Major Requirements

Course requirements
The major requires the completion of 39 credit hours with grades of C or better:

30 of these credit hours are taken in courses in philosophy and religion, including 9 credits at the 300-level or above and up to 9 credits in religion. Since this is a flexible major, the courses taken by each student vary.
9 of these credit hours are taken in a single discipline or area of study, including 6 credits at the 300-level or above.
Areas in which students have taken these courses include, but are not limited to, Communication, Computer Science, Economics, International Service, Women’s and Gender Studies, History, Government, and Psychology.

Click here to view a checklist. You should fill in the check list as you complete courses since, although we are here to assist you, it is ultimately your responsibility to make sure all degree requirements are completed.

Example of a well-balanced program
Many students ask why no specific courses are required for the major. Not having specific course requirements allows for flexibility to better meet the interests of each student. For example, some students have a greater interest in the history of philosophy, while others choose to focus on the applications of philosophical analysis in ethics or social policy. The formulation of a strong major program is the joint responsibility of the undergraduate advisor in Philosophy working together with the student. As a general point, the Department encourages students to create a well-balanced program which emphasizes a grounding in the history of philosophy, with a variety of upper-level seminars that complement students’ interests and their other fields of study, including courses in ethics, political theory, and non-Western philosophy. In addition, many students choose to take an internship in philosophy, or to pursue their studies in philosophy abroad. Students who wish to do advanced study in philosophy in a non-English speaking country must make sure that they are developing a proficiency in the appropriate language. Here is one example of a well-balanced program in Philosophy:

30 credits in philosophy and religion:

PHIL-105 Western Philosophy
PHIL-200 Introduction to Logic
PHIL-220 Moral Philosophy
PHIL-235 Theories of Democracy and Human Rights
PHIL-302 19th Century Philosophy
PHIL-303 20th Century Philosophy
PHIL-386 Selected Topics in Philosophy (such as Bioethics, Race & Philosophy, Kant’s Ethics, The Body, etc.)
PHIL-486 Colloquium in Philosophy (3 of them, 1 credit each)
PHIL-520 Seminar in Ethical Theory
RELG-185 Forms of the Sacred: Religions of the East

9 credits in Psychology:

PSYC-205 Social Psychology
PSYC-360 Evolution of Behavior
PSYC-433 Research Design

Second Majors
As a method of inquiry, philosophy is always about “something,” whether the nature of knowledge itself, or the application of ethical principals to conflict resolution, medical or business practices, or to questions concerning what “human rights” are. For this reason, majors in philosophy are required to take a full 9 credits in a single discipline or (approved) interdisciplinary cluster. Many of our students go one better by taking a second major in another field of study. Having two majors is an excellent way to combine related fields of study (and it also makes for a very impressive resume!). Most students are able to complete all the requirements for both majors within the normal timeframe of undergraduate study (four years). However, students who decide to double-major need to keep in mind the relationship of the two majors as well as their own responsibilities.

Relationship of the dual courses of study:

Technically at AU, there are no “double-majors.” Instead, a student has a first major and a second major. AU distinguishes between the two majors for administrative purposes only, which means it doesn’t make a difference for graduate study or your resume which major is “first” and which is “second.” However, your choice of a first major does make a difference while you are at AU. What you choose as your first major determines the following:
- who will be your primary advisor (this person receives all your records first and also clears you for registration each semester)

the department with which you will attend the graduation ceremony.

If the first and second major lead to different degrees (e.g., BA and BS), you will need to specify which of the two degrees you prefer.
A course may count toward both majors as long as it meets the requirements for the majors.
Example: Mark is majoring in both philosophy and biology. Mark decides to make philosophy his first major because he knows more people in that department and wants to walk with them during graduation. Since philosophy leads to a BA and biology to a BS, he also must decide which he prefers to be awarded. He will be able to use 9 of his credits in biology to satisfy the requirement in philosophy that he take 9 credits in a single discipline outside of the department. In addition, he has learned, after speaking with his advisors in both departments, that a course in Bioethics will count toward both majors.

Students’ responsibilities as a second major:

Consult with your advisors in both departments before registering for courses
Report any address or e-mail changes to both departments
Never assume that a course will count toward both majors; always ask
Make sure your first major advisor is also helping assure that general education requirements are met
Contact both departments if you decide to change which major is first and which is second (since this shifts advisor responsibilities as well)

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