law Advisor (Philosophy)
Mary Beth Mathews, Career Advisor (Religion)
Faculty
(The person’s subject field is indicated in parentheses.)
Professors
Mary Beth Mathews (Religion)
Jason P. Matzke (Philosophy)
Angela L. Pitts (Classics)
Associate Professor
Jennifer A. Barry (Religion)
Assistant Professor
Kalpesh Bhatt (Religion)
Senior Lecturer
Michael J. Reno (Philosophy)