VCU Bulletins

Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

The Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy requires a minimum of 120 credits, with at least 30 of those credits in philosophy. Fifteen of these credits must be selected from upper-level philosophy courses.

Majors intending to pursue graduate studies in philosophy are advised to choose the curriculum outlined below.

Degree requirements for Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Learning outcomes

Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:

  1. Obtain knowledge of and facility with philosophy
  2. Develop a good knowledge of the current state of academic discussion of some of the central philosophical topics
  3. Develop some knowledge of the history of philosophy, including both major themes and movements and some specific figures and systems
  4. Develop the ability to think critically and systematically about philosophical problems, both abstract and practical, and to write clearly and cogently about them
General Education requirements (32-46 credits) Credits
University Core Education Curriculum (minimum 21 credits)
UNIV 111 Focused Inquiry I 3
UNIV 112 Focused Inquiry II 3
UNIV 200 Writing and Rhetoric 3
Approved humanities/fine arts 3
Approved natural/physical sciences 3-4
Approved quantitative literacy 3-4
Approved social/behavioral sciences 3-4
   
Additional College of Humanities and Sciences requirements (11-23 credits)  
HUMS 202 Choices in a Consumer Society 1
Approved H&S diverse and global communities 3
Approved H&S general education electives 6-8
Approved H&S human, social and political behavior (fulfills University Core social/behavioral sciences)  
Approved H&S literature and civilization (fulfills University Core humanities/fine arts)  
Approved H&S science and technology (fulfills University Core natural/physical sciences)  
Experiential fine arts (course offered by the School of the Arts) 1-3
Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement) 0-8
   
Major requirements (30 credits)  
PHIL 103 Ancient Greek and Medieval Western Philosophy 3
PHIL 104 Modern Western Philosophy 3
PHIL 201 Critical Thinking About Moral Problems, PHIL 211 History of Ethics, PHIL 212 Ethics and Applications, PHIL 213 Ethics and Health Care or PHIL 214 Ethics and Business 3
PHIL 222 Logic 3
PHIL 490 Seminar in Philosophy (capstone course) 3
PHIL elective 3
PHIL elective (300-level or higher) 3
Choose three of the following with at least one course each from group (a) and group (b): 9
a) PHIL 320 Philosophy of Law, PHIL 327 Ethical Theory or PHIL 335 Social and Political Philosophy  
b) PHIL 301 Mind and Reality, PHIL 302 Reason and Knowledge or PHIL 303 Philosophy of Language  
c) PHIL 391 Topics in Philosophy  
   
Open electives (44-58 credits)  
Open electives 44-58
   
Total minimum requirement 120

Click here to download a sample outline. [PDF]