Requirements for the Major in
Philosophy
Students planning to major in philosophy must consult with the department
undergraduate advisor at the beginning of their junior year or, if transferring
from another major, upon deciding to transfer. When accepted as a major, a
student must complete a declaration of major form. To contact the undergraduate
advisor, refer to our program
administration page.
Requirements:
- A minimum of 30 credits in philosophy courses is required
- The following three courses:
- Philosophy 211 Elementary Logic (3 credits)
(Philosophy 212, Modern Deductive Logic, or a more advanced course in
logic,
may be substituted for Philosophy 211 with the permission of the
department chair)
- Philosophy 430 History of Ancient Philosophy (3 credits)
- Philosophy 423 History of Modern Philosophy (3 credits)
- At least one course from each of the following groups:
- Group A:
- Philosophy 341 Modern Ethical Theory (3 credits)
- Philosophy 349 Great Moral Philosophers (3 credits)
- Philosophy 355 Political Philosophy (3 credits)
- Group B:
- Philosophy 303 Theory of Knowledge (3 credits)
- Philosophy 317 Metaphysics (3 credits)
- Philosophy 324 Philosophy of Science (3 credits)
- Philosophy 351 Philosophy of Mind (3 credits)
- Group C:
- Any philosophy course (excluding Philosophy 430 and Philosophy
432) numbered 400 or above and carrying 3 credits
- Philosophy electives of the student's choice to reach a total of 30
credits, at least 15 of which are taken at the 300-level of above in
residence at UWM
- Capstone or Research Requirement: Philos 685 Senior Capstone Research Seminar
It is expected that the required courses in the history of philosophy -
Philosophy 430 (History of Ancient Philosophy) and Philosophy 432 (History of
Modern Philosophy) - will be taken as soon as the student decides to major in
philosophy (normally during the junior year). Students must fulfill the capstone or research requirement in their senior year. It is strongly recommended that
students become proficient in at least one related academic discipline.
Each major will be asked to submit a paper for inclusion
in a portfolio that is kept in the department. Typically, this will be a paper written for the senior capstone research seminar. It should be stressed that this is not an
additional requirement for graduation as a major. Rather, it is a part of our
ongoing efforts to evaluate and improve our program.